EAST PROVIDENCE — The effort to redevelop the former Platt-Watters School property in Riverside, which stagnated in recent years, received a positive jolt recently when the Planning Board at its July 2021 meeting backed a proposal authored by the administration of Mayor Bob DaSilva to have the city oversee the process of selling the approximately two acres of land as new home lots.

As described by Director of Planning and Economic Development Bill Fazioli, 11 parcels would be created at the site bordered by Hoppin and Burnside Avenues and Smith and Arnold Streets.

Eight of the lots would be 7,500 square feet in dimension, suitable for single family residences. The three others would be 10,000 sf with the intention to build duplexes, which would deed restricted as affordable housing.

The location has long been dormant for academic purposes. It was last used as the central office of the School Department before being consolidated by the former state-appointed Budget Commission into City Hall several years ago.

Potential redevelopment was considered by the City Council in and around 2018, but was nixed after concerns raised by neighbors about its condominium-only profile.

Earlier this calendar year, the city, to consternation of some with a historical perspective and others with commercial ideas in mind, razed the two structures in preparation for redevelopment.

“The idea is to create some housing opportunities in our city,” Director Fazioli said in his opening remarks. “There’s a chronic need for housing, I think that’s been well established. My office gets calls every week on the status of this project and we’re hopeful to get to this point and create this opportunity to add more housing in this part of the city.”

After about an hour of discussion, including comments made from residents during a public hearing, the board unanimously voted to grant preliminary approval of the master preliminary subdivision, grant final plan approval of the project to the administrative office and provide a favorable advisory recommendation to the City Council to rezone proposed parcels designated as Nos. 1, 2 and 11 from an R-3 to an R-4.

The latter was required, as noted by Senior Planner Patrick Hanner during the presentation, because existing zoning in the area is R-3, “Residential 3,” prohibiting duplexes. R-4 zoning allows for such buildings with a minimum lot size of 8,750 sf. In a subsequent reply to a public comment, Mr. Fazioli said the duplex portion of the proposal conforms with the nature of the neighborhood, which includes other forms of multi-family structures.

In addition, the Planning Department, which created the design along with Department of Public Works as well as Engineering, Highway and Water Division personnel, recommended street trees be installed at intervals of a minimum of 35 feet, that handicap ramps be built at Burnside Avenue and Arnold Street as well as Smith Street and Hoppin Avenue and that a sidewalk be added at a small frontage area on Arnold Street where none currently exists.

Mr. Hanner also noted all of the properties will have granite curbing, trees and concrete sidewalks. Per city guidance, each parcel would be required to have at least one on-property space for parking. The proposal, he added, met the standards of and was consistent with the city’s existing Comprehensive Plan.

The DaSilva administration will manage the purchase and sale process. The mayor told the board the goal is allow individuals to place sealed bids on their desired lots. In preliminary preparations, individuals will only be able to bid on two lots, no more. Mayor DaSilva said another aim is make the process as “fair and equitable” as possible, to be “totally transparent.”

Asked by board member Chris Grant about how the site will drain, City Engineer Erik Skadberg said proper drainage exists from Hoppin to Burnside Avenue with a pickup where the former parking lot for the school buildings was located. Mr. Skadberg said the only adjustments needed are to add another manhole on Burnside and add an area drain for the backyards of the new lots.

Board member Michelle Rockwell inquired if any restrictions will be placed on the lots so they are developed in a timely manner. Mayor DaSilva said it would be required when the city issues Request for Qualifications from buyers.

Ms. Rockwell also asked if it might not be easier and more readily affordable to have a single contractor take on the entire project. Mayor DaSilva said the idea was to avoid having one developer attempt to “low ball the city and maximize profits for themselves.” Rather, selling the lots as proposed would “give individuals the opportunity to build their ‘dream home’” as they see fit.

Just before the vote, Planning Board Chairman Michael Robinson said, “From my perspective this is a great project. It’s an exciting project. There’s clearly a need for housing in East Providence. This is going to encourage homeownership opportunities. And it seems to me this represents the best of a collaborative approach to municipal planning. So I think all the city staff and departments should be commended on it.”