A significant property acquisition regarding the large span of land owned for decades by Exxon Mobil that bisects East Providence from the shores of the Providence River to Wampanoag Trail was recently finalized for a sale price of $26.8 million.

Global Partners LP, a Fortune 500 company based out of Waltham, Mass. that operates 54 liquid energy terminals throughout the eastern United States from Maine to Florida, announced the acquisition of the property in a release on Nov. 1.

“The East Providence terminal, featuring 10 product tanks with 959,730-barrel shell capacity, serves as a strategic storage facility for various products, including gasoline, additives, distillates, and ethanol,” the release states. “It includes a six-bay truck rack servicing the Rhode Island, Northern Connecticut, and Southern Massachusetts markets, as well as a large dock with capabilities to accommodate long-range vessels.”

The property spans from just north of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse at the industrial pier near the East Bay Bike Path and continues east through an expanse of green space to the energy terminal on Socony Road, tucked out of sight near Wampanoag Trail. A small portion of the site continues east into Seekonk, Mass.

The acquisition of the site arises multiple questions regarding future implications regarding what might happen with the existing uses atop the Exxon land, with the large tracts of undeveloped green space, and with developable parcels of land that were also included in the sale.

“In addition to the terminal, Global will acquire surplus vacant real estate parcels providing long-term opportunities for alternative uses as market dynamics evolve,” the press release stated.

Asked for some clarity on what those “opportunities” could mean, The Post reached out to Global Partners LP for clarification on their intended plans and goals following the acquisition of the property.

“At this time, we do not have any specific plans in place, but we want to emphasize that our primary focus is on fostering a strong and collaborative relationship with both the city and the community as we move forward,” wrote Catie Kerns,  SVP of Communications and Sustainability.  “We deeply value the input and perspectives of East Providence residents, and we are committed to being thoughtful stewards of the property. As we explore possibilities for the future, we will be working closely with the city and local stakeholders to ensure that any developments consider the needs and desires of the community. We are excited to see how we can contribute to the continued vibrancy of East Providence, and we look forward to engaging with everyone as plans evolve.”

Asked specifically about any potential plans to preserve areas of open space included within the deal, Kerns said that the company had already had one meeting with Mayor Bob DaSilva on the topic, and was "committed to being mindful of environmental considerations as we move forward and will continue to engage with local officials to ensure responsible stewardship of the land", but made no specific commitments to an open space preservation plan at this time.

Asked to clarify which specific parcels located within the sale would be open to possible development in the future, Kerns said, “For confidentiality and clarity, we typically do not provide detailed breakdowns of specific parcels included in an acquisition,” adding that, “Again, there are no immediate plans for the non-terminal parcels.”

What about Silver Spring Golf Course?

Asked about the existing lease agreement in place between Exxon and the operators of the Silver Spring Golf Course, which sits atop a portion of the property involved in the transaction, Kerns made it clear they weren’t intent on evicting the group any time soon.

“As the new owners of the property, we are excited to become active members of the East Providence community and are committed to working closely with the operator of the golf course to ensure its continued success,” she wrote. “We understand the significance of this amenity to the residents of East Providence, and we value its role in enhancing the local quality of life. We look forward to collaborating with everyone to ensure this important community asset is available for years to come.”