City of Pawtucket Comprehensive Plan 5-Year Update

Transcription

City of Pawtucket
Comprehensive Plan 5-Year Update
2011
Final City Approval March 10, 2011
Final State Approval June 20, 2011
This update was finalized in early 2011.
The preparation of this plan spanned the administration of Mayor
James E. Doyle, and Mayor Donald Grebien.
Pawtucket City Council 2009-2011
Henry S. Kinch, Jr., Council President 2008-2010
David P. Moran, Council President 2010 - Present
Jean-Phillippe Barros
James F. Chadwick, Jr.
David P. Moran
Lorenzo C. Tetreault
Mark J. Wildenhain
John J. Barry
Thomas E. Hodge
Christopher O’Neill
Albert J. Vitali, Jr.
Paul Wildenhain
Pawtucket City Planning Commission
Antero L. Martins, Chair
John Q. Calista, Jr.
David Chmielewski
Carl I. Freedman
Monique Renaud
City of Pawtucket, Department of Planning and Redevelopment
Barney Heath, Acting Director
Susan Mara, Senior Planner
Table of Contents
Introduction
Executive Summary
Action Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ES-8
Chapter 1 – LAND USE
I. Goals, Policies, and Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
II. Community Profile and Needs Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
III. Future Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1-1
1-2
1-12
1-19
Chapter 2 – HOUSING
I. Goals, Policies, and Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
II. Community Profile and Needs Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
III. Summary of Major Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2-1
2-2
2-16
2-18
Chapter 3 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
I. Goals, Policies, and Actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
II. Community Profile and Needs Analysis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
III. Summary of Major Issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3-1
3-2
3-11
3-12
Chapter 4 – NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
III. Summary of Major Issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4-1
4-3
4-21
4-22
Chapter 5 – OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION
Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5-1
5-3
5-14
5-15
Chapter 6 – COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES
Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6-1
6-3
6-20
6-22
Chapter 7 –TRANSPORTATION
Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7-1
7-2
7-13
7-15
TABLES
Table 1.1, Summary of Land Use Changes Pawtucket ,1960 – 2009. . . . . 1-3
Table 1.2 Zone Changes to Facilitate Mill Redevelopment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Table 1.3 Pawtucket Brownfield Redevelopment Projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Table 1.4 Mill Redevelopment – Residential Density . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Table 1.5 Zoning Map Amendments Since 2005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Table 1.6 Individual Property Zoning Map Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-12
Table 2.1 Housing Units 1970-2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Table 2.2 Units in Structure, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Table 2.3 Housing Units in the Metropolitan Core, 1980-2008 . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Table 2.4 New Units Added 1990-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Table 2.5 Household Types in Pawtucket, 1990-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Table 2.6 Housing Units by Planning District, 1990-2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Table 2.7 Occupancy, 1980 – 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Table 2.8 Vacancy, 1980 – 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-10
Table 2.9 Age Distribution of Housing Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Table 2.10 2010 Federal Income Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Table 2.11 Subsidized Housing Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Table 3.1 Educational Attainment, Population 25 Years and Older . . . . . . 3-3
Table 3.2 Occupations in Pawtucket 2002-2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Table 3.3 Twelve Largest Private Employers in Pawtucket . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Table 3.4 Tax Base Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Table 3.5 Mill Redevelopment Projects in Pawtucket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Table 3.6 Summary of City Economic Development/Retention Programs. 3-9
Table 4.1
Table 4.2
Table 4.3
Table 4.4
Major Soil Types, Pawtucket, Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
National Register of Historic Places, Pawtucket, Rhode Island. 4-13
Pawtucket Cemeteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16
City of Pawtucket Preservation Projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
Table 5.1 Location of Public Recreation Areas by Planning District . . . . . 5-7
Table 5.2 Population by Age Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Table 5.3 Recreation Requirements by Age Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Table 5.4 Approved Local Recreation Bond Issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Table 5.5 Parks and Recreation Division Budget. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Table 6.1 Public Works Departments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Table 6.2 City of Pawtucket, Municipal Buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Table 6.3 Wastewater Pumping Stations, Pawtucket, Rhode Island. . . . . . 6-7
Table 6.4 Average Weekly Waste/Recycling Collected, 2010. . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Table 6.5 Pawtucket Fire Stations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-14
Table 6.6 Pawtucket Public School Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-18
Table 6.7 Pawtucket School Enrollment History 2000-2010 . . . . . . . . . . . 6-18
Table 7.1 Ratio of Registered Automobiles per Person over time. . . . . . .
Table 7.2 Roadways in Pawtucket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 7.3 State-owned Roads in Pawtucket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 7.4 Worst Intersections in Pawtucket, 2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 7.5 Transportation Improvement Program, 2009-2012,
Pawtucket Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 7.6 Total Ridership on Routes Serving Pawtucket . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 7.7, Downtown Pawtucket Parking Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7-2
7-3
7-3
7-5
7-6
7-9
7-10
Table 7.8 Bridge Clearances along the Seekonk River Channel
7-12
MAPS
Figure 1.1 Riverfront Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Figure 1.2 Land Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Figure 1.3 Zoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Figure 1.4 Potential Zone Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Figure 1.5 Future Land Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1-5
1-9
1-13
1-14
1-15
Figure 2.1 Planning Districts & Neighborhoods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Figure 3.1 Downtown Projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Figure 4.1 National Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Figure 4.2 Cultural Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4-5
4-15
Figure 5.1 Open Space and Recreation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5-5
Figure 6.1 Community Services and Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Figure 7.1 Major Routes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Figure 7.2 Public Transportation, Bikeways & Boat Ramps. . . . . . . . . . .
7-4
7-8
APPENDICES
Public Meeting Documentation .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2005 Action Plan Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .
Broad Regeneration Initiative Action Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pawtucket Downtown Design Plan Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hazardous Mitigation Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A
B
C
D
E
City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Comprehensive Community Plan
2011 Update
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
This Comprehensive Plan is a broad statement for the future development of the City of
Pawtucket. The principal components of the plan address the current and future
condition of the City’s land, water, and human and natural resources, and how to protect
and maintain assets like historic places, parks and schools, streets and highways,
industry, and neighborhoods. Typically such plans are prepared to accommodate a
twenty-year time frame because many goals and objectives cannot be achieved
immediately.
Comprehensive Plans are not meant to be static documents, and to ensure that they are
viable, the following three conditions must be met: (1) the plan must reflect true
community-wide interests; (2) it must look not just to the end of a twenty year time frame,
it must also have milestones along the way to enable the assembly of a final product
over a period of time; and (3) the plan must be reviewed and kept up to date every five
years, as mandated by Rhode Island law. The current City of Pawtucket
Comprehensive Plan was approved in 2005.
The Rhode Island General Assembly enacted the Rhode Island Comprehensive
Planning and Land Use Regulation Act (General Laws, Section 45-22.2) in 1988. The
general requirements of the state enabling legislation allows each municipality to
prepare a plan unique to its community’s needs, but it must be set within the overall
State Goals and Policies as well as regional and municipal needs. Also, each plan must
be prepared through a process that facilitates public participation during plan
development and results in plan adoption by local planning commissions and city
councils, and acceptance by the State of Rhode Island.
Once adopted, the plan must be updated every five years and the local zoning ordinance
must be brought into compliance with the future land use elements of the plan within 18
months. The community can adopt four plan amendments per year and each
amendment may effect multiple changes to the plan. These procedures and
requirements are intended to keep the plan responsive to changing community needs
while maintaining a rational process for decision-making.
Plan Development
This update of the Pawtucket Comprehensive Plan began at the end of 2009. Planning
staff began to update the Action Plan from the 2005 Comprehensive Plan, and to update
the text for the various chapters. Since the 2005 Comprehensive Plan included a major
rewrite, staff determined that the 2011 version would be a simple updating of that plan.
The public outreach process began in late summer 2010 (Appendix A contains backup
documentation from the public meetings). The Planning Department hosted a public
meeting on September 23, 2010. The City utilized a number of venues to notice this
meeting – including inviting stakeholders by mail and email, preparing a press release
and notice on the City’s website. The Public Meeting began with a short presentation,
followed by an opportunity for public comment. The goals, policies and action items
from each chapter of the 2005 Comprehensive Plan were displayed on large sheets.
Each sheet was attended by a City staff person who was familiar. Attendees were given
three green stickers and three red stickers and asked to “vote” for the goals that they
agreed with and disagreed with most strongly. Approximately 30 residents attended this
I-1
meeting. A follow up meeting was held on October 21, 2010. The same methods of
outreach were used, but there was significantly less attendance. This meeting included
a presentation of the results of the first meeting, followed by discussion. Although there
was less attendance, the participants represented many of the stakeholder groups (the
downtown residents, Pawtucket Foundation, Pawtucket Public Library) and provided
substantive comments and feedback.
On December 22, 2010 the plan was posted on the City website and letters and emails
were sent to all of the stakeholders, attendees of the public meetings, the City Council,
Mayor, City Planning Commission, all abutting communities and well as Statewide
Planning inviting them to review and comment.
Based on public input, the plan was drafted and presented for Public Hearing by the City
Planning Commission on January 18, 2011 and for City Council Public Hearing on
February 23, 2011.
Plan Organization
The Rhode Island Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Regulation Act of 1988
requires the development and adoption of nine plan elements. Seven of these elements
are for specific functional attributes of the community, while one element is oriented to
the community goals and policies that will govern the future growth and development
and the ninth element addresses the implementation program that has been designed to
put the plan’s objectives into place. The seven functional elements are arranged in this
plan as seven separate chapters covering the following specific aspects of the
community. Within each element, goals and policies are set forth along with supporting
text and graphics. This is consistent with the guidelines established by the State. The
Action Plan, which is the proposed implementation program, is contained at the end of
the end of the Executive Summary (A status update of the 2005 Implementation Plan is
included as Appendix B). The Executive Summary summarizes the major issues and
changes within each element, and also discusses this plan’s consistency with Land Use
2025. The Comprehensive Plan is laid out as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Executive Summary/Action Plan
Chapter 1 Land Use
Chapter 2 Housing
Chapter 3 Economic Development
Chapter 4 Natural and Cultural Resources
Chapter 5 Open Space and Recreation
Chapter 6 Community Services and Facilities
Chapter 7 Transportation
I-2
Executive Summary
2011 Update
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ES - 1
Executive Summary
This update of the City of Pawtucket Comprehensive Plan includes seven Chapters:
Land Use, Housing, Economic Development, Natural and Cultural Resources, Open
Space and Recreation, Community Facilities and Services and Transportation. This
Executive Summary is intended to review the major issues identified within each
Chapter, discuss of the plan’s consistency with Land Use 2025, and summarize the
planning studies and initiatives that occurred since 2005. The Action Plan is included at
the end of this Chapter.
I. Summary of Chapters
Land Use
Pawtucket’s goals for land use from the 2005 plan are
generally the same in this plan: to preserve successful
land uses - established residential neighborhoods; viable
industrial areas; and public open space and recreation
areas - and to revitalize of the downtown and riverfront.
In the past ten years the Zoning Ordinance has been
amended to accomplish the goal of protecting established
residential neighborhoods, including an increase minimum
lot size, and parking requirements for new residential
development. In addition, the City has instituted a design
review component for all new development, to ensure that
infill development is appropriate for the surrounding area.
Parkin Yarn Condominiums, 2009
During this same timeframe Pawtucket has also
experienced the revitalization of vacant and underutilized
mills. This Comprehensive Plan is supportive of this reuse, provided that it does not
displace active manufacturing uses (although in most cases the layout of the older mill
buildings is no longer viable for reuse in an industrial capacity). After a number of these
mills had been rezoned to allow for commercial uses, the City developed a Mill Building
Reuse District (MBRD) an overlay district which allows for the types of uses that are
desirable in these redevelopments.
In 2005 the entire stretch of land along the Blackstone River was rezoned to attract welldesigned, compatible economic development, open space, recreation and residential
uses. All new development and redevelopment is subject to design review before the
Riverfront Commission. There are three categories of riverfront development areas:
Riverfront Public Open, Riverfront Industrial and Riverfront Mixed Use.
Because of its industrial past, many properties within Pawtucket have some degree of
contamination from hazardous substances. The City of Pawtucket has worked over the
past five years to secure over $1 million in US EPA Cleanup Grants. The City has also
worked with Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management on their Targeted
Brownfields Assessment program to make funding available for assessment.
Recent redevelopment projects have been locating within and around Pawtucket’s
downtown: four hundred and fifty new residential units have been built, and over 350 are
planned, for a total of 800 new residents living within walking distance of downtown
ES - 1
Executive Summary
Pawtucket. There are also a number of ongoing downtown redevelopments which will
result in over 100,000 square feet of commercial and office space, with another 300,000
square feet planned. The historic W.T. Grant building on Main Street has been
rehabilitated and is fully tenanted, bringing retail back to the downtown.
Moving forward, Pawtucket must continue to protect its neighborhoods while
encouraging redevelopment within the downtown, and the reuse of under-utilized mill
buildings. The Pawtucket/Central Falls Commuter Rail Station presents an important
opportunity for redevelopment, particularly within walking distance of the proposed
station. The cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls began examining the potential to
restore access to Boston to Providence commuter rail service in 2005. The Feasibility
Study’s key findings affirmed that commuter rail service in Pawtucket/Central Falls was
indeed viable. Pawtucket currently has a $1.9 million authorization in SAFETEA-LU for
the Pawtucket/Central Falls Commuter Rail Station.
Housing
Pawtucket has met Rhode Island’s alternative
standard for “low and moderate income housing”, but
the provision of affordable housing for all socioeconomic groups will continue to be a goal for the
City. Pawtucket’s efforts in affordable housing are
focused on the groups most in need: there are a
number of homeless in Pawtucket and Central Falls
due to the prolonged downturn in the regional
economy; providing housing for the population of
mentally ill persons who find themselves in crisis
Hicks Street, Affordable Housing Development
also remains problematic; additional affordable
rental units and additional subsidies are needed for families in the very low and lowincome brackets; continued assistance in purchasing a first home is needed for
individuals and families in the moderate-income bracket; finally, continued subsidies
and assistance is needed to keep elderly residents in their own homes.
Economic Development
Pawtucket’s economy is built on an intricate wed of inter-relationships that stretch far
beyond the City’s borders. As such, the recent downtown has impacted the City’s ability
to attract new development. The City is working to continue with the programs that have
had success, and provide infrastructure and regulatory support where feasible.
Manufacturing has historically been the mainstay of employment in Pawtucket and is
likely to remain an important part of the City’s economic base. However, the City will
have to take a more active role in maintaining its industry. To facilitate expansion of
industries, which are likely to remain strong, the City should continue with its business
retention programs and continue to emphasize communication between businesses and
local government. The City should also recognize that manufacturing jobs will continue
to be lost and should help displaced workers find the retraining they need to continue in
the workforce.
ES - 2
Executive Summary
Pawtucket does not have a great deal of vacant industrial land suitable for new
development. The City does have an estimated 1 million square feet of vacant industrial
space found in existing mill structures as shown by a detailed mill inventory conducted
by the City. Pawtucket should focus its efforts on maintaining viable industrial spaces for
industrial uses, and allowing a more flexible redevelopment of other vacant and
abandoned mill space. To this end, the City should continue its efforts to promote and
market available space to small businesses, like artists.
Natural and Cultural Resources
The biggest challenge for Natural Resources in Pawtucket is water quality, which has
consistently been a concern in Pawtucket over the past several decades. The major
issue has been, and continues to be, combined sewer overflows. The Narragansett Bay
Commission has begun an ambitious project to abate the pollution issues that arise from
combined sewer overflows. This effort, coupled with the new RIDEM guidelines for
storm water runoff, should begin to show an improvement in the quality of Pawtucket’s
water resources. There are still other ground and surface water pollution problems
remaining, particularly in the Pawtucket Water
Supply watershed, that need to be resolved through
a combination of regulations, site monitoring,
individual small scale improvements, inter-municipal
agreements, and resource management.
Pawtucket Public Library Renovation, 2009
Pawtucket is rich in architectural and cultural
resources. The preservation of these resources
requires the cooperation of the City, State, and local
non-profit preservation organizations. Moving
forward, Pawtucket must work to preserve the
structures that give Pawtucket its unique character.
Open Space and Recreation
Over the past few years, the City of Pawtucket
has utilized state and federal grants as well as
local funding sources to upgrade existing
recreational facilities and acquire new areas for
recreational development. Because of the
developed character of the City, new parcels for
recreational development are scarce. The City is
focusing acquisition efforts along the city’s rivers
Slater Park Playground, Renovated 2005
– the Moshassuck, Blackstone, Ten Mile and
Pawtucket/Seekonk River corridors. These
corridors offer the greatest opportunities for interconnection with adjacent community
facilities. Pawtucket is also looking for creative redevelopment opportunities – like the
ES - 3
Executive Summary
McKinnon/Alves soccer complex, and the potential Mill Pond property – to expand its
recreation and open space.
As recreational facilities are continuously renovated and improved, management and
maintenance of the facilities becomes more important. The Division of Recreation and
Parks has and will continue to require maintenance plans for all park and recreation
areas throughout the City to ensure that facilities are properly groomed, equipped and
managed.
Community Services and Facilities
The City of Pawtucket must maintain its existing, aging, infrastructure in order to
continue to provide services to its residents. The City’s sewage disposal system is still
also functioning as a stormwater collector, and Pawtucket will continue to work with the
Narragansett Bay Commission to phase out Combined Sewer Outfalls. Pawtucket is
working to reduce the amount of solid waste generated. In 2009, the Director of Public
Works presented a plan for pay as you throw in the City of Pawtucket. This proposal
was, unfortunately, not successful. In an effort to still reduce the amount of waste
generated, the Director proposed an alternative plan – mandatory recycling. The City of
Pawtucket will not pick up trash unless there are also recycling containers present.
These efforts have begun to reduce trash and increase recycling within the City.
Transportation
As with many older cities, transportation
infrastructure in Pawtucket continually needs
maintenance and upgrades. This situation is no
more evidence than with the replacement of
Interstate 95 Bridge 550, which spans the
Pawtucket River. Pawtucket will work with the
Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the
Federal Highway Administration to ensure that the
bridge is constructed in a manner that is sensitive
to the residents of Pawtucket. Public transportation
service improvements and improved marketing,
Rendering of the proposed Pawtucket/Central
Falls Commuter Rail Station
and the development of alternative modes of
transportation, such as better walkways and
bikeways, especially during the design of new roadways and roadway improvements,
are essential components of the overall strategy of keeping the City’s transportation
system functioning smoothly and efficiently. The City of Pawtucket will continue to work
on establishing a Commuter Rail station, to provide transportation alternatives for its
residents traveling to Boston, Providence, and ultimately to South County. Pawtucket
will also continue to work with RIPTA on their express Providence to Pawtucket bus
project. The City will also work to provide Bikeways and pedestrian walkways
throughout the City and especially within the downtown.
ES - 4
Executive Summary
II. Consistency with Land Use 2025
The City of Pawtucket Comprehensive Plan is consistent with the Goals listed in Land
Use 2025. In particular, the following priority recommendations are consistent with
Pawtucket’s Plan:
•
•
•
•
•
Sustain Rhode Island’s unique character through use of the Urban Services
Boundary, rural centers, and holistic approaches to planning.
Permanent Greenspace throughout the rural, urban, and waterfront areas.
Development concentrated in well-designed centers, neighborhoods, and special
places.
A diverse and affordable housing stock.
Public infrastructure maximized and coordinated with development.
Pawtucket is located within the Urban Services Boundary, and is served by
transportation and utility public infrastructure. As the City promotes redevelopment, it is
meeting the goals of concentrating development in appropriate places. As the City
works to improve the circulation of the downtown, it is meeting the goal of having a welldesigned center. Pawtucket’s goals of maintaining its greenspace, and providing
affordable housing to all socio-economic groups mirror those same goals within Land
Use 2025. Table ES-2, below, describes in more detail, each Chapter’s consistency with
this plan, and other state planning documents.
Table ES-2 Consistency with Land Use 2025 and other State Planning Documents
Land Use
Following are the Key Recommendations of Land Use 2025 relevant to this
Chapter, and a description of how Pawtucket’s goals are consistent.
• Sustain Rhode Island’s unique character through use of the Urban Services
Boundary, rural centers, and holistic approaches to planning.
• Development concentrated in well-designed centers, neighborhoods, and
special places.
Housing
Economic
Development
Natural and
Cultural
Resources
Open Space
and Recreation
The City of Pawtucket is located within the Urban Service Boundary.
Pawtucket’s efforts towards the redevelopment of the downtown, riverfront and
mill buildings are supportive of these goals. This type of redevelopment does
not require additional infrastructure, and facilitates the reuse of historic
buildings.
Land Use 2025 includes language that is consistent with this plan’s overall goal
of providing housing for all socio-economic groups: Objective 3D Provide a
diverse, affordable housing stock.
The City’s Economic Development goals are consistent with Land Use 2025
Land Use Goal 1 A sustainable Rhode Island that is beautiful, diverse,
connected and compact with a distinct quality of place in our urban and rural
centers, and abundance of natural resources, and a vibrant sustainable
economy; Objective 1A recommends the support of traditional centers, like
downtown Pawtucket, over new development.
Land Use 2025’s main goal of preserving Rhode Island’s unique character is
consistent with the Pawtucket’s goals of preserving both natural and cultural
resources.
Goal 2 A statewide network of greenspaces and greenways that protects and
preserves the environment, wildlife habitats, natural resources, scenic
landscapes, provides recreation and shapes urban growth.
ES - 5
Executive Summary
Objective 2B Upgrade and maintain urban and community Greenspace.
Objective 2C Provide a diverse, well-balanced system of public outdoor
recreation facilities.
Community
Services and
Facilities
Transportation
The Greenways/Greenspace Element of the State Guide Plan includes the
following policies which are consistent with Pawtucket’s Plan.
•
E-2 Restore or re-establish natural greenspace values where they have
been disturbed by development, especially within urban and suburban areas.
•
P-2 Promote public access to and usage of the greenspace system,
wherever feasible and consistent with protection of the system’s resource
values.
Pawtucket’s Comprehensive Plan is consistent with both Land Use 2025 and the
Rhode Island Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan. Land Use 2025
includes language which supports maximizing public infrastructure. The City of
Pawtucket is located within the Urban Services Boundary and is working to
encourage redevelopment of vacant industrial and other sites. The Rhode Island
Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan includes a goal for the
management of solid waste in Rhode Island. Under Goal 2-3, is the following
objective (#1): Reduce the amount of solid waste generated. Pawtucket’s
recycling program has begun to reduce municipal solid waste.
Because of the City’s work on the Commuter Rail Station, Bikeway and
improvements to the downtown, the transportation goals of this Comprehensive
Plan are consistent with the following sections of Land Use 2025:
• Objective 4E Promote Intermodal Centers and Greater Reliance on Transit
• Objective 4F Provide pedestrian connections through all centers and urban
districts.
This plan is also consistent with many of the goals listed in Transportation 2030:
• Bicycle Goal B Maintain and expand an integrated statewide network of onroad and off-road bicycle routes to provide a safe means of travel for
commuting, recreation, and tourism in order to improve public health and
reduce congestion and auto dependency.
• Intermodal Goal I Provide convenient intermodal facilities and services
offering seamless connections for passenger and freight.
• Goal PE Create and maintain safe and attractive walkable communities to
encourage more walking trips, enhance transit usage, improve public health
and reduce congestion and auto dependency.
• Goal T Provide a safe, robust and convenient network of transit and ride
services with seamless intermodal connections in support of increased
employment opportunities, improved environmental quality and reduced
congestion and auto dependency.
III. Summary of Other Plans and Initiatives
From 2005 to 2011 a number of planning studies were conducted that targeted specific
geographic areas, or specific subject areas. These are listed and summarized below.
The goals and recommendations of these plans have been integrated into this plan.
Metro Bay Special Area Management Plan
The City of Pawtucket worked with the communities of Pawtucket, Providence, East
Providence and Cranston and the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center
on the Metro Bay Special Area Management Plan (SAMP). This plan helped to
categorize the coastal land in Pawtucket, and also proposed Coastal Resources
ES - 6
Executive Summary
Management Council regulations that are more appropriate to the highly developed
MetroBay region.
Broad Street Regeneration Plan
The Broad Street Regeneration Plan included the communities of Pawtucket, Central
Falls and Cumberland. The Plan focused on how to revitalize the Broad Street
commercial corridor, and has led to other funding opportunities for Environmental
Assessments and loans for façade improvements. The Executive Summary of the
Broad Street Regeneration Initiative Action Plan is appended to this document, as
Appendix C.
Downtown Circulation Study
Pawtucket received a Challenge Grant in 2010 to take a comprehensive look at
circulation and land use within the Downtown. The major findings of this study are
included in the Comprehensive Plan as Appendix D.
Pawtucket Hazard Mitigation Plan
The City’s Hazard Mitigation Plan was updated in 2011. The recommendations within
this plan have been incorporated by reference into the Community Services and
Facilities Chapter and can be found in Appendix E.
Blackstone Valley Corridor Commission – Study of Moshassuck Canal
The John H. Chaffee Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
conducted a resource study of the Moshassuck Canal. This study identified areas of the
Canal within Rhode Island and Massachusetts which would be worthy of preservation.
The report identified one area in Pawtucket, which is noted on the Future Land Use Map.
IV. Action Plan
On the following pages is the current Action Plan for the City of Pawtucket 2011
Comprehensive Plan. Following the Action Plan are all of the definitions for any
acronyms used within the Plan. The status update for the 2005 Plan is included as
Appendix B.
ES - 7
2011 Pawtucket Comprehensive Plan – Action Plan
Reference No. Action Item
Timeframe
Responsible Party, Partners
LU1. Review the City Zoning Ordinance and consider revisions to encourage
appropriate mixed-use development, more flexibility in the reuse of existing mill
buildings, and a more predictable review process.
ST
DPR, City Council, City Planning Commission
LU2. Designate an area of Pawtucket potentially the downtown and area around the
proposed Train Station, as a Growth Center.
ST
DPR, Pawtucket Foundation, GrowSmart RI
LU 3. Review the Zoning within ½ mile of the proposed Commuter Rail Station to
ensure that appropriate Transit-Oriented-Development would be allowed.
MT
DPR, Pawtucket Foundation, City Council, City
Planning Commission
LU 4. Amend the Zoning Ordinance to include specific criteria for all uses allowed by
Special Use Permit.
ST
DPR, Department of Building and Code
Enforcement, Zoning Board of Review
LU 5. Review the City Zoning Ordinance and consider allowing increased density
where appropriate: the downtown; mill redevelopment projects; around the proposed
rail station.
ST
Planning Commission
LU 6. Conduct a review of all buildable lots Citywide, and officially merge those which
are already merged by the Zoning Ordinance.
MT
LU 7. Consider the rezoning of unusable vacant industrial land to open space,
specifically along the Moshassuck.
MT
Enforcement, Tax Assessor, City Engineering,
Data Processing, City Planning Commission
DPR, City Council, City Planning Commission
LU 8. Complete the review of tax title parcels and consider appropriate action to
achieve the objectives of this plan.
ST
LU 9. Prepare an Executive Summary of the 2010 Pawtucket Comprehensive Plan
Update for public dissemination.
ST
LU 10. Implement the specific recommendations within: The Pawtucket Downtown
Design Plan and the Broad Street Regeneration Initiative, including the investigation of
an overlay district for Broad Street.
ST
Planning Commission
LU 11. Amend the Zoning Map as identified in the Future Land Use Map.
ST
LAND USE
DPR, Tax Assessors Office, Collections
Department, Department of Building and Code
Enforcement
DPR, Pawtucket Foundation
A-1
Timeframe
ST
Enforcement, City Planning Commission, City
Council
Enforcement, City Planning Commission, City
Council
H 1 Investigate housing resources available to assist moderate-income homebuyers.
Ongoing
DPR, BVCAP, PCDC, RI Housing
H 2 Utilize HOME funds to provide affordable housing opportunities to low and
moderate-income persons and families.
Ongoing
DPR, BVCAP, PCDC
H 3 Create a complete brochure of all housing related opportunities for Pawtucket
residents including homeownership, rental opportunities, elderly housing and housing
rehabilitation.
ST
DPR, PRA, BVCAP, PCDC, Pawtucket Housing
Authority, RI Housing
H 4 Revise the Zoning Ordinance to offer better neighborhood protection.
Neighborhood boundaries should be protected form intense commercial development
through zoning regulation and enforcement.
ST
Enforcement, City Planning Commission,
Pawtucket City Council
H 5 Support the efforts of Pawtucket neighborhood advocacy groups including
neighborhood associations and crime watch groups.
Ongoing
DPR, Pawtucket Police Department, Pawtucket
Neighborhood Alliance, Barton Street Crime
Watch
H 6 Acquire vacant and abandoned properties to stabilize neighborhoods.
Ongoing
DPR, BVCAP, PCDC, Housing Court
H 7 Analyze 2010 Census information to determine areas of the City where there are
concentrations of poverty and develop programs targeting assistance to those areas.
ST
DPR, PCDC, WCDC
H 8 Investigate the use of Pawtucket Housing Authority funding to rework Prospect and
Galego housing developments into mixed-income developments
ST
DPR, Pawtucket Housing Authority
H 9 Assist neighborhood clean-up efforts by supplying waste removal and regular street
cleaning.
Ongoing
DPR, Pawtucket Foundation, DPW
LU 12. In accordance with the State of Rhode Island Zoning Enabling Legislation (PL
91-307), amend the City of Pawtucket Zoning Ordinance, commencing January 1, 2004,
or sooner, and completing the process within the prescribed 18 month period.
HOUSING
A-2
Timeframe
H 10 Allow the subdivision of lots with two existing primary structures into undersized
lots.
ST
DPR, Statewide Planning
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ED 1 Seek funding sources and implement the Pawtucket Downtown Design Plan.
ST
DPR, RIDOT, FHWA, FTA, RIPTA
ED 2 Prepare promotional marketing materials, including a portfolio of successful
adaptive reuse projects and a specialized economic development web presence.
Ongoing
ED 3 Update the Redevelopment Plan
Ongoing
DPR, Pawtucket Foundation, Rhode Island
Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission,
RIEDC
DPR, PRA, PBDC
ED 4 Improve the visibility and accessibility of downtown parking facilities.
ST
DPR, RIEDC, Pawtucket Foundation
ED 5 Improve visitor access to major attractions by developing and implementing a
cohesive signage program.
ST
ED 6 Develop a list for vacant downtown buildings which identified the cost and other
issues that need to be addressed.
ST
DPR, Pawtucket Foundation, PBDC, Northern
Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce
ED 7 Establish a regular local business visitation program.
Ongoing
ED 8 Work with RIDOT and FTA to advance the Commuter Rail station.
LT
DPR, Mayor’s Office, RIEDC, Other City
Departments
DPR, FTA, RIDOT, RIPTA
ED 9 Explore the creation of a downtown Business Improvement District
ST
DPR, Property Owners
ED 10 Create a written economic development plan.
ST
ED 11 Identify sources of public financing/subsidy for the Roosevelt Avenue
redevelopment site.
ST
ED 12 Investigate the expansion of higher education opportunities in Pawtucket.
ST
DPR, RIEDC, Department of Education, Library
ED 13 Establish a regular monthly program for downtown events.
ST
DPR, Pawtucket Foundation, Mayor’s Office
A-3
Timeframe
ED 14 Work with the Pawtucket Foundation to implement their marketing program.
ST
ED 15 Analyze land within Industrial Zones to determine whether additional
development is feasible, or if the land is more appropriately preserved as Open Space.
ST
DPR, Pawtucket Foundation, Mayor’s Office,
RIEDC
DPR, BRHNHCC
ED 16 Designate a Growth Center within Pawtucket.
ST
NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
NR 1 Continue to work with the Pawtucket Water Supply Board in implementing their
Water Supply Management Plan.
Ongoing
PWSB, DPR, RIDEM, NBC
NR 2 Continue to work with DPW to minimize the use of salt on watershed roadways.
Ongoing
DPW, RIDEM, DPR
NR 3 Continue to maintain and update information on unique, rare, and endangered
natural resources within the City.
Ongoing
RIDEM, DPR
NR 4 Continue to offer the street tree program to City residents and to enforce the
landscape requirements of the Zoning Ordinance to expand the number and
concentration of trees in the City.
Ongoing
DPR, City Council, CPC, Zoning Board of
Review (ZBR)
NR 5 Continue to apply for RIDEM’s Targeted Brownfields Assessment grants and
USEPA Cleanup Grants
Ongoing
DPR, RIDEM, RIEDC
NR 6 Advocate for the next segment of the Ten Mile River Bikeway to the Rhode Island
Department of Transportation and establish a relationship with the Ten Mile River
Watershed Alliance to help move the project forward.
Ongoing
DPR, RIDEM, RIDOT
NR 7 Continue to provide support for the development of Fish Ladders at the Slater Mill
and Main Street dams.
ST
DPR, NRCS, RIDEM
NR 8 Coordinate with the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) on the status of the
CSO abatement project.
MT
DPR, DPW, RIDEM, NBC
CR 1 Establish a cemetery commission to promote the preservation and enhancement
of the city’s cemeteries.
ST
DPR, DPW, PSP
A-4
Timeframe
CR 2 Map historic resources using (GIS) as part of a program to locate and identify
historic sites and structures.
ST
DPR, Engineering Department
CR 3 Enhance the aesthetics of the historic bridges on the river by lighting their
architectural details.
ST
DPR, Rotary,
CR 4 Offer design assistance through DPR to developers and owners of historic
structures in the city.
Ongoing
DPR, PSP, HDC
CR 5 Continue to provide financial incentives for landlord occupied multi-family historic
housing.
Ongoing
Tax Assessor, DPR
CR 6 Continue the partnership between the City, PRA and the RIHPHC to provide low
interest loans for house repairs through the Historic Properties Rehabilitation Initiative.
Ongoing
DPR, PRA, RIHPHC
CR 7 Support efforts to rehabilitate and reuse the Pawtucket Armory as a Performing
Arts Center.
Ongoing
DPR, Gamm Theater
CR 8 Work with the John H. Chaffee National Heritage Corridor Commission to
preserve the land along the Moshassuck Canal, specifically the area behind Lorraine
Mills.
ST
DPR, Property Owners, JHCBVNHCC, BVTC,
RIHPHC
CR 9 Work with the Public Library and the Preservation Society to identify a long-terms
plan for the Elizabeth J. Johnson Pawtucket History Research Center.
Ongoing
DPR, RIHPHC, Preservation Society of
Pawtucket
CR 10 Maintain a list of properties eligible for the National Register
Ongoing
CR 11 Consider expansion of the Local District tax abatement to commercial properties.
Ongoing
DPR, RIHPHC, Pawtucket Historic District
Commission
DPR, Pawtucket Historic District Commission
OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION
R 1 Acquisition of open space land along the Moshassuck River and the Blackstone
Canal for the development of a greenway/bikeway.
ST
DPR/Parks and Recreation, RIDEM, John H.
Chaffee Blackstone Valley National Her
R 2 Upgrade and improve recreational resources at Morley Field.
ST
DPR/Parks and Recreation, RIDEM
A-5
Timeframe
R 3 Evaluate and develop school sites for potential development of additional
neighborhood recreation facilities.
ST
R 4 Continue progress on the Blackstone River Bikeway.
ST
DPR/Parks and Recreation, RIDEM,RIDOT
R 5 Expand facilities at the Town Landing recreational area.
ST
R 6 Construct an outdoor track at Max Read Field that meets all necessary regulations
to be used for scholastic track meets.
ST
R 7 Provide public access to the Seekonk River at Max Read Field.
ST
R 8 Automate irrigation and improve lighting at Wilkinson Park.
ST
R 9 Consider needs of the Family Y and the Pawtucket Boys’ and Girls’ Club in an
overall parking plan for downtown.
ST
DPR/Parks and Recreation, RIDEM, YMCA,
Boys and Girls Club
R 10 Add lighting at the Goff Lots.
ST
R 11 Evaluate development of public access to the Blackstone River north of Exchange
Street.
ST
R 12 Continue field improvements at McCarthy Park including additional lighting.
ST
R 13 Reconstruct/reuse tennis courts at McCarthy Park.
ST
R 14 Develop the former State Pier (Festival Pier), as recommended by the Riverfront
Development Commission into a combination of open space, river walks, boat facilities,
and seasonal commercial activity.
ST
R 15 Upgrade and improve facilities at Pariseau Field.
ST
R 16 Continue to advocate for the next segment of the Ten Mile River Bikeway.
ST
R 17 Request grant funding for the purchase of “Red Farms Studios” (1135 Roosevelt
Avenue) to ensure its continued availability for passive recreation.
ST
A-6
Timeframe
R 18 Upgrade facilities at Potter School.
ST
R 19 Explore other recreational/educational/revenue producing possibilities for Daggett
Farm.
ST
R 20 Continue infrastructure improvements within Slater Park including the construction
of a new sewer line, construction of new rest room facilities, installation and of new
water and fire protection services at the Looff Carousel, automated irrigation, and
lighting within the Park.
ST
R 21 Engineer a solution to improve water quality in the pond and in Friendship
Gardens at Slater Park.
R 22 Develop parcel of land along the Ten Mile River known as Scout’s Island into a
picnic area (passive park).
ST
ST
COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES
CS 1 Investigate opportunities for consolidating services with other Rhode Island
communities, to reduce costs.
Ongoing
Mayor’s Office, Central Falls, Lincoln,
Providence, East Providence, North Providence
CS 2 Identify a location for a new public safety complex, including parking, municipal
court, police administration and communications and the fire department.
ST
Police and Fire Departments, EMA
CS 3 Evaluate the sewer system capacity in the Beverage Hill drainage basin to
determine the causes of hydraulic overloading and develop a program for eliminating
the problem.
ST
DPW- Sewer, Sanitation and Recycling
Division, NBC, RIDEM
CS 4 Reserve potential sites identified by the Narragansett Bay Commission for the
location of combined sewer overflow mitigation facilities.
MT
NBC, DPW, DPR, RIDEM, EPA
CS 5 Continue the composting program at the municipal transfer station and educate
homeowners to compost landscape waste whenever possible.
CS 6 Continue municipal curbside collection of residential solid waste and require
commercial and industrial solid waster to be handled privately.
Ongoing
Division, Rhode Island Resource Recovery
Division, Pawtucket residents
Ongoing
A-7
Timeframe
CS 7 Where feasible, separate the sanitary sewer and the storm drainage systems and
prohibit new connections of storm drains to the municipal sewer system.
Ongoing
DPW, NBC, DPR
CS 8 Implement through the Executive Office and the PWSB, the Watershed Protection
Plan, which establishes a program of land acquisition in the watershed region, requests
regional communities to incorporate watershed protection policies and actions in their
zoning and subdivision regulations; urges the establishment of inter-municipal
agreements for watershed protection and creates a management program to protect
water quality.
Ongoing
PWSB, Mayor’s office, DPR, Friends of the
Moshassuck, Blackstone River Watershed
Council, Town of Cumberland
CS 9 Cooperate with the State of Rhode Island in the implementation of the Drought
Management Plan as a means to reduce Rhode Island’s vulnerability to periods of low
precipitation.
Ongoing
PWSB, DPR, City Council, Emergency
Management Department, RIDEM
CS 11 Continue to pursue funding opportunities from the FEMA to assist in helping
Pawtucket to be a disaster resistant community.
Ongoing
CS 12 Implement the recommendations in “Strategy for Reducing Risks from Natural
Hazard in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, A Multi- Hazard Mitigation Strategy”.
Ongoing
CS 13 Implement the recommendations in the City’s Long Term Energy Efficiency and
Sustainability Plan
Ongoing
Emergency Management Department, DPR,
Department of Building and Code Enforcement,
Police Department, Fire Department, Mayor’s
office RIEMA, FEMA
Emergency Management Department, DPR,
Department of Building and Code Enforcement,
Police Department, Fire Department, Mayor’s
office, RIEMA, FEMA
DPR, DPW, City Departments RIEDC
CS 14 Continue operation of the Leon Mathieu Senior Center.
Ongoing
CS 15 Create a task force of neighbors to solve parking problems near the library.
ST
CS 16 Investigate the feasibility of establishing satellite libraries in city neighborhoods,
youth centers, or gathering places.
ST
CS 17 Improve access to library resources through improvements on the library
website.
ST
Senior Services, DPR, RIPTA, Memorial
Hospital, Blackstone Health, Inc., Meals on
Wheels, BVCAP
Public Library, DPR, Library Board of
Trustees, Area Downtown businesses
Public Library, DPR, Pawtucket Neighborhood
Alliance, Library Board of Trustees
Public Library, Champlin Foundation
A-8
Timeframe
CS 18 Identify and prioritize the social service needs of Pawtucket residents as part of
the needs assessment portion of the City of Pawtucket Federal Housing and Community
Development Consolidated Plan.
Ongoing
DPR, Social service providers statewide
CS 19 Continue to evaluate alternatives for the alleviation of overcrowding and the
provision of necessary classroom space at schools in need.
Ongoing
School Department, DPR, School Committee,
Mayor’s office
T 1 Maintain and regularly update the list of potential projects for inclusion in the State
of Rhode Island Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
Ongoing
DPR, DPW
T 2 Work with RIDOT on the reconstruction of the closed bridges at Conant Street and
at Cole Street to ensure pedestrian and vehicle safety and access.
ST
DPW, DPR, Police Department, RIDOT
T 3 Work with RIDOT and FTA to advance the Pawtucket Commuter Rail Station.
LT
DPR, DPW, Amtrak, RIDOT
T 4 Support the implementation of RIPTA’s Providence Metropolitan Transit
Enhancement Study, especially plans to make Route 99 an express bus, and plans to
provide a pedestrian connection to the South Attleboro Commuter Rail Station.
ST
DPR, RIPTA, RIDOT, Pawtucket Foundation
T 5 Develop a linear greenway along the Pawtucket riverfront.
ST
T 6 Continue to coordinate with RIDOT on the development of the Blackstone River
Bikeway, including the development of agreements for all required property and
easements.
ST
DPR, DPW, Department of Parks and
Recreation, RIDEM, RIDOT, Riverfront
Commission
DPR, Department of Parks and Recreation,
Riverfront Commission, RIDOT, RIDEM
T 7 Cooperate with RIDOT and East Providence on the continued construction of the
Ten Mile River Bikeway.
ST
DPR, RIDOT, RIDEM
T 8 Seek funding to implement the downtown circulation improvements identified in the
2010 Downtown Design Plan.
ST
DPR, RIDOT, FHWA, City, Pawtucket
Foundation
T 9 Improve/create boat landings along the entire riverfront.
Ongoing
T 10 Improve visitor access to major attractions by developing a comprehensive
ST
DPR, DPW, Department of Parks and
Recreation, RIDEM
DPR, Traffic Engineering Department, DPW,
TRANSPORTATION
A-9
Timeframe
signage program.
Police Department
BVCAP- Blackstone Valley Community Action Program
DPR – Department of Planning and Redevelopment
DPW – Department of Public Works
FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHWA – Federal Highway Administration
FTA – Federal Transit Administration
JHCBVNHCC – John H. Chaffee Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
NBC – Narragansett Bay Commission
PCDC – Pawtucket Citizens Development Corporation
PRA – Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency
PSP – Preservation Society of Pawtucket
RIDEM – Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
RIDOT – Rhode Island Department of Transportation
RIEDC – Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation
RIEMA – Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency
RIHPHC – Rhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission
WCDC – Woodlawn Community Development Corporation
A-10
Land Use
2011 Update
Chapter 1 – LAND USE
Table of Contents
I. Goals, Policies, and Actions
1-1
II. Community Profile and Needs Analysis
1-2
III. Future Land Use
1-12
Sources
1-19
Land Use
I.
Goals, Objectives, Policies and Actions
Goal
1. Continued
successful land
uses:
established
residential
neighborhoods;
viable industrial
areas; and public
open space and
recreation areas.
2. Revitalized
downtown and
riverfront.
Objective
1. No loss of viable
industrial land and
buildings.
2. No conversions of
residential to
commercial within
established residential
neighborhoods.
3. No loss of publicly
owned open space and
recreation land.
Policy
1.Protect existing residential
neighborhoods form undue encroachment
of conflicting non-residential uses.
2.Protect existing neighborhoods from
increasing housing densities that lead to
overcrowding, shortage of available offstreet parking and traffic congestion.
3.Control strip commercial development
by promoting neighborhood and regional
shopping districts.
4.Increase in the
amount of available
public recreation areas.
4.Maintain an updated file on all
brownfields sites and encourage the
remediation of these sites where
necessary.
5.Reduction in the
amount of vacant
industrial space.
5.Encourage infill development that
reflects the built character of the
surrounding area.
6.Decrease of vacancy
within downtown.
6.Protect and preserve environmentally
sensitive areas through open space
acquisition.
7.Increase residential
density within the
downtown.
7.Accommodate new industrial,
commercial, residential and other
developments through carefully
considered rezoning.
8.Implement the Riverfront Development
Plan.
9.Wherever possible, encourage
pedestrian and bicycle links along the
riverfront as well as throughout the City.
Action
LU1Revise the Zoning Ordinance to encourage mixed-use
development, flexibility in the reuse of mill buildings, and a
predictable review process.
LU2Designate an area of Pawtucket, potentially the downtown and
the area around the proposed Train Station, as a Growth Center.
LU3Review the Zoning within ½ mile of the proposed Train Station
to allow appropriate Transit-Oriented-Development.
LU4Amend the Zoning Ordinance to include specific criteria for all
uses allowed by Special Use Permit.
LU5Review the City Zoning Ordinance and consider allowing
increased density where appropriate: the downtown; mill
redevelopment projects; around the proposed rail station.
LU6Conduct a review of all buildable lots Citywide, and officially
merge those which are already merged by the Zoning Ordinance.
LU7Consider the rezoning of unusable vacant industrial land to
open space, specifically along the Moshassuck.
LU8Complete the review of tax title parcels and consider
appropriate action to achieve the objectives of this plan.
LU9Prepare the Executive Summary for public dissemination.
LU10 Implement the specific recommendations within: The
Pawtucket Downtown Design Plan and the Broad Street
Regeneration Initiative, including the investigation of an overlay
district for Broad Street.
LU11 Amend the Zoning Map as identified in the Future Land Use
Map.
LU 12 In accordance with the RI Zoning Enabling Legislation (PL
91-307) amend the City of Pawtucket’s Zoning Ordinance,
commencing January 1 2011 or sooner and completing the
process within the prescribed 18 month period.
1-1
Land Use
A. Introduction
This element of the Comprehensive Plan will examine the distribution of the City’s land
among the various land use categories including residential, commercial, industrial,
public and private recreation, institutional, mixed use, open spaces, and natural and
sensitive areas. Land use considerations are closely related to virtually every other facet
of community planning. The land use plan is a synthesis of land use considerations and
many of the recommendations appear elsewhere in this Plan.
Pawtucket’s population is relatively stable. The population in Pawtucket has been
declining since 1950 and rose just slightly from 72,644 in 1990 to 72,958 in 2000 and
population estimates from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey 20052007continue to project Pawtucket at approximately 72,000 residents. Pawtucket Tax
Assessor’s data indicates that 440 acres of the City is vacant land. However, in reality
very little of that land is actually buildable. Construction activity in the City of Pawtucket
is therefore primarily redevelopment, and a smaller amount of infill development.
Land use planning, therefore, has a different focus than in communities with large
amounts of developable land. Pawtucket must instead focus on allowing flexibility in
redevelopment while also protecting existing neighborhoods. The City must also focus
on the design of infill development, to ensure that it is compatible with surrounding uses.
B. Historic Land Use Trends
Pawtucket’s geographic area is 8.94 square miles of which .1 square mile is water,
located just northeast of Providence, Rhode Island’s capital. As an older former
industrial powerhouse, Pawtucket’s population density of approximately 8,000 persons
per square mile, making it one of the most densely populated municipalities in the state.
The City is located in the northeasterly part of Rhode Island at the head of Narragansett
Bay on a relatively flat plain that is penetrated by the valleys of the Blackstone and
Moshassuck Rivers. The western half of the City has greater variations in elevation.
The predominant surficial materials in the Pawtucket area are sand and gravel deposits
laid down by receding glacial ice in pre-historic times. The only natural and physical
barriers to the use of land in Pawtucket are excessive slope along the riverbanks and
swampy deposits along the Moshassuck River Valley and the Ten Mile River.
The original village was founded in 1671 by an ironworker, Joseph Jenks, Jr. The
success of the Jenks family attracted settlement in Pawtucket as well as industrial
development along both banks of the Blackstone. The City’s renown, however, is traced
from 1791 when Samuel Slater opened the first mechanized cotton yarn spinning mill in
America just above the Pawtucket Falls. This marked the beginning of the American
Industrial Revolution. By 1817 there were 13 textile mills as well as assorted machine
shops and other industrial buildings along the banks of the Blackstone. An 1829
collapse of the cotton goods market devastated Pawtucket’s economic base. Recovery
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began in 1847 when the Providence and Worcester Railroad line established a depot
within the downtown and a year later the Boston and Providence line also established a
station. New manufacturing operations began to locate in Pawtucket, both the north and
west of the riverside mills while the downtown expanded. Pawtucket manufacturing
experienced a boom period thanks to the Civil War. The City’s Pawtucket became an
independent town in 1874, and then a City in 1885. Downtown Pawtucket was a thriving
cosmopolitan downtown in the late nineteenth century, until the late 1950’s when it
began an economic decline that was influenced by suburbanization, competition from
southern textile mills and the construction of Interstate 95.
The development pattern in older central cities like Pawtucket is relatively fixed. The
challenge, moving forward, is to ensure that redevelopment will support the economic
goals of the City and not conflict with established land uses and neighborhoods.
C. Recent Land Use Trends
Overall, the location and density of land use within the City of Pawtucket has remained
relatively stable over the past twenty years. Table 1.1 summarizes the overall land uses
for the City through the years. From 2002-2009 the amount of land within the
commercial, industrial and vacant categories went down, while there was a
corresponding increase in public/semi-public land. These shifts are a result of
incremental changes over the past seven years where industrial land was rezoned into
riverfront districts, and some brownfields were reclaimed as recreation sites.
Table 1.1, Summary of Land Use Changes, Pawtucket, 1960 - 2009
Land Use Category
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Public/Semi-Public
Railroad/Utility
Streets/Waterbodies
Vacant Land
Total
1960
(acres)
2,077
338
489
759
173
1,182
699
5,717
1977
(acres)
2,083
414
529
890
187
1,200
414
5,717
1988
(acres)
2,120
383
532
909
181
1,078
514
5,717
2002
(acres)
2,054
442
369
1,086
134
1,158
474
5,717
2009
(acres)
2072
435
353
1175
133
1109
440
5717
%Change
02-09
0.9%
-1.6%
-4.3%
8.2%
-0.7%
-4.2%
-7.2%
Source: Pawtucket Tax Assessor, 2009
This section will review some of the major land use trends, by topic area, and then
proceed to talk about the current trends affecting all of the major land use categories, as
listed in Table 1.1.
Trends by Topic Area
Mill Building Redevelopment - Some recent trends in Pawtucket land use and reuse
include the redevelopment of vacant and underutilized mills. The loss of 4.3% of
Industrial land uses from 2002 to 2009 is likely a result of the rezoning of these types of
properties. This Comprehensive Plan is supportive of this reuse, provided that it does
not displace active manufacturing uses. However, in many cases the layout of the older
mill buildings is no longer viable for reuse in an industrial capacity. After a number of
these mills had been rezoned to allow for commercial uses, the City developed a Mill
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Building Reuse District (MBRD) an overlay district
which allows for the types of uses that are desirable in
these redevelopments. Designation as an MBRD
requires the submission of a Master Plan for
redevelopment, including parking, landscaping,
stormwater management, etc. which allows the City to
take a more comprehensive look at the redevelopment,
while allowing the applicant more flexibility in terms of
future uses. Table 1.2, below, shows some of the zone
changes necessary to facilitate recent mill
Riverfront Lofts, Pawtucket, RI
redevelopment projects. The two most recent, Kellaway Realty
and the Thread Factory, were able to take advantage of the City’s new Mill Building
Reuse District (MBRD).
Table 1.2 Zone Changes to Facilitate Mill Redevelopment
Mill Redevelopment
Zoning District
Hope Webbing
Union Wadding
Kellaway Realty
The Thread Factory
Rezoned: Residential Multi-Family to Commercial General
Rezoned: Industrial Built Up to Commercial Downtown
Industrial Built Up with MBRD overlay
Manufacturing Open with MBRD overlay
Source: Department of Planning and Redevelopment, 2010
Riverfront Redevelopment - In 1997 the City of Pawtucket prepared the Riverfront
Development Plan. This planning process included an intense public outreach effort,
including numerous public hearings, which were broadcast on the local cable access
channels, and full-paged newspaper advertisements depicting the proposed plan. In the
following years, Pawtucket has successfully implemented many of the plan’s
recommendations. Figure 1.1 describes some of the ongoing riverfront redevelopment
activities.
Public Access along the River - North to South public access along both sides of
the entire riverfront was identified as a goal during the 1997 process and the City
is beginning to see the development of an interconnected pedestrian/bicycle
network. The Blackstone Valley Bikeway will go a long way toward
accomplishing this goal. The Bikeway was initially proposed by RIDOT to run
along the City streets but the City worked with RIDOT to identify a riverfront
route. A very prominent redevelopment site along the river includes an
easement for public access along the river within the development requirements.
The Pawtucket Foundation partnered with the City to clean a publicly owned site
in front of Tolman High School that had become overgrown, and could in the
future provide access. The construction of the new I-95 Bridge over the river will
open up areas for public access along the river. The City has also had
conversations with the major landowners and users on the river about the
potential for public access along the river. Finally, the newly created Riverfront
Commission includes the provision of public access along the river as part of
their standards for review.
Public Recreation Opportunities - The public process resulted in the
identification of two sites for public access and recreation along the Riverfront –
State Pier and Town Landing. In 2006, the City of Pawtucket began the Master
Planning for these two sites. Currently, there is funding for projects at both sites:
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The City has $700,000 from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to
improve the docking facilities and for some limited site work at Town Landing,
and Pawtucket has $350,000 in funding for site improvements and environmental
cleanup at the State Pier.
Redevelopment of Privately Owned Sites - In 2005 the entire stretch of land
along the Blackstone River was rezoned to attract well-designed, compatible
economic development, open space, recreation and residential uses. All new
development and redevelopment is subject to design review before the Riverfront
Commission. There are three categories of riverfront development areas:
Riverfront Public Open, Riverfront Industrial and Riverfront Mixed Use. The City
also created the Riverfront Commission, whose function is to review new
development and redevelopment within the Riverfront Districts for consistency
with the City’s vision for the riverfront.
An important upcoming project for the Riverfront is a 7.5 acre redevelopment site at the
corner of Division and Water Street. This project was initially intended to include a 200room hotel, 100,000 square feet of office space and a stand-alone restaurant. It began
in 2005, but has stalled. The City is working to reformulate a request for proposals to
identify the highest and best use for this site. One of the major challenges to the
successful redevelopment of the riverfront is the Utility-owned property south of Division
Street. Narragansett Electric owns over 20 acres of riverfront property along the west
side. They are currently in the process of removing the storage tanks and support
structures from this property. There is also known environmental contamination at this
site. The City has been attempting to communicate with the owners about the future of
their land, to perhaps reach a solution which would allow public access and some site
redevelopment.
Downtown – Recent redevelopment projects have been locating within and around
Pawtucket’s urban core. All but one of the Mill Redevelopment projects listed in Table
1.2 are within ½ mile of the downtown. Although this topic will be covered in depth in the
economic development Chapter, it is important to note that, through this redevelopment,
four hundred and fifty new residential units have been built, and over 350 are planned,
for a total of 800 new residents living within walking distance of downtown Pawtucket.
There are also a number of ongoing downtown redevelopments which will result in over
100,000 square feet of commercial and office space, with another 300,000 square feet
planned. The historic W.T. Grant building on Main Street has been rehabilitated and is
fully tenanted, bringing retail back to the downtown. The Pawtucket Foundation is
working on a project that could dramatically impact downtown Pawtucket: the
redevelopment of a City-owned vacant site on Roosevelt Avenue. The Foundation
developed a plan for this site that included 179,000 square feet of mixed use
development, as well parking for the site and other buildings within the downtown with
inadequate parking.
The challenges moving forward are to try to encourage the redevelopment of the existing
historic downtown buildings. The cost of the improvements required by the fire code and
building code within these buildings can be a deterrent to their redevelopment. The City
also must consider balancing the preservation the historic character of the downtown
and increases in redevelopment costs.
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Train Station - The cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls began examining the potential
to restore access to Boston to Providence commuter rail service in 2005. The cities
believe that developing a Commuter Rail station would benefit both the residents, by
increasing mobility and access to economic opportunity, as well as the cities, by
improving the environment and encouraging economic growth. With funding from
RIDOT, FTA and FHWA, the cities prepared a Feasibility Study to answer their initial
questions about the viability of re-introducing commuter rail service in Pawtucket/Central
Falls.
The Feasibility Study’s key findings affirmed that commuter rail service in
Pawtucket/Central Falls was indeed viable based on the following findings:
• Of the 30 weekday commuter rail trains passing through Pawtucket/Central Falls,
based on the schedule as of July 2006, 23 could stop at a commuter rail facility
without adversely impacting Amtrak intercity, MBTA commuter rail, or PWRR freight
rail service.
• Approximately 1,500 weekday daily boardings were projected for the proposed
commuter rail stop.
• There are numerous opportunities in the surrounding areas for transit-oriented
development.
The Feasibility Study identified two potential sites – the Providence and Worcester
Railyard (the Railyard) and the Historic Depot. During the study, the Railyard site was
dismissed because of the costs of relocating the existing operation and because of traffic
constraints. Since the completion of the Study the City has entered into conversations
with Amtrak because the layout of the Historic Depot is such that both inbound and
outbound trains must stop on the mainline. Amtrak has determined that this is
unacceptable to them. The City has been working since then to identify an alternate
site, and has found one, directly across from the Railyard site, that has none of the cost
or traffic issues of the Railyard, and is able to satisfy Amtrak’s requirements.
In 2009 the City of Pawtucket received a $1.9 million authorization in SAFETEA-LU for
the Pawtucket/Central Falls Commuter Rail Station. The City of Pawtucket and RIDOT
have secured the required match and in 2010 the City of Pawtucket received approval to
enter Preliminary Engineering from the Federal Transit Agency.
Brownfields Redevelopment - Because of its industrial past, many properties within
Pawtucket have some degree of contamination from hazardous substances. The City
of Pawtucket has worked over the past five years to secure over $1 million in US EPA
Cleanup Grant funding. Table 1.3 shows the status of these projects. Recently,
Pawtucket also turned a brownfield site into a soccer facility. The City has also worked
with Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management on their Targeted
Brownfields Assessment program to make funding available for assessment.
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Table 1.3 Pawtucket Brownfield Redevelopement Projects
Project
End Use
Status
Newman/Crosby Soccer
Complex
Front Street
Pine Street
State Pier
Laurel Hill Playground
Soccer Complex
Complete
Redevelopment / Bikepath
Light Industrial
Recreation
Affordable Housing
Cleanup 90% Complete
Projected start 2011
Project start 2011
Projected start 2011
Trends by Major Land Use Category
Residential Land - Residential remains the dominant land use category within the City
(See Figure 1.2)1. Residential developed and associated vacant land comprise almost
40% of City land. Residential development began during the 18th Century at the City’s
center, at the Main Street Bridge. As commercial and industrial establishments grew out
from the center of the City, the ring of residential development expanded further from the
center with some bypassing of industrial tracts and wetlands.
The minimum lot size for all residential zoning districts is 5,000 square feet. Higher
density, approximately 14 dwelling units per acre (1 unit per 3,000 square feet), multifamily residential development is found primarily near the center of the City close to the
mills and major transportation routes. Less dense, two-family and single-family
residential development on 5,000 square foot lots is generally found to the east and west
of the multi-family districts. A somewhat irregular pattern of rectangular blocks formed
by city streets and residences covers most of Pawtucket’s area. (See Figure 1.3).
In the past 10 years the City of Pawtucket has increased the minimum lot size and
parking requirements for new residential development in Pawtucket, to protect existing
neighborhoods from overcrowding. Current zoning allows 8 units per acre for single
family homes, and 14 per acre for multi-family homes and required two parking spaces
per unit. However, recent mill redevelopment projects have residential densities above
what is allowed by zoning for new development (see Table 1.4). All of the
redevelopment projects listed in Table 1.2, except for the Hope Artiste Village, are
located within ¼ mile of the Commercial Downtown District. As residential density
becomes less dense throughout the neighborhoods, the mill redevelopment projects are
bringing higher residential densities to the downtown. The City must consider that this
additional density helps to promote activity within the downtown and should also begin to
plan for appropriate density to support redevelopment around the proposed Commuter
Rail station.
1
High density residential is less than 1/8-acre lots,
Commercial is the sale of products and services,
Transportation includes roads, railroads and other transportation
Vacant Land is all vacant land,
Institutional is schools, hospitals, churches, etc.
Water Bodies and Wetlands is all water and wetlands,
power lines.
Median density residential is ¼ - 1/8-acre lots,
Industrial includes a mix of industrial and commercial,
Recreation: Developed is all recreation
Cemeteries is all cemeteries,
Open Space is pasture, brushland and forest,
Other is quarries, gravel pits, transitional areas, waste disposal and
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Table 1.4, Mill Redevelopment – Residential Density
Mill Redevelopment
# of Units
Bailey Lofts
(complete)
Riverfront Lofts
(complete)
Hope Webbing
(half complete)
Slater Cotton
(complete)
Union Wadding
(proposed)
The Thread Factory
(proposed)
25
Lot Size
(Acres)
.23
Residential
Density
108/ac.
59
1.4
42/ac
7
135 +
220,000 sf commercial/ light industrial
125
1.63
19/ac. +
commercial
76/ac.
242
6.6
36/ac.
376 +
350,000 sf commercial/ light industrial
22
17/ac +
commercial
Commercial Land - There were 435 acres of land dedicated to commercial use in 2009.
Commercial zones are divided into three types.
Commercial General - The Commercial General land use category consists of
commercial areas that are designated to satisfy the major shopping requirements
of residents. The Commercial General zones tend to be more auto than
pedestrian oriented. Approximately 266 acres are zoned for commercial general
and are found throughout the City primarily along the major streets, including all
of the numbered routes that run through Pawtucket – Routes 15, 122, 1, 1A, and
114. 266 acres are zoned for Commercial General within the City of Pawtucket.
Commercial Local - This type of land use are areas devoted to limited
commercial purposes which are suited to serve the day to day convenience
shopping of people living nearby. Not many areas designated for Commercial
Local and they are primarily found within established neighborhoods. There are
approximately 43 acres zoned CL.
Commercial Downtown - The Commercial Downtown district is located within
downtown Pawtucket which was historically considered the major business
district of the City. Land use in this area includes commercial buildings,
residential structures, government buildings and other uses. There are
approximately 50 acres zoned CD. The Broad Street Regeneration Action Plan
includes a recommendation to extend the CD zone along Broad Street, north of
the downtown to the Central Falls border. This change would allow the Broad
Street commercial corridor to extend seamlessly into downtown Pawtucket.
Industrial Land - Pawtucket’s industry started along the Blackstone River and spread to
other parts of the City with the advancement of transportation - the Moshassuck River
Canal, then railroads and then automobiles. There are industrial areas, therefore,
surrounding the river, the canal and the railroad lines and some historic industrial areas
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just outside of downtown. More recently constructed industrial parks are located off of
major roadways.
In 2009 there were 353 acres of City land that has an industrial land use code. There
are, however, a significant amount of vacant industrial buildings throughout the City. In
general, the historic industrial areas, which are generally zoned Manufacturing Built-Up
(MB), are less viable than the newer industrial infrastructure for reuse as industrial
because of the current manufacturing needs for space.
Parks and Recreation - There are currently 434 acres of public and semi-public parks
in the City of Pawtucket. This number includes school fields and facilities. This number
is expected to be relatively stable, perhaps increasing as the City workings on the
acquisition and development of additional open space and recreation areas. Also,
because federal funds were uses in improving many of Pawtucket’s recreation facilities,
encroachment or reuse of an area would require replacing the acreage with elsewhere in
the City.
Railroad and Utility Land - Pawtucket’s three rail lines and two utility systems occupied
a total of 181 acres in 1988. In 2009, 133 acres are classified as railroad and utility land.
Most of this land is owned by Amtrak, the Providence and Worcester Railroad, or
Narragansett Electric.
The Amtrak line between New Haven and Boston runs through the City and there is also
a small tract of land uses for engineering services and maintenance.
The Providence & Worcester Company operates a short rail line from Pawtucket into
Lincoln, Rhode Island. On the eastern side of the City, the Providence & Worcester
Railroad tracks utilize the right-of-way of the George Bennett Industrial Highway.
The Narragansett Electric Company and the Valley Gas Company have a substation and
gas storage facility in Pawtucket on the west bank of the Pawtucket River. The
Narragansett Electric Company also occupies various parcels of land in the City to carry
transmission lines. As noted, the riverfront utility land presents a challenge to the
successful redevelopment of Pawtucket’s riverfront.
Vacant Land - The rate at which vacant land is developed was expected to decrease
due to the unsuitability of the remaining land for development purposes. Between 1960
and 1977, 285 acres of vacant land were developed for some type of use. In 1988, 100
acres of vacant land was added. This increase is due to changes in the Narragansett
Park area and the reclassification of the property. Between 1988 and 2002, 40 acres of
vacant land were developed, and another 34 acres have been developed between 2002
and 2009.
A portion of the remaining vacant land is thought to have environmental constraints,
which might prohibit its use for development. Restrictions have been placed on activities
such as filling, previously used to make marginal land suitable for development,
therefore much of this land may remain vacant. Inadequate lot size is also a constraint
to development, as not all vacant platted lots are buildable.
Streets and Waterbodies - There are approximately 1,109 acres of streets and
waterbodies. This figure was determined by subtracting the acreage of all other known
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land uses from the total acreage of the City. This remaining acreage was assumed to
consist of streets and waterbodies. There are approximately 64 acres of waterbodies
and 106 acres of freshwater wetlands. The wetlands are primarily along the Ten Mile
River and the Moshassuck River. Local street right of ways consist of approximately 851
acres and Interstate 95 has approximately 137 acres of land.
III. Future Land Use
The following table is a summary of the zoning changes that occurred from 2005 – 2011.
The majority were changes to support mill redevelopment projects. In 2009 the City
created the Mill Building Redevelopment District to provide some flexibility and
predictability to the permitting process. Figures 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 show the City’s existing
Zoning, Potential Zone Changes and Future Land Use, respectively. Because the City is
built-out almost completely, the City’s existing Land Use and Zoning will remain
consistent. However, there are a few areas proposed for change which are identified in
both Figures 1.4 and 1.5.
Table 1.5, Zoning Map Amendments Since 2005
Location
Map Change
430 Central Avenue
57 properties - Citywide
Union Wadding
448 Newport Avenue
Pine Street
Conant Street
Manufacturing to Commercial General
Added to Local Historic District Overlay Zone
Change from Industrial Built Up to Commercial Downtown
Change from Residential Single-Family to Residential Multi-family
Designated as Mill Building Reuse Districts
Designated as Mill Building Reuse Districts
As expected with a City as developed as Pawtucket, there are some discrepancies
between current land use and current zoning. Some of these discrepancies do not
necessarily warrant a zone change. For example, the Comprehensive Plan does not
advocate changing the zoning of existing non-conforming commercial uses within
established residential neighborhoods. However, Table 1.6 lists the individual parcels
which are proposed for a zone change.
Table 1.6 Individual Property Zoning Map Amendments
Property
Description
660 Cottage Street
Dartmouth Street
Parcels were in manufacturing use, and within a Manufacturing Open zone
surrounded by an Residential Two-Family neighborhood. Have since
been converted to condominiums. Change to residential zoning would
preclude future change back to manufacturing.
Parcels were in manufacturing use, and within a Manufacturing Built-Up
zone surrounded by an Residential Multi-Family neighborhood. Portions
have since been converted to residential. Change to residential zoning
would preclude future change back to manufacturing.
In 2009 the Broad Street Revitalization Plan was completed. One of the Action Items
listed in this plan is the extension of the Commercial Downtown zone northward to the
Central Falls border. This specific recommendation is shown on the Future Land Use
Map and the Action Plan is incorporated into this Comprehensive Plan as Appendix B.
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The City of Pawtucket has two voluntary overlay districts – the Historic District (HD)
designation and also the Mill Building Reuse District (MBRD) which was created to
facilitate the redevelopment of vacant and abandoned mill buildings. Properties are
continually added to these overlay districts according to the procedures outlines in the
Zoning Ordinance. There are also a few areas that are not yet proposed for a specific
rezone, but have been identified as needing some review and assessment and may in
the future be recommended for rezoning.
A.
Train Station
The City of Pawtucket has approval from the Federal Transit Administration to enter
Preliminary Engineering and to study the potential impacts of a new Commuter Rail
Station on the City. Although the actual construction of a Commuter Rail Station is still
5-10 years out, it is time for the City to begin considering whether the land use
regulations surrounding the station site will support the type of redevelopment activity
that it would like to see.
B.
Industrial Areas
It is the future plan of the City to retain the existing industrial areas that are appropriate
and viable. The Zoning Ordinance classifies industrial areas into two types. The first is
manufacturing built-up (MB) which consists of established multi-story structures. The
second is manufacturing open (MO) which consists of the newer areas with more vacant
land. Very little of MB zoned land is vacant – 3.2 acres – while there are 119 acres of
vacant land zoned MO. However, much of the vacant MO land is located in areas which
are constrained by topography and wetlands. Specifically, much of this land is located
along the Moshassuck Valley Canal which has been identified by the John H. Chaffee
Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission (JHCBVNHCC) as a resource
worthy of preservation. It is therefore unclear as to how much land is available for new
Industrial development. Preliminary analysis suggest that there is not very much, if any,
but the City needs to review these zone districts and determine if and where any
buildable industrial land exits, and consider rezoning the land that is not developable,
because of environmental constraints, as open space.
C.
Consistency with Abutting Communities
There are seven cities and towns that abut the boundaries of Pawtucket. These are
Seekonk and Attleboro, Massachusetts, East Providence, Providence, North
Providence, Lincoln, and Central Falls. In reviewing Pawtucket’s land use plan in
comparison to the existing uses in the abutting communities, there was no obvious land
use conflict discovered for Pawtucket’s proposed or existing land use activities. In most
cases, there is a continuation of the same land use across the border. Each community
was notified in writing of the Comprehensive Plan update.
Eastern border
Pawtucket’s eastern border is shared with Seekonk, Massachusetts. This border
generally follows the Ten Mile River so for the most part Pawtucket is separated from
Seekonk by the River and the surrounding sensitive land area. The exception is the
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Countryside neighborhood. This residential area is adjacent to a residentially zoned
area in Seekonk.
Northern Border
Central Falls - Pawtucket’s downtown commercial area is bordered to the north by
Central Falls. In the past few years, Pawtucket and Central Falls have collaborated on a
number of planning efforts. First, the Broad Street Regeneration Initiative, which has
been adopted as appendix to this plan. Also, Central Falls and Pawtucket have been
working together to identify a location for the Pawtucket/Central Falls Commuter Rail
Station. Finally, Pawtucket and Central Falls both worked to develop an appropriate
solution which would facilitate the redevelopment of the Coats and Clark/Conant Thread
Mill Complex, a 2 million square foot mill complex that sits half in Pawtucket and half in
Central Falls. Both cities adopted a similar zoning overlay district which would allow
more flexibility in terms of potential uses of this complex.
Lincoln - The zoning and land use along the Pawtucket/Lincoln border are generally
consistent with no plans for major changes.
Attleboro, Massachusetts - The zoning and land use along the Pawtucket/Attleboro
border are generally consistent with no plans for major changes.
Western border
Pawtucket shares its western border with the Town of North Providence. Most of this
area is established residential neighborhoods, except for Mineral Spring Avenue (RI
Route 15) which connects Pawtucket to North Providence.
Southern Border
The City of Pawtucket has been involved in the development of the Metro Bay Special
Area Management Plan. Pawtucket worked with Providence, East Providence and
Cranston on a plan for the coastal areas in these three communities. The process
resulted in the development of the Urban Coastal Greenways Policy which provides the
Coastal Resources Management Council with policies that are more appropriate to the
urban coastal areas in the upper bay.
Providence - Pawtucket and Providence share a portion of the Southern border and are
connected by two major arterials – North Main Street, which becomes Pawtucket
Avenue and Main Street in Pawtucket; and Hope Street, which becomes East Avenue in
Pawtucket. The Neighborhood Plan Map for Mt. Hope and Blackstone summarizes the
Comprehensive Plan for these areas of Providence. Generally, they are consistent with
Pawtucket’s plans. Providence wants to limit the commercial expansion in the area
around the Hope Street/East Avenue nexus. Pawtucket has a small area of Commercial
Local zoning which corresponds to this commercial area and is surrounded by the Oak
Hill neighborhood. At the nexus of North Main Street, Main Street and Pawtucket
Avenue, Providence has plans to promote the redevelopment along North Main Street.
Pawtucket’s zoning in this area, Commercial General, supports these plans.
East Providence - East Providence is located along Pawtucket’s southern border, east
of the Pawtucket River. East Providence is also connected to Pawtucket along the Ten
Mile River. Below, the Special Area Management Plan discusses Pawtucket’s
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connections to East Providence and Providence along the River. Pawtucket and East
Providence have been working together on the Ten Mile River Bikeway. The East
Providence section has been completed, and Pawtucket is working over the next few
years on its next segment.
D.
Summary of Other Plans/Projects
From 2005 to 2011 there were a number of planning studies conducted that targeted
specific geographic areas, or specific subject areas. These are listed and summarized
below. The goals and recommendations of these plans have been integrated into this
plan.
• Metro Bay Special Area Management Plan
The City of Pawtucket worked with the communities of Pawtucket, Providence, East
Providence and Cranston and the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources
Center on the Metro Bay Special Area Management Plan (SAMP). This plan helped
to categorize the coastal land in Pawtucket, and also proposed Coastal Resources
Management Council regulations that are more appropriate to the highly developed
MetroBay region.
• Broad Street Regeneration Plan
The Broad Street Regeneration Plan included the communities of Pawtucket, Central
Falls and Cumberland. The Plan focused on how to revitalize the Broad Street
commercial corridor, and has led to other funding opportunities for Environmental
Assessments and loans for façade improvements. The Executive Summary of the
Broad Street Regeneration Initiative Action Plan is appended to this document, as
Appendix C.
• Downtown Circulation Study
Pawtucket received a Challenge Grant in 2010 to take a comprehensive look at
circulation and land use within the Downtown. The major findings are summarized
in Appendix D.
• Pawtucket Hazard Mitigation Plan
The City’s Hazard Mitigation Plan was updated at the same time as the
Comprehensive Plan. The recommendations of this Plan are included in Appendix
E.
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SOURCES
City of Pawtucket, “Land Use Element”, 1995, 2005.
City of Pawtucket, Tax Assessor’s Data Base, 2002, 2009.
City of Pawtucket, “Zoning Ordinance”.
City Planning Commission, “Capital Improvements Program, 2011-2015”.
Pawtucket Riverfront Commission, “Riverfront Development Plan: A New Vision for
Pawtucket,” 1997.
Rhode Island Department of Administration, “State Guide Plan Overview,” Report 101,
June 2001.
Rhode Island Department of Administration, “Rhode Island Population Projections,”
October 1999.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Census of Population and
Housing: 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000.
1- 19
2011 Update
Chapter 2 – HOUSING
Table of Contents
2-1
2-2
III. Summary of Major Issues
2-16
Sources
2-18
Housing
Goals
Objectives
Policies
Actions
1. Provide
Pawtucket
residents from all
socio-economic
groups with safe,
decent and
affordable
housing.
1. Increase the
amount of
affordable units by
42 in 5 years.
1. Ensure that a consistent portion of the City’s rental
housing stock remains affordable and is in compliance
with the provisions of the State of Rhode Island Low and
Moderate Income Housing Act.
H 1 Investigate housing resources that are available to assist
moderate-income homebuyers.
2. Reduce the
number of illegal
and substandard
units.
2. Protect the City’s residential neighborhoods by
preventing encroachment from other non-residential land
uses and discouraging increased density.
2. Ensure that
residential
growth does not
adversely affect
environmental,
recreational and
cultural
resources.
3. Protect the
quality of life and
character within
established
residential
neighborhoods.
3. Promote the de-concentration of affordable housing.
3. Maintain or
reduce densities
in established
residential
neighborhoods.
4. Increase the
number of units
for special needs
population by 5
units in 5 years.
5. Reduce the
number of
vacant/abandoned
houses in
residential
neighborhoods.
6. Expand
homeownership in
all neighborhoods.
4. Support appropriately scaled housing that meets the
needs of the displaced and homeless population as well
as the development of transitional housing.
5. Investigate opportunities to convert underutilized
and/or obsolete commercial/industrial structures to
residential use.
6. Promote and enforce the federal Fair Housing Law
throughout the City.
7. Continue to work with the existing network of nonprofits to develop support services and appropriately
scaled permanent supportive housing for the homeless,
disabled and other special needs populations.
8. Continue efforts to eliminate lead hazards in
Pawtucket’s housing stock.
9. Ensure that the Minimum Housing Department has
the necessary resources to enforce the minimum
housing code.
10. Assist neighborhood clean-up efforts by supplying
waste removal and regular street cleaning.
H 2 Utilize HOME funds to provide affordable housing
opportunities to low and moderate-income persons and
families.
H 3 Create a complete brochure and also website for all
housing related opportunities for Pawtucket residents including
homeownership, rental opportunities, elderly housing and
housing rehabilitation.
H 4 Revise the Zoning Ordinance to offer better neighborhood
protection. Consider: Density controls using lot coverage;
Enforcement of the merger clause; Discourage conversions of
residential uses to non-residential uses in established
residential neighborhoods.
H 5 Support the efforts of Pawtucket neighborhood advocacy
groups including neighborhood associations and crime watch
groups.
H 6 Acquire vacant and abandoned properties to stabilize
neighborhoods.
H 7 Analyze 2010 Census information to determine areas of
the City where there are concentrations of poverty and
develop programs targeting assistance to those areas.
H 8 Investigate the use of Pawtucket Housing Authority
funding to rework Prospect and Galego housing developments
into mixed-income developments.
H 9 Assist neighborhood clean-up efforts by supplying waste
removal and regular street cleaning.
H 10 Allow the subdivision of lots with two existing primary
structures into undersized lots.
2 -1
Housing
A. Requirements
The Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Regulation Act requires that the
comprehensive plan reflect its goals, objectives and policies for housing, as well as other
elements. At a minimum, the City’s housing policies must address the following:
•
•
•
•
Upgrading deteriorating and substandard housing;
Providing new housing opportunities geared to the needs of all elements
of the population;
Identifying steps to enhance the affordability of housing and identifying
resources to be used in this regard;
Identifying resources and steps designed to achieve housing goals and
implement housing policies:
o Specific steps to enhance housing affordability;
o Municipal agency responsible for housing;
o Code and ordinance changes and innovations to encourage
achievement of housing goals;
o Public and private resources to be utilized in achievement of
housing goals;
o Sites for housing development (location and types);
o Potential conversion of existing structures to housing use; and
o Financial strategies to be developed for housing.
B. Historic Overview
Residential development in Pawtucket began in the late 17th Century with the arrival of a
few farming families and later by families who were more commercially oriented. Joseph
Jenks, in 1671 purchased 60 acres of land on the west side of the Blackstone River and
started an iron forge. A small industrial village had formed by 1720, but only two of the
houses from this era survived.
Two-thirds of the housing was built before World Was II and most were concentrated
around the mills in the center of the City. Much of Pawtucket’s housing stock built during
that era (1874-1920) consists of three-story wooden structures. Almost 50 percent of
Pawtucket’s housing stock is made up of these multifamily structures.
The emphasis of residential development in Pawtucket and in most of the country,
shifted to lower density single-family units after World War II. A combination of federal
housing policies affecting public housing authorities and private developers resulted in
the construction of five high-rise apartments for senior citizens in and around the
downtown area since 1960.
Although the emphasis remains on single-family homes, in the past ten years mill
buildings have been converted into residential apartments and condominiums.
2- 2
Housing
C. Trends
Much of Pawtucket’s land area is developed. Because so little vacant land remains,
much of the residential building occurring today takes the form of infill development.
Table 2.1 shows the number of housing units in Pawtucket in from 1970-2008. Since
1970, the number of housing units has increased by almost 4,000. However, most of
that growth occurred prior to 1990. From 1990 to 2008 the number has remained
relatively stable. In fact, the 2008 projections show a decrease of almost 200 units.
Table 2.1 Housing Units 1970-2008
1970
1980
1990
2000
2008
27,819
31,615
31,819
31,673
Total
29,763
Source: 2008 American Community Survey and Census 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000
The ratio of single –family to multi-family in Pawtucket is consistent with that of other
central cities in that there is a higher percentage of multifamily units. According to Table
2.2, among the four other cities in Rhode Island of comparable size, Pawtucket has the
second lowest percentage of single-family housing at 37%.
Table 2.2 Units in Structure, 2008
Units in
Structure
Total
1 Detached
1 Attached
2 Units
3-4 Units
5-9 Units
10-19 Units
20 -49 Units
50+ Units
Mobile Homes
Boat, RV, etc.
Cranston
32,087
20,095
749
4,674
2,564
631
731
894
1,712
37
0
%
63
2
15
8
2
2
3
5
0
0
East
Providence
20,756
10,722
447
3,036
2,166
943
891
873
1,579
99
0
%
52
2
15
10
5
4
4
8
0
0
Pawtucket
31,673
10,850
914
5,526
8,337
2,816
1,013
732
1,097
346
42
%
34
3
17
26
9
3
2
3
01
0
Providence
69,011
15,199
2,667
14,420
21,213
4,676
2,525
1,735
6,430
0
146
%
22
4
21
31
7
4
3
9
0
0
Warwick
37,346
26,939
845
1,609
1,162
930
2,622
1,567
1,503
169
0
Source: 2008 American Community Survey
In 1980, 221 units were classified as mobile homes. This category grew to 737 in 1990.
Manufactured homes are included as “other” and would account for a large portion of the
increase in this unit group. The number of mobile homes in 1990 was actually
approximately 375. In 2000, the number of mobile homes grew to 452.
D. Residential Buildout Analysis
Every community has a carrying capacity for development. The buildout analysis is a
method of determining how much development is feasible in a given area based on the
existing land use controls. Theoretically, that capacity is reached when every buildable
parcel of land is subdivided so that it satisfies the minimum zoning requirements and is
then built on. This analysis assumes that all developable land will be developed over
time.
The buildout analysis presents a scenario, based on pre-set assumptions, of the amount
and type of development a community can support. The analysis considers existing land
2- 3
%
72
2
4
3
2
7
4
4
0
0
Housing
use, undeveloped land, and the number of housing units permitted by the Zoning
Ordinance. Although data from the City Assessor indicates that there were
approximately 161 acres of land classified as residential vacant in 2009, other evidence
suggests that the City of Pawtucket is actually very close to buildout in terms of new
development. In theory a total of 1,402 legal lots could be divided from the residentially
zoned vacant land in Pawtucket. However, some of the smaller lots are not contiguous
and therefore do not have enough land area to support a new structure. Also, some of
the lots have been merged with the undersized lots with a structure that are contiguous
and in common ownership which also prevents some vacant lots from becoming
buildable. Therefore, the actual number of units which might be built in the future on the
remaining 161 acres of vacant land is likely to be considerably smaller.
In 2007 the Planning Department conducted an analysis of vacant residential land in the
City of Pawtucket. Using assessor’s data and GIS, they made a preliminary
determination of which of these lots would be merged with adjacent lots because of an
area or frontage nonconformity. The analysis determined that approximately 133 acres
of this vacant residential land was not buildable. This analysis did not take into account
topography or wetland issues, so it is a reasonable assumption that the 30 “buildable”
acres would be further constrained. Assuming that half of the “buildable” land can
indeed be built upon, that would leave 15 acres, upon which would result in
approximately 130 5,000 square foot lots. Based on these assumptions, Pawtucket’s
population at buildout capacity would be approximately 330 people (130 units x 2.541,).
However, this analysis does not take into account redevelopment. The Pawtucket Mill
Building Survey identifies just under 100 mills of varying sizes within City limits. The
redevelopment of these structures normally requires relief from the City Zoning
ordinance to allow more dense redevelopment, with less parking than would be allowed
with new residential development. Without this flexibility, these structures, which are
now inappropriate for large-scale industrial use, would remain vacant and under-utilized.
As noted in a previous section, the density of recent redevelopments ranged from 17 to
over 100 units per acre while zoning allows approximately 12 units per acre.
E. Housing Market Area
Pawtucket is part of the Metropolitan Core housing market area. The Metropolitan Core
housing market area defined by the State Housing Plan consists of older, intensively
urbanized central cities of Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cranston, East
Providence, Johnston and North Providence. These cities all have older highly
developed areas as well as less intensively developed suburban areas.
Table 2.3 shows the total number of housing units in the seven Metropolitan Core
communities. Pawtucket is ranked third in the market area for total housing units.
Pawtucket’s share of the Core housing market area has decreased slightly since 1980.
It accounted for 17.4 percent of the Core area’s housing in both 1980 and 1990 and 17
percent in 2008. Cranston and North Providence gained the most housing since 1980.
The American Community Survey estimates show Pawtucket, East Providence and
North Providence all losing some housing units between 2000 and 2008. However, data
from the Building Department indicates that there actually has been an increase of 249
1
average household size in Pawtucket according to the 2005-2007 American
Community Survey 3-Year Estimate
2- 4
Housing
units from 2000 to 2008 (See Table 2.4). The reason for this discrepancy could be that
the American Community Survey projections do not address the recent conversion of
mills into residential units.
Table 2.3 Housing Units in the Metropolitan Core, 1980-2008
1980
1990
2000
Cranston
27,239
30,516
32,068
East Providence 19,396
20,808
21,309
Pawtucket
29,763
31,615
31,819
Providence
67,513
66,794
67,915
Johnston
8,724
10,384
11,567
Central Falls
7,446
7,337
7,270
North
11,343
14,134
14,867
Providence
Total
171,424
181,588
186,815
2008
32,087
20,756
31,673
69,011
11712
NA
14,740
187,249*
Source: 2008 American Community Survey and Census 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000.
*Total for 2008 assumes that Central Falls is the same as 2000.
Table 2.4 New Units Added 1990-2008
Year
Units
New Units
1990
31,615
74
1991
31,639
64
1992
31,679
123
1993
31,776
21
1994
31,779
21
1995
31,787
15
1996
31,778
35
1997
31,790
35
1998
31,810
25
1999
31,815
22
2000
31,815
18
2001
31,819
18
2002
31,819
50
2003
31,856
82
2004
31,928
39
2005
31,951
61
2006
32,005
42
2007
32,036
22
2008
32,055
22
Demolished
50
24
26
18
13
24
23
15
20
22
14
18
13
10
16
7
11
3
9
Total
31,639
31,679
31,776
31,779
31,787
31,778
31,790
31,810
31,815
31,815
31,819
31,819
31,856
31,928
31,951
32,005
32,036
32,055
32,068
Change
24
40
97
3
8
-9
12
20
5
0
4
0
37
72
23
54
31
19
13
source: Pawtucket Department of Building and Code Enforcement,
2009
F. Household Formation
Table 2.5 describes how the various household types in Pawtucket have changed over
time. The number of households is projected to have fallen approximately 5% from 1990
to 2008. The number of female-headed households is projected to have grown almost
30% from 1990 to 2008. The number of householders older than 65 is projected to
2- 5
Housing
increase substantially as well while the number of married couple families is projected to
fall almost 25%.
Table 2.5 Household Types in Pawtucket, 1990-2008
Total Households
Family Households
Married Couple Families
Male Householder
Female Householder
Non-family Households
Householders Living
Alone
Householder 65 Years +
1990
2000
2008
29,711
19,162
13,932
1,152
4,078
10,549
9,081
30,047
18,520
11,923
1,557
5,040
11,527
9,700
28,015
16,961
10,471
1,217
5,273
11,054
9006
% Change
1990-2008
-5.71%
-11.49%
-24.84%
5.64%
29.30%
4.79%
-0.83%
4,001
3,756
5,419
35.44%
Source: Census 1990, 2000 and American Community Survey 2008
G. Districts
For the purposes of Comprehensive Planning in Pawtucket, eight planning districts were
established. Figure 2.1 illustrates the eight different districts. District boundaries
conform to census tract boundaries and where possible conform to perceived
neighborhoods. Table 2.6 illustrates the estimated number of housing units by planning
district for Pawtucket in 1990 and 2000. Data is not yet available at the census tract
level from the American Community Survey.
Table 2.6 Housing Units by Planning District, 1990-2000
District
1990
% of Total
2000
1
2,899
9.2%
2,950
2
5,924
18.8%
5,868
3
2,487
7.9%
2,590
4
1,851
5.9%
1,751
5
3,603
11.4%
3,698
6
3,347
10.6%
3,486
7
7,275
23.1%
7,409
8
4,136
13.1%
4,067
31,522
31,819
% of Total
9.3%
18.4%
8.1%
5.5%
11.6%
11%
23.3%
12.8%
% Change
1.8%
-1%
4%
-5.5%
2.6%
4%
1.9%
-1.7%
1%
Source: Census 2000
District 1/Fairlawn
District 1 includes census tracts150 and 163 located in the western part of the City. It
includes the Fairlawn section of the City. Housing in this District is primarily single family
with the exception of a number of blocks in the northern Fairlawn area, which is mostly
two-family structures. Homeownership is more prevalent in Darlington than in the City
at-large - 54% versus 44%. The Neighborhood Analysis prepared for the City of
Pawtucket determined that Darlington is generally a white working and middle-class
neighborhood.
2- 6
Housing
District 2/Woodlawn
District 2 encompasses the Woodlawn neighborhood, and includes census tracts 151,
161, and 164. Woodlawn is one of the denser, lower-income neighborhoods within the
City and also holds over 20% of the City’s population. Housing in this district is
dominated by multi-family structures with some exceptions along the southern and
western portions of the neighborhood. Woodlawn also has one of the lowest homeownership and auto-ownership rates in the City.
District 3/Oak Hill and West Riverview
District 3 includes census tracts 165 and 166 and encompassed the area east of
Pawtucket Avenue to the Pawtucket/Blackstone River. The two neighborhoods which
make up this district are very different. West Riverview is characterized by younger,
minority families. Oak Hill on the other hand, has a significantly higher average annual
income than the City-wide figure.
District 4/Barton Street and Downtown
District 4 includes census tract 152 and generally conforms to the central business
district (CBD). District 4 has the smallest supply of housing units in the City with 1,751
units, 5.5% of the units in the City. The Barton Street neighborhood was separated from
the Downtown as part of the efforts of the City and the Pawtucket Citizens Development
Corporation on neighborhood improvements and affordable housing. Downtown has
very few residents – less than 800 according to the 2000 Census – and many of these
units are located within subsidized housing structures, including two large senior citizens
apartment towers. Barton Street, however, is the most dense neighborhood in the City.
The neighborhood can also be characterized as low-income.
District 5/Pleasant View
District 5 includes census tracts 153, 154, and 160 and lies in the north central part of
the City between the Blackstone River and the Industrial Highway. This district, known
as the Pleasant View neighborhood, is dominated by multi-family residential
development. District 5 had 3,603 units in 1990 and 3,698 units in 2000. District 5
comprises 11.6% of the City’s total housing units.
District 6/East Riverview and Quality Hill and Beverage Hill/Plains
District 6 includes census tracts 167 and 171 and lies south of Walcott Street and
Armistice Boulevard between the Blackstone River and the Industrial Highway. This
district is comprised predominately of multi-family residential development but does have
an area of single-family units in its southern portion. District 6 had 3,347 units in 1990
and 3,486 units in 2000, a 4% increase. All neighborhoods have demographics which
are similar to Pawtucket’s City-wide statistics. The Quality Hill neighborhood is
differentiated because it is a district on the National Register of Historic Places. The
East Riverview designation was created to describe a Redevelopment area.
2- 7
Housing
2- 8
Housing
District 7/Darlington and Pinecrest
District 7 includes census tracts 155, 156, 157, 158, and 159 and lies to the north of
Armistice Boulevard between the Industrial Highway and the City’s eastern border with
Seekonk, Massachusetts. This district, being the largest in area, also has the largest
supply of residential units. Single-family development is found generally east of Newport
Avenue and particularly within Pinecrest. District 7 grew by only 1.9% in the 1990’s.
According to the 2000 Census Neighborhood Analysis, Darlington, like Pawtucket as a
whole, is primarily white and working and middle-class. Pinecrest is one of the most
rural sections of Pawtucket and the incomes of Pinecrest residents is approximately
$10,000 higher than City averages.
District 8/Slater Park and Countryside
District 8 includes census tracts 168, 169 and 170 and lies to the south of Armistice
Boulevard between the Industrial Highway and the City’s eastern border with Seekonk,
Massachusetts. This district is the second largest in area but is ranked third in number
of housing units primarily because most of the structures are single-family dwellings.
Both Slater Park and Countryside have higher average annual household and family
incomes than the rest of Pawtucket.
H. Occupancy
The majority of housing units in Pawtucket are multi-family, renter occupied units. The
percentage of owner and renter occupied units has been relatively stable, with renter
occupied just under 50% and owner occupied units just over 50%.
Table 2.7 Occupancy, 1980 - 2000
Owner Occupied
Renter Occupied
Total Occupied
1980
13,103
15,044
28,147
46.6%
53.4%
1990
13,619
16,092
29,711
45.9%
54.1%
2000
13,331
16,716
30,047
2008
44.4%
55.6%
13,152
0.47
14,863
0.53
28,015
Source: Census 2000, American Community Survey 2008
I. Vacancy
Pawtucket’s vacancy rate had been rising, 4.2 percent in 1970 to 5.4 percent in 1980 to
6.0 percent in 1990. 2000 showed a slight decrease in the vacancy rate to 5.6 percent.
However, in 2008 the vacancy rate was estimated to more than double the figure from
2000. This dramatic increase is attributable to the high number of foreclosures. The
vacancy rate for the State of Rhode Island in 2008 was estimated to be 11 percent.
However, the rates for the bigger cities – like Providence and Pawtucket – are much
higher than most other communities. In 2008 the vacancy rate in Providence was
estimated to be 14 %. Even in the other core metropolitan communities – Cranston,
Johnston, East Providence and North Providence – the vacancy rate ranged from 3 to 6
percent.
2- 9
Housing
Table 2.8 Vacancy, 1980 – 2008
1980
# Vacant Units
1,616
Vacancy Rate
5.4
1990
1,904
6.0
2000
1,772
5.6
2008
3,658
12.1
Source: Census 2000, American Community Survey 2008
J. Age and Condition of Housing Units
Fifty-four percent of Pawtucket’s housing units were built before 1940 and another 32
percent were built before 1960. Only 2.7 percent of the City’s housing stock has been
added since 1990. The median year built for a structure in Pawtucket is 1939, compared
to 1956 statewide, and 1974 nationally (2008 American Community Survey).
Table 2.9 Age Distribution of Housing Stock
Year Built
# of Units
Built 2005 or later
Built 2000 to 2004
Built 1990 to 1999
Built 1980 to 1989
Built 1970 to 1979
Built 1960 to 1969
Built 1950 to 1959
Built 1940 to 1949
Built 1939 or earlier
All Houses
81
133
557
1,614
2,008
2,324
4,058
3,677
17,221
31,673
% of Total
0.26%
0.42%
2%
5%
6%
7%
13%
12%
54%
Source: American Community Survey, 2008
Since the majority of Pawtucket’s housing stock was built before 1970, lead paint is a
serious issue facing the City. The Pawtucket Lead Safe Program is funded by HUD’s
Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control and is run in conjunction with
Blackstone Valley Community Action Program, Inc. The Pawtucket Lead Safe Program
provides financial assistance to qualified property owners to reduce lead hazards in their
property. Deferred payment loans are offered and there is minimal cost to the
homeowners until the property is sold or transferred. The goal of the program is to
increase the number of lead-safe housing units in Pawtucket.
K. Substandard, Overcrowded and Abandoned Housing
Substandard housing as defined by the U.S. Census is any unit lacking complete
plumbing facilities for exclusive use. In 2008, 0.5 percent (149 units) of all occupied
units in Pawtucket lacked complete plumbing. Urban center such as Pawtucket typically
have a greater percentage of substandard housing because of the age of the housing
stock.
Housing is considered overcrowded if there is more than one person per room. In 2008,
approximately 733 units or 3 percent of all housing units in Pawtucket were considered
overcrowded according to this criterion.
2 -10
Housing
The City of Pawtucket, like many other urban communities, has been concerned with the
increasing number of vacant, abandoned, or substandard properties and how to
eliminate them. In 1995, the City successfully lobbied the Rhode Island General
Assembly to expand the powers of its Housing Court. The housing court judge now has
the ability to find an individual in contempt of court for failing to comply with a specific
judicial order. Additionally, the judge now has the right to order properties into
receivership, forcing owners to act quickly or lose their property. The judge has also
been given the ability to order the removal of any cloud on the title to a building or
property that has been ordered into receivership. This added authority has greatly
strengthened the enforcement process because the City no longer has to petition the
Superior Court to gain clear title of the property. Since its declaration, more than 250
abandoned or vacant properties have been removed from the City’s abandoned/vacant
property list. This program was nationally recognized by Harvard’s Kennedy School of
Government through its selection as an “Innovations in American Government”
semifinalist.
L. Affordability of Housing
Affordability is most simply defined as housing cost to household income ratio. An
affordable home is one that is within the means of a household at any income level
paying 30 percent of household income for housing expenses. The federal HUD
guidelines for assistance, those used by the City, are as follows:
Table 2.10 2010 Federal Income Guidelines
Moderate
Income
(80% of
median)
Low
Income
(60% of
median)
1 Person
$40,400
2 Person
$46,200
3 Person
$51,950
4 Person
$57,700
5 Person
$62,350
6 Person
$66,950
7 Person
$71,550
8 Person
$76,200
$30,300
$34,620
$38,940
$43,260
$46,740
$50,220
$53,700
$57,120
Housing and Urban Development, 2010
According to Housing Works RI the median selling price of a single family house in
Pawtucket was approximately $177,000 in 2008. The typical monthly mortgage payment
for the median priced house would be $1,358 and the household income required to
afford those payments would be $54,315. The average monthly rent for a two-bedroom
apartment in Pawtucket in 2008 was $1.068, and the household income required for that
rent to be affordable is $42,720. In 2009, the average private sector wage for jobs in
Pawtucket was $36,504 and so the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment
or a median-priced home would not be affordable (Housing Works RI 2009 Fact Book).
M. Federally Funded Housing
Federally Subsidized Housing Units
In Pawtucket, there are eighteen (18) developments that are insured and/or subsidized
by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
2 -11
Housing
Table 2.11 Subsidized Housing Units
Facility
Centennial Tower
Geneva Plaza Apartments
Lawn Terrace
Lonsdale Senior Housing
Northern Plaza
Riverview Terrace
Slater Hill
Taylor Building
Towers East
Woodlawn Gardens (Elderly)
Woodlawn Gardens (Family)
Vincent J. Doyle Manor
Burns Manor
Galego Court
St. Germain Manor
John E. Fogarty Housing
John F. Kennedy Housing
Prospect Heights
Total
Elderly/Handicapped
101
149
130
101
81
104
86
148
31
83
92
112
248
171
1669
Family Units
100
48
44
161
292
626
Source: Pawtucket Housing Authority, 2010
To qualify for these units, applicants must fit into the HUD established “lower” income
limit of $40,400 for 1 person, $46,200 for 2 people, $51,950 for 3 people and $57,700 for
4 people, or “very low” income limit of $25,250 for 1 person, $28,850 for 2 people,
$32,450 for 3 people, $36,050 for 4 people.
The Rhode Island General Assembly has enacted legislation, Chapter 45-25 that allows
cities to establish local public housing authorities. A local public housing authority was
created in Pawtucket in the early 1940’s. The five-person authority, whose members are
appointed by the Mayor, has entered into an agreement with the Department of Housing
and Urban Development to construct and manage public housing. At this time, the
Pawtucket Housing Authority manages six housing complexes for a total of 453 units for
families and 623 units for elderly and handicapped.
Housing Investment Partnership Program (HOME)
The City of Pawtucket Department of Planning and Redevelopment receives HOME
funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). There
are currently several initiatives in place to improve housing conditions for low and
moderate-income residents in the City of Pawtucket.
The Pawtucket Starter HOME Program provides down payment and closing costs grants
to low and moderate-income first-time homebuyers to purchase a home in the City of
Pawtucket. This grant can be used for down payment and closing costs on a newly
purchased Pawtucket property.
A maximum $7,000 in grant assistance is available for the purchase of a multi-family
property in the target neighborhoods of Woodlawn and Pleasant View. Up to $5,000 in
grant assistance is for the purchase of a multi-family property anywhere in the City of
Pawtucket. A maximum of $3,000 is grant assistance is available for the purchase of a
single-family property anywhere in the City.
2 -12
Housing
Blackstone Valley Community Action Program (BVCAP) is the lead agency in the
Pawtucket Starter HOME Program and provides continuous support through the home
buying process. BVCAP offers technical assistance with all paperwork, assists with the
mortgage process, and offers Homebuyer Education classes in several languages.
The Pawtucket Starter HOME Program has assisted more than 495 families to acquire a
home in the City of Pawtucket since its inception in 1994.
HOME funds are also used to provide grant assistance to Pawtucket Citizens
Development Corporation (PCDC) and BVCAP to acquire and rehabilitate abandoned or
substantially distressed housing. These local non-profit agencies also receive
administration funds because they are registered Community Housing Development
Organizations (CHDO).
Homes that are acquired by PCDC or BVCAP are sold to qualified first time homebuyers
or are rented to low to moderate income families at an affordable rate and managed by
the agency.
Housing Rehabilitation Assistance –
The Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency (PRA) offers low interest and deferred loans to
eligible borrowers in order to provide decent, safe and affordable housing for the
residents of Pawtucket. Loans up to $10,000 are available per dwelling unit. These
loans encourage homeowners to make improvements and have pride in their homes.
The Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency’s Residential Rehabilitation Loan Program,
Elderly Paint Program, and the Lead Hazard Control Program, provides direct loans and
grants to low and moderate-income property owners to rehabilitate and improve their
property. This program has been on going for over twenty years.
The Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency has also been making efforts to expand the
availability of housing to low and moderate-income residents by making vacant parcels
and buildable lots available to the Blackstone Valley Community Action Program and
Pawtucket Citizens Development Corporation to construct to new homes for low and
moderate-income buyers.
N. Rhode Island Housing
Pawucket residents are eligible for Rhode Island Housing’s low-interest loans and
products for first-time homebuyers. If there are one or two people within a household,
they may earn up to $87,800* (combined gross annual income) to qualify. Households of
three or more people may earn up to $102,400*.
O. At Risk Subsidized Housing
The Low Income Housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act of 1990 was
enacted to provide a solution of the termination of Section 8 projects whose mortgages
are eligible for prepayment. The Act requires that owners of eligible property file a notice
of intent with HUD, state and local government, stating they are going to terminate lowincome restrictions and seek fair market rents for their units. Tenants must also be
informed of the owners’ filing. Owners seeking to prepay the mortgage, transfer the
2 -13
Housing
project to a qualified purchaser, terminate the low-income restrictions, or extend the
affordability restrictions must file a Plan of Action with HUD, tenants, and state and local
government.
There are 738 units in Pawtucket that are Section 8 and have Housing Assistance
Payment (HAP) contracts.
P. Homeless
As one of the Rhode Island's core urban communities, the City of Pawtucket has a
proportionate share of the state's number of individuals classifying themselves as
"homeless". According to the Rhode Island Emergency Shelter Information Project
Annual Report for 1998-99, the City of Pawtucket was listed third behind Providence and
Cranston as the city of last residence by individuals who availed themselves of homeless
assistance services. Again, according to the aforementioned report, the single biggest
cause of homelessness in Rhode Island is the lack of affordable housing. Rhode Island
is recognized as among the least affordable rental markets in the entire country.
The City of Pawtucket is one of three municipalities (Providence, Woonsocket) that,
along with the State of Rhode Island, receive an annual allocation of federal "Emergency
Shelter Grant" funds to both assist in preventing persons from becoming homeless and
assist those persons who are homeless with basic shelter needs. The 2009-2010
"Emergency Shelter Grant" (ESG) to the City of Pawtucket was $90,687. In addition to
the city's ESG resources, Pawtucket's homeless providers access Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG), HUD Supportive Services, and state homeless
assistance monies as well as private sources of funds. Listed below are brief
descriptions of the homeless assistance providers, which service the Pawtucket area.
New Hope Shelter (former Emergency Shelter of Pawtucket and Central Falls)
The Emergency Shelter of Pawtucket and Central Falls located in Pawtucket operates
ten unit (10) transitional housing apartments. It provides a comprehensive set of
services for homeless individuals designed to move them toward independent living
situations. In 2009-2010, the City of Pawtucket provided $50,000 in Emergency Shelter
Grant funding to help support the operating of the shelter.
Blackstone Shelter
The Blackstone Advocacy Center, located in Central Falls, provides domestic violence
services to women and children in the Blackstone Valley. The Center provides a twentyone (21) bed shelter for women and children in crisis as well as a full complement of
supportive services. In addition, the Center also offers three (3) transitional housing
apartments in an adjacent property. In 2009-2010, the City of Pawtucket provided
$31,153 in Emergency Shelter Grant funding for general operations.
Q. Special Needs Housing
Historically, housing options for the handicapped have been limited. Pawtucket has
been working as a cooperative partner to provide independent group homes for the
mentally and physically challenged. According to Rhode Island Housing, as of May
2009, there were approximately 2,419 group home beds in the state of Rhode Island.
Pawtucket comprises about 5.6% of the total available beds (136 beds available in
2 -14
Housing
residential facilities under 16). The only communities with a higher percentage of the
total are Cranston (7%), Providence (13.2%), and Woonsocket (7.1%)
The Pawtucket Zoning Ordinance was revised in 1994 to conform to the State Enabling
Legislation allowing community residences in all residential and commercial districts, as
well as one industrial district. The Zoning Ordinance also allows for rooming house units
by special use permit.
HOME funds provide a partial rental voucher for low-income clients through the
Blackstone Valley Chapter of the Rhode Island Association of Retarded Citizens
(RIARC). Clients pay 30% of their income towards their rent and HOME funded
assistance pays the difference. This program assists special needs adults to live
independently with the support of a local social service agency.
Another program run by the City is the Removal of Architectural Barriers Program that
provides funding and technical assistance to income eligible residents to install
handicapped ramps at their residence.
R. Low and Moderate Income Housing
In 2009, a total of 8.57% of Pawtucket’s housing units were considered “low or moderate
income” according to the Rhode Island General Laws2. There is an alternative
calculation that also determines whether the municipality falls under the jurisdiction of
the State Housing Appeals Board: “in the case of an urban city or town which has at
least 5,000 occupied rental units and the units, as reported in the decennial census of
the city or town, comprise twenty-five percent (25%) or more the housing units, is in
excess of fifteen percent (15%) of the total occupied rental units. Pawtucket meets this
alternative standard for determining the jurisdiction of the State Housing Appeals Board.”
(The Rhode Island Low and Moderate Income Housing Act, March 2000).
S. At Risk Populations
Indicators of housing need are widely varied and are dependant upon the particular
demand group. These groups may include homeless, young families, disabled persons,
first time homebuyers, the elderly, single parents, etc. In Pawtucket, the following need
groups (among others) can be identified:
Low Income
In Pawtucket, there are individuals and families who are unable to afford the high costs
of housing and rely upon subsidy programs for assistance. Identifying the at-risk groups
2
(1) subsidized by the federal or state government under any program to assist the construction or rehabilitation of low
and moderate income housing as defined in the applicable federal or state statute, and (2) built or operated by: (a) any
public agency or nonprofit organization or limited equity housing cooperative, or (b) private developer of low and oderateincome rental housing that remains low and moderate-income housing for a period of not less than thirty (30) years from
initial occupancy; (3) in which any non-residential component of the proposed development is secondary to the overall
proposal, but in no even shall the non-residential component exceed the lower of: (a) the non-residential proportion or
other measure allowed pursuant to the development’s proposed funding sources; or (b) twenty-five (25%) of the gross
square footage of the proposed development. (4) accept tenant-based rental assistance, mortgages and mortgage
insurance where there is no construction or rehabilitation under a state or federal program (Rhode Island Low and
Moderate Income Housing Act, March 2000)
2 -15
Housing
involves determining the number of individuals and/or families participating in the
following programs: Family Independence Program (FIP), Food Stamps Program,
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and General Public Assistance (GPA). It is
estimated that families in the very low and low-income brackets make up close to 38%
percent of the City’s families. Approximately 14.9 percent of the City’s families are
below the poverty level and 16.8 percent (12,131 individuals) of the City’s total
population is below the poverty level. Individuals and families in these income groups
require additional affordable units and more housing subsidies.
Moderate Income
The moderate-income population consists of those households earning between 80 to
100 percents of the median household income. The actual number of people in this
income range is not known. Estimates indicate that moderate-income families constitute
close to 15 percent of Pawtucket’s families. Assistance in purchasing a first home is
needed for individuals and families in this income bracket.
Elderly
Pawtucket does offer a tax abatement for its elderly residents to assist in keeping in
elderly residents in their own homes. Smaller rental units affordable to people on fixed
incomes are needed for this segment of the population.
Homeless
It is not possible to obtain an accurate number of homeless persons living within
Pawtucket at any one time. Housing costs have been on the rise and are prohibitively
high for many individuals and families with marginal employment. This coupled with
poor economic times will likely lead to an increase in the number of homeless in
Pawtucket and surrounding communities. Additional shelter space and programs
designed to get people back into an independent or semi-independent housing situation
are needed.
Pawtucket has met the alternative standard for “low and moderate income housing” but
the provision of affordable housing will continue to be a primary goal of the City.
The present economic condition of the State and New England in general has led to a
number of foreclosures. Many of the foreclosed properties are multi-family units so
many of the City’s renters have been displaced. Although it may seem that the
availability of vacant housing would be an opportunity to provide affordable housing, this
has not been the case. Lending has become severely restricted and the City still
struggles to provide affordable housing for all of its residents. Following is a summary of
the type of housing that is most needed in Pawtucket:
•
Housing for the homeless. The two local emergency shelters have a combined
capacity of less than 50 beds.
•
Housing for the population of mentally ill persons who find themselves in crisis.
2 -16
Housing
•
Additional affordable rental units and additional subsidies are needed for families
in the very low and low-income brackets.
•
Continued assistance in purchasing a first home for individuals and families in
the moderate-income bracket.
•
Continued subsidies and assistance to keep elderly residents in their own
homes. Households headed by persons over 65 increased from 2000 to 2008
and is anticipated to continue to grow. Smaller rental units affordable to people
on fixed incomes are also needed for this segment of the population.
2 -17
SOURCES
Cassidy, Michael and Herbert Weiss, “Innovations in American Government, Award
Application,” 2000.
City of Pawtucket, Department of Building and Code Enforcement, 2009
City of Pawtucket, “Housing Element”, 1995, 2005
Housing and Urban Development, “Federal Housing and Community Development
Programs, 2010 Income Guidelines,” May 2010.
Housing and Urban Development, “Fair Market Rents,” 2010.
Pawtucket Housing Authority, 2009
Rhode Island Department of Administration, “Economic Development Policies and Plan,”
State Guide Plan Element 211, April 2000.
Rhode Island Department of Administration, “State Housing Plan,” State Guide Plan
Element 421, March 2000.
Rhode Island Emergency Shelter Information Project, “Annual Report,” July 1. 1998June 30, 1999.
Rhode Island Housing, “Community Residences for Mental Health, Retardation,
Substance Abuse, and Children’s Services by RI City and Town,” May 2000.
Rhode Island Housing, “Low and Moderate Income Housing by Community,” April 2009.
Rhode Island Low and Moderate Income Housing Act, RIGL 45-53, March 2000.
Housing: 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000. American Community Survey 2008.
2-18
2011 Update
Chapter 3 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Table of Contents
3-1
3-2
3-11
Sources
3-12
3- 1
I. Goals, Policies and Actions
Goals
Objectives
Policies
Actions
1. A strong,
diverse and
vital
commercial
downtown.
1. Decrease
the amount of
vacant square
footage within
downtown
Pawtucket.
1. Support the maintenance and expansion of existing
businesses in Pawtucket, especially within the downtown.
ED 1 Seek funding sources and implement the Downtown Urban Design
and Circulation Study.
2. Support and encourage policies that entice artists, art
organizations and art institutions to relocate to Pawtucket
ED 2 Prepare promotional marketing materials, including a portfolio of
successful adaptive reuse projects and a specialized economic
development web presence.
3. Provide the adequate infrastructure including utilities,
roadways, and parking facilities, at appropriate locations for
economic development activities.
ED 3 Update the Redevelopment Plan.
4. Support the efforts of the Pawtucket Business Development
Corporation (PBDC) in providing assistance to area
businesses through low interest loans, information, and
referrals, including the allocation of CDBG funding to PBDC
for secondary low-interest loans to Pawtucket companies.
ED 5 Improve visitor access to major attractions by developing and
implementing a cohesive signage program.
2. A vibrant
mixed-use
riverfront.
3. Successful
businesses
within the
manufacturing,
health care,
and artsrelated
businesses.
4. A welleducated,
prepared,
workforce.
2. Increase the
number of
businesses in
Pawtucket.
3. Increase the
number of jobs
in Pawtucket.
ED 4 Improve the visibility and accessibility of downtown parking.
ED 6 Develop a list of vacant downtown buildings, which identifies the
code and other issues that need to be addressed.
ED 7 Establish a regular local business visitation program.
4. Increase the
number of high
paying jobs in
Pawtucket
within the
manufacturing,
health care
and artsrelated
businesses.
5. Cleanup 10
acres of
contaminated
property in 10
years.
6. Increase
graduation
rate.
5. Coordinate with the Rhode Island Economic Development
Corporation.
6. Utilize federal and state programs and financial incentives to
remediate and reuse brownfield sites within the City.
7. Utilize the tax stabilization ordinance and other economic
incentives as a means to encourage the expansion of
economic development.
ED 8 Work with RIDOT and FTA to advance the Pawtucket/Central Falls
Commuter Rail Station.
ED 9 Explore the creation of a downtown Business Improvement District.
ED 10 Create a written economic development plan.
ED 11 Identify source of public subsidy/financing for Roosevelt Avenue
development.
8. Hold weekly developer meetings to assist in the navigation
of the City’s regulatory review process and monthly meetings
to identify ways to streamline the process.
ED 12 Investigate potential to expand availability of higher education
within Pawtucket.
9. Continue to establish relationships with similar sized
communities worldwide to foster cultural exchanges.
ED 14 Work with the Pawtucket Foundation to implement their marketing
program.
10. Actively recruit and provide funding to restaurants,
galleries, grocery stores, retail and other uses which support
residential development, to locate in the downtown.
ED 15 Analyze land within Industrial Zones to determine whether
additional development is feasible, or if the land is more appropriately
preserved as Open Space.
ED 13 Establish a regular monthly program for downtown events.
ED 16 Designate a Growth Center within Pawtucket.
3- 1
A. Introduction
Once an industrial powerhouse, the City of Pawtucket has been combating economic
decline since the late 1950’s when it began to lose first its manufacturing base and then
much of its downtown retail as a result of suburbanization, competition from southern
textile mills, the construction of Interstate 95 and, most recently an increasingly global
economy.
Since then, the City’s economic development efforts have been focused on both
retaining manufacturing jobs and revitalizing the downtown. In 1985 the City of
Pawtucket and the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency developed an overall economic
development strategy to revitalize the downtown which was multi-faceted and capitalized
on Pawtucket’s strengths. Revitalization efforts focused on attracting a mix of
commercial, office and residential using the riverfront, the City’s historic resources, and
access to Interstate 95 as a draw. The City also began to focus on the arts as a vehicle
for revitalization in the late 1990’s and has implemented an Arts District, developed a
successful Arts Festival and provided funding for local artists.
These efforts have begun to pay off. Many of the City’s vacant and under-utilized mill
buildings have been converted into commercial and residential uses – four hundred and
fifty new residential units have been permitted, and over three hundred and fifty are
planned within downtown Pawtucket. The current economic climate, which is not only
affecting Pawtucket but the region and nation as well, is not conducive to economic
growth. The City’s short term economic goals are to maintain the gains realized in the
past decade, and to take this opportunity to plan for the future.
B. Regional Overview
Located just to the north of Providence, Pawtucket is the fourth largest city in Rhode
Island. Like all communities, Pawtucket’s economy is built on inter-relationships that
stretch far beyond the City’s borders. – Pawtucket is linked with the labor markets of
both Providence and Boston and is at the southern end of the Blackstone Valley.
At present, Pawtucket is feeling the tremors of a larger economic readjustment affecting
all of the United States. Unemployment statistics from the RI Department of Labor and
Training in June 2009 showed an unemployment rate in Pawtucket as 11.9% (down from
over 15% a year ago), and 10.6% statewide, compared with an average of 7.9% for the
rest of the New England States. The per capita income of Pawtucket ($20,855) still well
below the state average ($27,515) and the MSA ($29,613)1. This fact is likely based on
the nature of Pawtucket’s employment which is largely comprised of traditionally lower
paying jobs like manufacturing and retail. Median household income in 2008 was
estimated to be $41,391, compared to a statewide household income of $55,701 (2008
American Community Survey). Since the 1960’s, Pawtucket has consistently been
below the State’s median family income. The 2008 American Community Survey
1
Per capita income estimates come from the 2005-2007 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates.
3- 2
estimates that 18 percent of the population in Pawtucket had incomes below the poverty
level, compared to 11 percent statewide.
C. Labor Force
The total labor force in Pawtucket decreased 4.4% from 1990 to 2000 - from 37,372 in
1990 to 35,745 in 2000 - but the 2008 American Community Survey estimates that this
number is back up above 38,000. Table 3.1 below describes the educational attainment
of Pawtucket residents as compared to Rhode Island and the nation. Compared to the
state and nation, Pawtucket has proportionately more residents who did not finish high
school, and less than have obtained at least a four-year college degree. The Pawtucket
Foundation’s Blueprint Bridge to Prosperity identifies education and job training as one
of its “strategic pillars” for economic success in the City of Pawtucket.
Table 3.1 Educational Attainment, Population 25 Years and Older
United States
Rhode Island
Did not finish high school
High School Graduate/GED
Associates Degree/ Some College
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher
Total
Number
30,068,765
57,032,214
57,571,857
55,357,182
200,030,018
%
15
29
29
28
100
Number
115,478
197,197
183,191
212,880
708,746
%
16
28
26
30
100
Pawtucket
Number
12,141
15,111
12,477
8,593
48,322
%
25
31
26
18
100
Source: 2008 American Community Survey
D. Employment in Pawtucket
This section of the community profile addresses the employment available in Pawtucket,
and does not necessarily reflect employment for Pawtucket residents rather, indicated
jobs within the City that are available to anyone in the State or Region.
Table 3.2 shows the current and historic breakdown of occupations within the City.
Although it continues to decline, manufacturing is still the second largest industry
employer category in Pawtucket. Because of economic circumstances that affect the
region and nation, many of the sectors have lost employees. However, Table 3.2 also
shows where the City’s efforts to attract artists and other professionals has been
successful. These industry groups all show a marked increase. Employees under
arts, entertainment and recreation have increased almost 50% since 2002.
Table 3.2 Occupations in Pawtucket 2002-2008
2002
Average Employment
Total Private & Government
Total Private Only
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting
Mining
Utilities
Construction
Manufacturing
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Transportation & Warehousing
28,410
26,167
*
0
*
1,095
7,525
659
2,362
512
2008
26,122
23,617
0
0
9
902
4,830
542
1,787
421
% Change
(8)
(10)
(18)
(36)
(18)
(24)
(18)
3- 3
Information
Finance & Insurance
Real Estate & Rental & Leasing
Professional & Technical Services
Management of Companies & Enterprises
Administrative Support/ Waste Mngmnt.
Educational Services
Health Care & Social Assistance
Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation
Accommodation & Food Services
Other services (except Public Administration)
Unclassified Establishments
Public Administration
1,084
906
322
462
1,181
1,729
269
5,086
335
1,279
1,341
6
2,243
260
905
265
632
1,485
1,963
389
5,762
495
1,616
1,354
*
2,503
(76)
(0)
(18)
37
26
14
45
13
48
26
01
12
Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, 2009.
2
The number of jobs available in Pawtucket decreased from 31,481 in 1989 to 27,085 in
2000. In the period from 2002-2008 there was a net loss of 2,288 jobs. Manufacturing
lost 4,621 jobs in the 1990’s, and another approximately 2,600 so far in the 2000s.
Besides Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Information occupations had the smallest
total employment in Pawtucket with 260 employees. Retail Trade saw a decrease in 575
jobs between 1990 and 2000. The second largest occupation group in the City of
Pawtucket in 2008 was Health Care and Social Assistance.
In 2009, there were 42 employers in Pawtucket who employed 100 or more people (see
Table 3.3). Much of the growth that Pawtucket did experience in recent years, however,
has been as a result of smaller enterprises. The City’s focus on the arts has resulted in
a number of artists locating their studios in Pawtucket which are generally one or two
person small businesses.
Table 3.3 Twelve Largest Private Employers in Pawtucket
Employer
Memorial Hospital
Hasbro, Inc.
Gateway Healthcare, Inc.
International Packaging Corp.
Collette Vacations
ARC of Blackstone Valley
PFPC Inc.
PNC Global Investment Servicing
Teknor Apex
Aid Maintenance Co., Inc.
Lifetime Medical Nursing Services
Pawtucket Red Sox
Number of Employees
1,733
1,511
800
603
350
350
334
334
325
300
300
300
Product or Services
Health Care
Toys and Games
Health Services
Containers for Gifts
Travel Agency
Non-Profit/Human Services
Financial Services
Data Processing
Rubber and Plastics
Commercial Cleaning
Nursing Services
Baseball League
Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, 2009
New commercial and industrial construction is one indicator of the growth of the City’s
economic base. The number of construction jobs remained relatively stable from 20022008. This number is anticipated to go up over the next year, as a result of the stimulus
2
* Information not available.
3- 4
programming. Since the 2005 update, the new commercial and industrial square
footage has increased slowly (City of Pawtucket Building Department, 2010). These
figures, however, do not take into consideration the rehabilitation of space for
commercial or industrial uses in historic mill and other buildings.
E. Industrial Development and Redevelopment
The Zoning Ordinance classifies industrial areas into two types. The first is
manufacturing built-up (MB) which consists of established multi-story structures. The
second is manufacturing open (MO) which consists of the newer areas with more vacant
land. Very little of MB zoned land is vacant – 3.2 acres – while there are 119 acres of
vacant land zoned MO. In addition, some of these buildings are no longer appropriate
for reuse as industrial (with the exception of small-scale industrial/artisan type use).
While there is a good amount of vacant land zoned MO, much of it is constrained by
topography and wetlands. Specifically, much of this land is located along the
Moshassuck Valley Canal. As noted in the Land Use Chapter, it is unclear how much, if
any, land in Pawtucket is currently available for new industrial development. The City
needs to review the Industrial Zones and determine which areas would be more
appropriate as open space, because of environmental constraints. The John H. Chaffee
Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission has completed a study of the
Blackstone Canal in Rhode Island and has determined that the segment in Pawtucket
which is identified in Figure 1.4 is worthy of preservation.
In addition, some of it has been rezoned to Riverfront Development Zoning Districts.
New industrial enterprises will result from the redevelopment of mills where appropriate
and also the build out of other areas, like the Narragansett Industrial Park.
Pawtucket’s legacy of historic mills speaks to the historic importance of large-scale
manufacturing. However, the current reality is that smaller-scale niche manufacturing
continues to be successful within the City. Currently, there are just under 200 different
manufacturers in Pawtucket with employees ranging from 1 to 5,000.
F. Tax Base
It is widely accepted that residential development does not “pay its own way”, that is, the
cost of services demanded by the typical residential use is not met by the amount of
taxes they pay to the City. Therefore, most residential development is a drain on the
City’s resources. To offset the drain of residential development, a strong industrial and
commercial base is necessary. A breakdown of the real estate assessments is shown in
Table 3.4. Residential uses account for approximately 80 percent of the real estate tax
base, while commercial and industrial real estate comprised approximately 20 percent.
Table 3.4 Tax Base Information
Use
One Family Residence
Two-Five Family Residence
Commercial II
Apartments
Industrial
Value
$1,822,939,800
$1,071,529,600
$277,872,600
$264,054,900
$259,873,200
Percent of Total
44.13%
25.94%
6.73%
6.39%
6.29%
3- 5
Commercial I
Residential Condominium
Combination
Commercial-Industrial Vacant Land
Residential Vacant Land
Utilities & RR
Other
Commercial Condominium
Mobil Homes
Industrial Condominium
Total
$137,249,400
$102,470,800
$74,809,300
$41,132,700
$23,643,600
$14,603,600
$12,927,900
$11,767,900
$9,380,800
$6,235,800
$4,130,491,900
3.32%
2.48%
1.81%
1.00%
0.57%
0.35%
0.31%
0.28%
0.23%
0.15%
100.00%
Pawtucket Tax Assessor, 2009
G.
Economic Development Focus Areas
Downtown
Pawtucket’s downtown has been the subject of numerous studies and redevelopment
efforts in the past and many of these past efforts have not flourished as anticipated.
However, recent efforts have begun to have an impact. Currently two hundred and fifty
new residential units have been built, and over five hundred are planned, for almost
eight hundred new residents living within walking distance of downtown Pawtucket (See
Figure 3.1). There are also a number of ongoing downtown redevelopments which will
result in over 150,000 sf of commercial and office space, with another 350,000 sf
planned. The historic W.T. Grant building on Main Street has been rehabilitated and is
almost fully tenanted, bringing retail back to the downtown. There are now five galleries
within the downtown, as well as Stone Soup Coffeehouse, a venue for musical
performers, the Mixed Magic Theater, the Gamm Theater, a yoga studio, and a number
of new restaurants.
Following is a summary of some of the recent initiatives which focus on downtown
Pawtucket:
•
•
•
Downtown Pawtucket National Register District - Downtown Pawtucket was
recently listed as a National Register District. The City of Pawtucket recently
completed a signage project, which identifies the newly designated District, and
identifies contributing structures. The recent listing makes the federal tax credits
available to owners of contributing structures within the District, and the City has
marketed this opportunity to downtown property owners.
Arts and Entertainment District - In 1998 the City of Pawtucket implemented
the City’s Arts and Entertainment District. The Rhode Island General Assembly
passed a law establishing the District in an area of the City that encompasses the
downtown and mill district areas (approximately 307 acres). The State and City
provide significant tax incentives to artists selling original art, who live and work
within the district, and to art galleries that are established within the district
boundaries. The City’s Department of Planning and Redevelopment maintains
an extensive inventory of available commercial and industrial space within the
arts and entertainment district to provide those interested relocating, information
on properties that may be available for use as gallery or studio space.
“Design Exchange” Armory Arts Planning Area - Plans are also ongoing to
develop an educational/arts cluster in that area of downtown containing Tolman
High School, the Pawtucket Armory and existing industrial properties on
3- 6
Exchange Street. The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre is now in its 7th season
at the Pawtucket Armory and now has 1,850 subscribers. The Pawtucket Armory
Association is working on reusing the remainder of the Armory as
theater/performance space.
There are also a number of upcoming opportunities for downtown Pawtucket:
•
Roosevelt Avenue Redevelopment Site - The Pawtucket Foundation is
working with the City on a project that could dramatically impact downtown
Pawtucket: the redevelopment of a 2.4-acre City and Redevelopment Agency
owned vacant site on Roosevelt Avenue. Recently a marking study was
completed to identify potential uses.
•
Apex – The Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles recently left its location
within downtown Pawtucket.
•
Fish Ladders at the Main Street and Slater Mill Dam – This attraction would
bolster the City’s and the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council’s efforts to develop
cultural tourism within Pawtucket and the Blackstone Valley.
•
National Park Service in Blackstone Valley – The Secretary of the Interior is
conducting a Special Resource Study (SRS) to explore the potential for a
permanent National Park Service (NPS) presence in the Blackstone Valley. A
possible result of the study could be Congressional action creating a new unit of
the National Park System in the Blackstone Valley.
The following table summarizes the recent mill redevelopments. All of these, except for
the Hope Artiste Village project, are located within and around downtown Pawtucket.
There are an additional 450 residential units completed and currently permitted within ½
mile of downtown Pawtucket, and another 350 that are planned.
Table 3.5, Mill Redevelopment Projects in Pawtucket
Mill Redevelopment
# of Units/ sf Commercial
Bayley Lofts - Completed
Riverfront Lofts – Completed
Hope Webbing – Half Complete
Union Wadding – Partly Complete
Slater Cotton – Complete
The Thread Factory - Proposed
25
59
135/ 220,000 sf commercial and light industrial
242 (45 of the 242 are complete)
125/6000 sf office
376 / 150,000 sf commercial and 200,000 sf light industrial
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3- 8
3-8
The Arts
Over the past 10 years, the City of Pawtucket has focused its revitalization efforts on the
arts. This focus on the arts has resulted in a number of events which bring people into
the City - The City of Pawtucket Arts Festival is in its 10th year and its Film Festival is in
its tenth year. The Pawtucket Arts Festival was listed as one of the largest “Tourist and
Cultural Attractions” in the 2009 Book of Lists prepared by the Providence Business
News. This event was estimated to draw 25,000 visitors to the City of Pawtucket. The
Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theater, located in the Pawtucket Armory, was estimated to
bring 27,000 people into downtown Pawtucket.
As noted in the previous section, the City of Pawtucket has created an Arts and
Entertainment that centers on the downtown. The City has also instituted grant
programs to support the arts and spur local economic development. The Arts Panel
reviews application for small grants ($500-$2000) which provide exposure to the arts to
Pawtucket residents at a minimal or no cost. In previous years, the Arts Panel has
received 8-10 applications. In 2009, the Panel received over 30 applications. In
addition, the City provides organizational funding for established non-profit arts
organizations which have performance or gallery space within Pawtucket. In addition to
the downtown, there are a number of other clusters of artists in Pawtucket, the newly
renovated Hope Artiste Village, 560 Mineral Spring Avenue, 250 Esten Avenue, 545
Pawtucket Avenue. While small artist studios have a minimal visual impact, the City
appreciates that they are small businesses who have an economic impact.
Transportation
There are a number of transportation initiatives which will affect economic development
in the City of Pawtucket: the Blackstone Valley Bikeway; the proposed
Pawtucket/Central Falls Commuter Rail Station; circulation within the downtown and the
new I-95 Bridge.
Blackstone Valley Bikeway – The proposed Blackstone Valley Bikeway will ultimately
link Worcester, Massachusetts to the City of Pawtucket. Segments of the bikeway,
including Lincoln and Cumberland, have been completed. The Pawtucket portion is
currently at 10 % design and the City has agreements for nearly all of the land required
to develop the Bikeway. The Blackstone Valley Bikeway will be both a resource to
commuters and tourists. The Bikeway in Pawtucket begins at Town Landing, a riverfront
site, and travels through historic downtown Pawtucket, past the Slater Mill. The Bikeway
provides a complement to the work of the Slater Mill and Blackstone Valley Tourism
Council to promote the City and region as a cultural tourism destination.
Commuter Rail Station – The proposed station in Pawtucket has two potential benefits
- providing transit options to residents of the neighborhoods surrounding the station who
are disproportionately low-income, minority and transit dependent; and providing a
needed economic boost to both cities. The cities believe that the commuter rail station
will help to encourage economic development in the surrounding areas, including
downtown Pawtucket. The introduction of a station will provide a low-cost transportation
alternative for Pawtucket residents commuting to Boston and Providence, and,
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eventually, to the airport and south to the University of Rhode Island. The Great
American Station Foundation commissioned a 43-city study in 2001 to analyze the
beneficial economic impacts of stations on communities in which stations were
revitalized. Data for the two communities of Pawtucket and Central Falls were estimated
using the figures modeled for a community in our size category located in a “high
density” rail corridor. This model suggests that up to 550 new jobs could be generated
by the construction of the Pawtucket station. The cities are looking at the proposed
Commuter Rail station to help reactivate old industrial and commercial buildings.
Pawtucket River Bridge – This $100 million bridge will feature an iconic design that
changes the image of Pawtucket from Interstate 95. Unlike the old bridge, the new one
will be designed as a bridge, not merely an overpass, to let travelers know that they are
passing over the Pawtucket River.
Downtown Circulation - The current downtown traffic pattern was initiated in the
1960’s as a way to alleviate the effects of newly constructed I-95 on the downtown. The
City of Pawtucket is currently conduction a study which focuses on improving auto,
pedestrian and bicycle transportation in and around the downtown.
H. Summary of Economic Development/Business Retention Programs
The City of Pawtucket, working through the Pawtucket Business Development
Corporation and the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency, provides a number of
opportunities and incentives for prospective and existing Pawtucket businesses.
Table 3.6 Summary of City Economic Development/Retention Programs
Program
Description
Arts and Entertainment
District
State sales tax exemptions can be obtained for artworks sold
within the arts and entertainment district for “one-of-a-kind” or
limited production works of art. The District also exempts artists
living and working within the district from state income tax on the
income generated from their creative work as an artist, writer,
dance, composer/performer, sculptor, painter, photographer,
actor, etc.
Pawtucket has a designated Enterprise Zone. In FY 08 there
were 47 businesses participating, and 29 new full time jobs were
created during this time period.
Federal Tax Credits are available for approved rehabilitation for
historic commercial buildings within the downtown.
The City offers two grant opportunities annually: Project based
grant program (which awards $500-$2000 for art projects and
programs that benefit the City) and an annual grant for operating
costs for arts organizations.
The PBDC offers low interest loans for relocation assistance for
firms moving into Pawtucket as well as real estate and
equipment purchases.
The PRA offers low-interest loans for commercial or residential
rehabilitation.
Enterprise Zone
Downtown National
Register District
Arts Grants
Pawtucket Business
Development Corporation
- Low interest loans
Pawtucket Redevelopment
Agency – Low interest
loans
Tax Treaties
The City Council may make tax treaties available for significant
redevelopment projects.
3 - 10
Manufacturing has historically been the mainstay of employment in Pawtucket and is
likely to remain an important part of the City’s economic base. However, the City will
have to take a more active role in maintaining its industry. To facilitate expansion of
industries, which are likely to remain strong, the City should continue with its business
retention programs and continue to emphasize communication between businesses and
local government. The City should also recognize that manufacturing jobs will continue
to be lost and should help displaced workers find the retraining they need to continue in
the workforce.
Pawtucket does not have a great deal of vacant industrial land suitable for new
development. The City does have an estimated 1 million square feet of vacant industrial
space found in existing mill structures as shown by a detailed mill inventory conducted
by the City. Pawtucket should focus its efforts on maintaining viable industrial spaces for
industrial uses, and allowing a more flexible redevelopment of other vacant and
abandoned mill space. To this end, the City should continue its efforts to promote and
market available space to small businesses, like artists.
The City’s current economic development efforts have two focus areas – the downtown
and the arts. The City’s recent projects and initiatives are geared toward making the
downtown more marketable and also enticing artists to locate in Pawtucket. The current
economic climate is not conducive to investment and revitalization. However, the City is
taking this opportunity to plan for the future by identifying access and parking
improvements to the downtown and preparing a marketing strategy which promote the
City’s resources.
3 - 11
SOURCES
Cassidy, Michael and Herbert Weiss, “Customer Service Key to Growing an Arts
Community,” Northeastern Economic Developers Association, Pg. 54- 60, 1999.
City of Pawtucket, “An Ordinance Establishing Guidelines for the Exemption or
Stabilization of Taxes on Qualifying Property Located in the City of Pawtucket,” Chapter
2539, October, 1999.
City of Pawtucket, “Arts and Entertainment District,” 2000.
City of Pawtucket, “Economic Development Element”, 1995, 2005
City of Pawtucket, “Pawtucket’s Business Development Corporation, Annual Report,”
2010.
Preservation Society of Pawtucket, “Pawtucket Mill Building Survey,” 1990.
Providence Business News, “Book of Lists”, 2009
Rhode Island Department of Administration, “Economic Development Policies and Plan,”
State Guide Plan Element 211, April 2000,
Rhode Island Department of Administration, “Mill Building Reuse: A Survey of Current
Mill Conditions in Rhode Island and the Market for Mill Space,” Statewide Planning
Technical Paper Number 150, February 2001.
Rhode Island Department of Administration, “Industrial Land Use Plan,” State Guide
Plan Element 212, August 2000.
Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, “Area Profile for Pawtucket,” 2009.
Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, “Private U.I. Covered Employment and
Wages, City and Town Summary,” 2010.
Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, Research Division, “Pawtucket,
Rhode Island,” 2009
Housing: 1980, 1990, 2000.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, American Community Survey,
2008
City of Pawtucket
3 - 12
2011 Update
Chapter 4 – NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
Table of Contents
4-1
4-3
4-21
Sources
4-22
4-1
Goal
Objective
Policy
Action
1. Use reduced salt level for winter snow and ice
removal on city streets and sidewalks, and properly site
and manage salt storage to prevent adverse water
quality impacts.
NR 1 Continue to work with the Pawtucket Water Supply Board in
implementing their Water Supply Management Plan.
Natural Resource Goals
1. Protect and
improve ground
and surface
water quality by
alleviating and
where possible
eliminating
point and nonpoint sources of
water pollution.
2. Preserve and
restore any
existing natural
areas within
Pawtucket.
1. Maintain
current
acreage of
natural areas
within
Pawtucket.
2. Using the
MetroBay
Samp mapping
as guidance,
restore 1 acre
of riverfront
area.
3. In the next
10 years,
cleanup 5
acres of
contaminated
land.
2. Utilize best management practices for design of new
storm water management systems and regularly
maintain the existing storm water management and
drainage systems through cleaning catch basins and
scheduled street cleaning.
3. Work cooperatively with State agencies and regional
authorities to correct the problem of combined sewer
overflows.
4. Assess, working with the RIDEM, the water quality
impacts of material salvage yards found along the
Blackstone and Moshassuck Rivers and implement
mitigation measures as required.
5. To the maximum extent feasible, retain and restore
the quality of the remaining natural wetlands within the
City.
6. Investigate opportunities to restore riverfront areas,
as identified through the Metro Bay Special Area
Management Plan process.
NR 2 Continue to work with the Department of Public Works to minimize
the use of salt on watershed roadways.
NR 3 Continue to maintain and update information on unique, rare, and
endangered natural resources within the City.
NR 4 Continue to offer the street tree program to City residents and to
enforce the landscape requirements of the Zoning Ordinance to expand
the number and concentration of trees in the City. Consider expanding
the tree planning program to allow public trees to be allowed on private
land.
NR 5 Continue to apply for RIDEM Targeted Brownfields Assessment
grants and US EPA Cleanup Grants.
NR 6 Continue to advocate for the next segment of the Ten Mile River
Bikeway to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and establish
a relationship with the Ten Mile River Watershed Alliance to help move
the project forward.
NR 7 Continue to provide support for the development of Fish Ladders at
the Slater Mill and Main Street dams.
NR 8 Coordinate with Narragansett Bay Commission on the status of the
CSO abatement project.
7. Work with the Department of Public Works to
implement RIDEM’s requirements for stormwater runoff.
8. Support the efforts of local watershed organizations
in protecting water quality and species habitat.
4-1
4-3
Cultural Resources Goals
1. Preserve or
assess
archaeological
resources to
expand the
body of
knowledge
about the
pattern of
Rhode Island
settlement.
2. Preserve
through use, or
reuse,
structures or
sites in the
National
Register of
Historic Places,
in the Local
Historic District,
or other
structures and
sites of historic
significance to
the city.
3. Preserve the
integrity of
historic
neighborhoods
where most of
the residential
structures are
more than 70
years old.
1. Expand the
Local Historic
District by 10
properties by
2020.
1. Support efforts to re-establish the State Historic Tax
Credit.
CR 1 Establish a cemetery commission to promote the preservation and
enhancement of the city’s cemeteries.
2. Continue to identify and document historic resources
within the City.
CR 2 Map historic resources using Geographical Information Systems
(GIS) as part of a program to locate and identify historic sites and
structures.
2. Increase
understanding
and
appreciation
for the City’s
cultural
resources.
3. Expand the local historic districts where appropriate.
3. Maintain all
of the City’s
National
Register listed
and eligible
properties.
4. Encourage a reuse of vacant structures of historic or
architectural interest.
5. Coordinate activities with the BRVNHC Visitor Center
to promote visitors at the Slater Mill and other area
attractions.
6. Continue to support the historic preservation efforts
and programs of the Preservation Society of Pawtucket
CR 3 Enhance the aesthetics of the historic bridges on the rivers by
lighting their architectural details.
CR 4 Offer design assistance through DPR to developers and owners of
historic structures in the city.
CR 5 Continue to provide financial incentives for landlord occupied multifamily historic housing.
7. Continue to research, map and predict archeological
sites throughout the City.
CR 6 Continue the partnership between the City, Pawtucket
Redevelopment Agency and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and
Heritage Commission to provide low interest loans for house repairs
through the Historic Properties Rehabilitation Initiative.
8. Encourage preservation of historic buildings over
new construction where appropriate.
CR 7 Support efforts to rehabilitate and reuse the Pawtucket Armory as a
Performing Arts Center.
9. Support the educational efforts of PSP and the
RIHPHC.
CR 8 Work with the John H. Chaffee National Heritage Corridor
Commission to preserve land along the Moshassuck Canal – specifically
those areas behind Lorraine Mills.
10. Explore lead-safe guidelines that work with, as
opposed to removing, historic fabric on historic
properties.
11. Encourage the use of the plans and specifications
from the RIHMFC affordable housing design context,
"Design Rhode Island".
12. Using the Pawtucket Mill Building Survey (1990,
reprinted 1995) published by the Preservation Society
of Pawtucket (PSP), provide information to potential
developers about available incentives for the
rehabilitation of vacant or underused industrial
buildings.
CR 9 Work with the Public Library and the Preservation Society to identify
a long-term plan for the Elizabeth J. Johnson Pawtucket History Research
Center.
CR 10 Maintain a list of properties eligible for the National Register.
CR 11 Consider expansion of the Local District tax abatement to
commercial properties.
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4-2
A. Introduction
This section of the Comprehensive Plan examines both the natural and man-made
resources of Pawtucket. The City is nearly built-out, which makes it imperative that the
existing natural resources be protected. Pawtucket also has played a significant part in
the history of the nation, and of Rhode Island and so has many important cultural
resources which are afforded varying degrees of protection.
B. Land Resources
Geology
The presence of stable soils for building foundations and the absence of natural hazards
have contributed to the developed character of the City. Topographically, Pawtucket can
be described as a section of a broad coastal plain varied by two low hills and
occasionally steep banks along the three southward flowing rivers, the Moshassuck, the
Blackstone (the Blackstone River is referred to as the Pawtucket River south of the Main
Street Bridge) and the Ten Mile. Local relief is about 100 feet. The highest elevation,
182 feet, is reached on Windmill Hill in the City’s southwestern corner.
Underlying the glacial silt, sand, gravel and boulders that cover most of the City are
sedimentary rocks (shale or conglomerate), approximately 350 million years old, of the
Pennsylvania Period. There are outcrops of the formation visible from the Main Street
Bridge in the channel of the Seekonk River and at the Blackstone River Falls.
Eighteenth century drawings of the area show an extensive rock outcrop at the Falls
(Main Street Bridge) that was used for fishing by the Indians. Later construction of
foundation walls has reduced the extent of the visible rock outcrop. The bedrock
formation in most of Rhode Island is overlain by layers or deposits of unstratified and
stratified drift left some 10,000 to 12,000 years ago by melting glaciers. Stratified drift or
outwash is the name given to layers of sorted sand, gravel, clay, and boulders, while
unstratified drift, or till, is the same unsorted material.
Approximately 80 percent of Pawtucket is covered by stratified drift, and it is deeper in
the channel of the ancestral Pawtucket/Seekonk and Blackstone Rivers. Generally, the
stratified drift or outwash is less that fifty feet thick, and it reaches a maximum of one
hundred fifty feet in the river channels. Only the higher elevations of Pawtucket, in the
Oak Hill Area and near Windmill Hill on the Providence border, have unsorted till.
Soil
The formation of soil cover is a process that takes thousands of years, and the resulting
soil is a unique product of physical, chemical, and geological conditions. As the previous
section has described, Pawtucket was covered with material deposited during a period
of glaciation, and the soil cover in the area is the result of many forces acting to
transform sand and gravel into soil. Rhode Island is fortunate that the entire state has
been mapped by the Department of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Service and the
Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station.
4-3
The major soil types are listed in Table 4.1. The table shows that two major soil types
combine to make up 70 percent of the Pawtucket area. These two types are the
Merrimack Sandy Loam Series and Windsor Loam Sand Series. On the average, the
soil is six feet in depth.
Table 4.1 Major Soil Types, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Soil Type
Acres
Merrimac Sandy Loam Series
Windsor Loam Sand Series
Paxton Sandy Loam Series
Hinckley Gravelly Sandy Loam
Cut and Fill
Miscellaneous Soil Groups
Landfills
Total Area in Acres
2875
1115
515
410
305
170
20
5410
Percentage
53.1
20.6
9.5
7.5
5.6
3.1
0.6
100%
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Survey of Rhode Island, 1981.
For the purposes of planning, the two largest soil types comprising nearly 75 percent of
the City present only slight obstacles to building site development. The only problem is
that shallow excavations have a tendency to cave inward. Generally, the areas that are
underlain by stratified drift have easy grading and protection from frost-heaving of
foundations. Most other soils found in Pawtucket pose few serious constraints, meaning
that more than 90 percent of the City is suitable for development.
Agricultural Land
While at one time there were farms located in Eastern Pawtucket, there is no longer
agricultural land in Pawtucket. The major soil groups in the City identified in Table 4.1
are not noted as being highly productive for agricultural uses.
Filled Wetlands
Development of the City over the past 300 years has resulted in ponds and marshes
being filled and extensions of man-made fill into river and tidal areas. Many of the
modifications have occurred so long ago that the public today is unaware of the changes
that have been made. Figure 4.1 shows the location of all natural resources in
Pawtucket.
There were several ponds located in the area now occupied by a small industrial park
and McCoy Stadium. These ponds were drained by Bucklin Brook, which flowed
southwesterly and into the Pawtucket River near Beverage Hill Avenue. This area has
been transformed so that building with the proper foundation is possible. Another area
with extensive fill is the land in the Moshassuck Valley.
Freshwater Wetlands
There is a series of freshwater wetlands totaling approximately 106 acres adjacent to the
City’s river systems. The largest extent of wetlands is on the Ten Mile River System and
the Moshassuck River. Those wetland areas are used extensively by migrating
waterfowl. For the purposes of general planning, the location of wetlands can be
determined by using U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps and information from
Rhode Island Geographic Information Systems. It is the responsibility of public and
private entities and developers to submit applications to the Freshwater Wetlands
Section of the Department of Environmental Management for development projects
4-4
4-5
within 200 feet of a stream greater than 10 feet wide, 100 feet of stream less than 10
feet wide, or within 50 feet of a pond or wetland.
Forest and Wooded Areas
Pawtucket has minimal vacant land throughout the City. As the City developed,
forestland was converted into farmland and then into house lots. The amount of land
that can be classified as forestland or wooded is very small, less than 300 acres.
Common tree types are oak, maple, and miscellaneous deciduous varieties.
A way for the City to incorporate trees appropriately into the landscape is through the
installation of street trees. Street trees are of great value in an urban environment. This
fact has been recognized by the City and the Department of Public Works, which, over
the past decade, has been using City and other funds, to install street trees in more
areas of the City. Also, the Zoning Ordinance mandates new landscaped areas and
trees be installed in parking lots over 4 spaces and in overall developments occurring on
20,000 or more square feet. The Department of Planning and Development have also
used their Development Plan Review process to preserve old growth trees, to the extent
feasible.
The City of Pawtucket has two trees of statewide significance: the State Champion
Cedar of Lebanon is located at 689 East Avenue and the third largest Atlas Cedar is
located in Riverside Cemetery.
Coastal Features
The Blackstone River ends at the falls under the Main Street Bridge and from that point,
the Pawtucket/Seekonk River widens out as the northern most extension of
Narragansett Bay. The river shoreline is tidally affected as far north as the Pawtucket
Falls at Main Street. The shoreline is largely confined to man-made retaining walls from
the Falls to the southern terminus of the former state pier on the eastern shore and to
the vicinity of the Max Read Field on the western shore. The immediate upland areas
that are not developed are characterized by steep embankments along most of the
shore.
The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council reviews construction and
physical alterations that affect the coastal areas of Rhode Island. Although Pawtucket
does not have an extensive shoreline, the same basic regulatory process is in effect for
the City’s coastal feature, the Pawtucket/Seekonk River. Certain major industrial
activities as well as all proposed actions within 200 feet of the tidal area shoreline
require review by the Coastal Resources Management Council. Pawtucket worked with
the communities of Providence, East Providence and Cranston on the Metro Bay Special
Area Management Plan (SAMP). That process resulted in the development of the Urban
Coastal Greenways Policy, a guidance document which allows for these developed
urban areas to be regulated differently from undeveloped rural areas.
C. Water Resources
Water resources serve many purposes in the community such as providing sources of
drinking water, powering industrial uses, furnishing recreational opportunities, allowing
transportation, and giving aesthetic pleasure. It was the presence of the Blackstone
River that attracted the founding settlers to the City. They saw the river as an instrument
4-6
to turn the power wheels and shafts of the first industries in Pawtucket. For 170 years,
the riverfront area of the Blackstone River was extensively used for industrial purposes,
and there are the remains of a number of structures from the era when industries were
located on the riverfront. In the mid-1990’s, the City commissioned the Riverfront
Development Plan to guide the redevelopment of the waterfront. The implementation of
the recommendations from that plan continues today.
Pawtucket lies within the drainage basin of two major systems, the Blackstone River and
the Narragansett Bay/Seekonk River System. Additionally, there are two other minor
rivers, the Moshassuck and the Ten Mile River that flow through Pawtucket. An
extensive amount of research has been completed to determine the conditions of the
Blackstone River and the Narragansett Bay, such as the amount and types of
discharges entering the waterways, their suitability for drinking water and other
purposes, determining an overall rating for their condition and recommending
improvements. It is expected that as the land uses adjacent to the rivers becomes less
industrial in nature, the quality of the water will improve.
Groundwater Resources
Most of the City is covered with glacial materials that are favorable for the storing and
the movement of subsurface water or groundwater. This feature is also present in
Cumberland, Rhode Island along the course of the Abbott Run Brook, which is of critical
importance to Pawtucket’s public drinking water supply. Pawtucket and the Abbott Run
Brook have an extensive amount of stratified drift aquifer and also hold groundwater
reservoirs. The groundwater reservoirs are the part of the aquifer, where there is the
greatest potential for water supply development.
The Pawtucket Water Supply Board draws over 2.0 million gallons daily from wells in the
Valley Falls area of Cumberland. However, there is presently very little water being
withdrawn from the groundwater resources within the City of Pawtucket. This is because
of the presence of a citywide water system that uses mainly surface water reservoirs in
the Town of Cumberland. This surface water system has been able to meet the water
demands of three communities; Central Falls, Cumberland and Pawtucket, all served by
the Pawtucket Water Supply Board.
Having a groundwater supply within the borders of Pawtucket is fortunate, but it has
been found that the groundwater is not suitable for drinking without further treatment
because of the history and concentration of industrial and commercial uses in the City.
Surface Water Quality
All the waters in the state have been classified by the Department of Environmental
Management based on the suitable use of that water body. The classifications are
based upon a number of physical and water quality parameters. If it is determined that a
certain body of water does not meet the water quality criteria for its classification, that
body of water is then considered to be out of compliance with its classification, or
impaired.
There are two ways to define pollution sources, point and non-point source pollution.
Point source pollution is liquid that is discharged from a pipe or conduit directly into a
waterway. Non-point source pollution refers to many sources of contaminants, nutrients,
and pathogens that are not from an identifiable “pipe source”. Non-point pollution is
closely associated with land development.
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The Blackstone River bisects the City into two roughly equal parts and meets the
uppermost extension of Narragansett Bay known as the Pawtucket River. The Ten Mile
River flows on the eastern boundary of the City with Massachusetts, and eventually
flows into the Seekonk River in East Providence. On the west side of the City is the
Moshassuck River, which begins in Lincoln, and was once used as part of a canal to
Worcester in the 1840’s. While not in Pawtucket, the Abbott Run Brook in Cumberland
and Massachusetts brings water from reservoirs in Cumberland to the water treatment
plant in the Valley Falls section of Cumberland, and for this reason, it is important for
Pawtucket.
Blackstone River Basin - The Blackstone River, bordered by six Rhode Island cities
and towns, is the area’s major river. One RIDEM classified segment of the Blackstone
River flows through Pawtucket. This portion of the Blackstone begins at the combined
sewer overflow outfall located at River and Somoset Streets in Central Falls and ends at
the Slater Mill Dam. This water is classified as B1(a) which is defined by Rhode Island
Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) as follows:
“these waters are designated for primary and secondary contact recreational
activities and fish and wildlife habitat. They shall be suitable for compatible
industrial processes and cooling, hydropower, aquacultural uses, navigation, and
irrigation and other agricultural sues. These waters shall have good aesthetic
value. Primary contact recreational activities may be impacted due to pathogens
from approved wastewater discharges. However all Class B criteria must be
met.”
The entire length of Blackstone is considered impaired by according to RIDEM’s Year
2008, List of Impaired Waters. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) or a control action
functionally equivalent to a TMDL has been developed for these waters and
implementation is underway which will result in the attainment of the water quality
standards. In addition, the Consent Agreement for Combined Sewer Outfall (CSO)
abatement is anticipated to reduce the pollutant levels by 2022.
The Abbott Run Brook originates in Wrentham, Massachusetts, and flows through the
Diamond and Abbott Run reservoir, Robin Hollow Pond and Happy Hollow Pond, which
are all public water supply impoundments for the City of Pawtucket, thus receiving a
water classification of A. The Robin Hollow Pond was de-listed from the list of impaired
waters. The Abbott Run Brook has a TMDL.
Narragansett Bay Basin - The Pawtucket River from the Slater Mill Dam at Main Street
in Pawtucket until the Providence border is a part of the Narragansett Bay Basin and is
classified as SB1(a) which is defined by RIDEM as follows:
“These waters are designated for primary and secondary contact recreational
activities and fish and wildlife habitat. They shall be suitable for aquacultural uses,
navigation, and industrial cooling. These waters shall have good aesthetic value.
Primary contact recreational activities may be impacted due to pathogens from
approved wastewater discharges. However, all Class SB criteria must be met.”
This portion of the Seekonk River is listed on RIDEM’s List of Impaired Waters. A TMDL
is underway.
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Moshassuck River Basin - The Moshassuck River from the combined sewer overflow
outfall located at Higginson Avenue in Central Falls to its confluence with the Providence
River is the portion that flows through Pawtucket and is classified as B(a) which is
defined by RIDEM as follows:
“These waters are designated for fish and wildlife habitat and primary and
secondary contact recreational activities. They shall be suitable for compatible
industrial processes and cooling, hydropower, aquacultural uses, navigation, and
irrigation and other agricultural uses. These waters shall have good aesthetic
value.”
This portion of the Moshassuck River is listed on RIDEM’s List of Impaired Waters. A
Consent Agreement for Combined Sewer Outfall (CSO) abatement is anticipated to
reduce the pollutant levels by 2022 and negate the need for TMDL.
Ten-Mile River Basin - The Ten-Mile River and its tributaries, from the MA-RI border to
the Turner Reservoir is classified as B1 (see definition under Blackstone River Basin).
This portion of the Ten Mile River are listed on the RIDEM’s List of Impaired Waters. NO
TMDL is planned because the impairments are not pollutants.
Lakes and Ponds - The only ponds in Pawtucket are manmade, the Slater Park Pond at
Slater Park, and a portion of Central Pond known as Turner Reservoir which is mainly in
East Providence, extending into the southeast corner of Pawtucket. The Slater Park
Pond is classified at B1 – Hypereutrophic, which means it has extreme eutrophic
conditions. The Slater Park Pond is listed on RIDEM’s List of Impaired Waters, with a
TMDL is planned for 2010. The Turner Reservoir is classified as B – Eutrophic, which
means there is excess algae and nutrients. It is listed on RIDEM’s List of Impaired
Waters, and TMDL is planned for 2010.
D. Threats to Resources
The area’s natural resources are under constant pressure from contaminants and
increased development. The means of reducing or eliminating these conditions rest on
preventative regulations and technology. This section of the plan will discuss some of
the conditions that are adversely affecting the City of Pawtucket and its watershed area
in neighboring towns.
Combined Sewer Overflow
Discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and industries are considered
point source discharges. All point source discharges in Rhode Island are regulated by
discharge permits. Rhode Island is a delegated state, therefore effluent limitations are
set and permits are given by RIDEM and reviewed by EPA. An effluent limitation is the
maximum amount of pollutant that may be discharged into any water body. These
limitations formally establish performance criteria for wastewater treatment facilities.
Pawtucket’s wastewater is pumped to the Narragansett Bay Commission’s wastewater
treatment facility at Bucklin Point in East Providence.
One of the major water pollution problems in the Narragansett Bay region is combined
sewer overflows (CSO) that periodically discharge into the Narragansett Bay. There are
20 CSO in Pawtucket. During wet weather, the combined sanitary/storm water flows can
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exceed the sewerage capacity. The excess is discharged at overflow points into the
region’s rivers. The Narragansett Bay Commission has begun the Combined Sewer
Overflow Abatement Project, a 20-year, $500 million, 3-phase project to provide for the
storage and treatment of combined sewer overflows. Construction has begun for Phase
I of this project, which only affects Providence. A tunnel, approximately 26 feet in
diameter and 3 miles long, 250 feet down in bedrock, will be constructed to store the
combined sewer overflows that are the result of wet weather. Once the system is caught
up, the overflow will be pumped to the water treatment plant. This will significantly cut
down on the CSO that discharge into the area’s waters. Phase III of the project calls for
a similar tunnel to be constructed in Pawtucket.
Landfills
When solid wastes are deposited in a land disposal facility (landfill), the wastes degrade
as a result of various chemical and biological reactions, producing solid, liquid and
gaseous by-products. Ferrous and other materials are oxidized. Organic and inorganic
wastes are consumed by microorganisms through aerobic and anaerobic digestion.
Liquid waste products of microbial degradation, such as organic acids, increase
chemical activity within the fill.
Surface water and, in many cases, groundwater, infiltrating through the landfill will collect
contaminants contained within the solid waste. This contaminated liquid is called
“leachate” and may be produced by both active and inactive landfills. As the leachate
migrates from the landfill, it can directly contaminate ground and surface water. Surface
water also may be contaminated indirectly by polluted groundwater.
There are four known inactive landfills in Pawtucket: (1) in the area of the former
municipal incinerator, (2) off San Antonio Way (former ash landfill), (3) off Grotto Avenue
(convergence of Moshassuck Valley Railroad and Amtrak Railroad lines), and (4) off
Palm Street (former private dumping area).
Other Sites of Concern
There are also a number of locations in Pawtucket that are not landfills but are of
concern because of potential contamination. There are two sites listed on the
Environmental Protection Agency’s Comprehensive Environmental Recovery,
Compensation, and Liability Information System (CERCLIS). The first is a utility
company property along the Seekonk River. The property owners are in process of
preparing a remediation plan for the cleanup of the site. The other property is the former
municipal incinerator.
Storm Water Runoff
Polluted storm water runoff can enter municipal separate storm sewer systems and
ultimately be discharged into local rivers and streams without treatment. Pollutants
carried by storm sewers can impair waterbodies, interfere with habitat for fish or other
aquatic organisms and wildlife, contaminate drinking water supplies and discourage
recreational uses.
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I storm water
program, initiated in 1990, required discharges from large construction sites, certain
industrial activities and operators of medium or large municipal separate storm sewer
systems (more than 100,000 served), to obtain permits and implement a storm water
management program as a means to control polluted discharges from these activities.
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Since 1984, RIDEM has been delegated the authority to implement the NPDES program
in Rhode Island. (RIPDES Storm Water Program, 2002)
The EPA finalized the Storm Water Phase II Rule on December 8, 1999. It requires
municipal separate storm sewer systems to obtain permits and establish a storm water
management program that is intended to improve waterbodies by reducing the quantity
of pollutants that can enter storm sewer systems during storm events. The Storm Water
Phase II Rule extends the coverage of the NPDES storm water program to include small
municipal separate storm sewer systems. The Phase II Rule automatically covers on a
nationwide basis, all small municipal separate storm sewer systems located in urbanized
areas as defined by the Bureau of the Census, which includes Pawtucket. (RIPDES
Storm Water Program, 2002).
Pawtucket received a $25,000 grant from the RIDEM Nonpoint Source Pollution
Program to develop a Storm Water Management Program Plan to guide Pawtucket into
compliance with the Phase II Rule. This plan was completed in 2003, and the City
continues its implementation.
Erosion and Sedimentation
Erosion and sedimentation can be a major problem at any site where the surface
vegetation is removed and soil instability results. All construction projects should employ
best management practices to prevent soil erosion into water bodies and must comply
with all applicable RIDEM regulations.
Road Salt
The use of road salt (both sodium chloride and calcium chloride) to accelerate the
melting of ice has been common since the 1960’s. Road salt contamination of surface
and groundwater can result from two sources: road salt storage and application to roads.
The City of Pawtucket keeps road salt in a covered storage shed at the Department of
Public Works on Armistice Boulevard. The controlled use of chlorides within the City
limits will reduce the impacts on surface water and groundwater, but on the road network
within the Pawtucket Reservoir watershed basin, the use of road salts should be
minimized.
Individual Subsurface Disposal Systems
In the City of Pawtucket, all of the residential areas are served by public sewers, but a
few homes and industrial areas have not connected to the system. The use of Individual
Subsurface Disposal Systems (ISDS) is more of an issue within the watershed area of
the Pawtucket Water Supply Board.
E. Natural Hazards
In 1997, the City of Pawtucket, in conjunction with the University of Rhode Island
Coastal Resources Center and the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency,
completed “A Strategy for Reducing Risks from Natural Hazards in Pawtucket, Rhode
Island”. This document was part of a regional effort to evaluate natural hazards and
identified areas at risk from natural hazards and further defined mitigation actions to
protect infrastructure, population, and other resources.
Flood Hazards
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The natural occurrences that are of concern to Pawtucket residents are floods and
hurricanes. Generally, flooding is still a danger to be considered, especially on the
Blackstone River, and during the hurricane season on the Pawtucket/Seekonk River.
The most severe flooding has been associated with hurricanes and the two most
destructive storms occurred in 1938 and 1955.
The historical development of Pawtucket resulted in industrial activities located next to
the river. Periodic floods have damaged or removed structures. Detailed maps of flood
prone areas are currently available. The City controls development in the flood plain
through zoning regulation and wetlands protection. Zoning regulations restrict the
intensity of development in the flood plain thereby reducing damages and permitting an
unrestricted flow of water in the floodway. Wetlands are also being preserved to act as a
retaining area for floodwaters.
The completion of “A Strategy for Reducing Risks from Natural Hazards in Pawtucket,
Rhode Island” was integral in the City receiving $300,000 from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency in 1999 to implement projects that would reduce flood risks in the
City. This funding enabled the City to be proactive in creating a disaster resistant
community. As a result of the funding, a number of important projects were completed
including; rebates to approximately 35 residents for installing backflow prevention
valves, installation of an emergency generator connection at the Senior Center,
installation of backflow prevention valves at City Hall, the Fire Station and the Police
Department, design and printing of “Safety Guidelines for Storms and Hurricanes”,
design and printing of Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book to educate young children
about disaster preparedness, training sessions for a variety of special interest groups
including Post Disaster Recovery for municipal and private industry and general training
for boards and commissions, and a complete catch basin cleaning of Darlington area of
Pawtucket where major street flooding has recently occurred. The City also obtained a
Class 8 rating from FEMA’s Community Rating System, entitling affected properties to
lower flood insurance rates.
The City is in the process of updating the Strategy, which is scheduled for completion in
March 2010. The actions recommended in the Strategy will be included in the
Comprehensive Plan as Appendix C.
F. Special Resources
Unique Natural Resources
The City of Pawtucket has developed the vast majority of its land area. The areas that
are considered vacant are scatted parcels throughout the City. There is about 450 acres
of open space and recreation land in the City, but the RIDEM Inventory of Significant
Open Lands has identified no large significant natural areas. The City does have
significant man-made sites; there are over 100 acres listed on the National Register of
Historic Places.
Rare and Endangered Species
There are no endangered species of wildlife in Pawtucket as defined by the Federal
Endangered Species Act. The RIDEM, Natural Heritage Program has provided the City
with information pertaining to wildlife species that are of State concern. There are
several species in Pawtucket that are classified as “state threatened”. The first is the
plant species, the Zigzag Bladderwort, which has been identified at Slater Park’s
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Friendship Garden. Marsh Wren have been identified at Central Pond. A number of
wildflower types can be found in Slater Park. The wildlife in the City is mostly limited to
ducks in the wetland areas of the City.
Archeological Resources
The Blackstone Valley has been populated for thousands of years, and a number of
archeological sites have been listed in the state inventory. The Pawtucket area was
once utilized by the Wampanoag and Narragansett Indians, who used to fish at the falls
of the Blackstone River. Archeological surveys have been done in two general areas,
Beverage Hill Avenue and Taft Street, in conjunction with proposed improvement
projects. The specific locations of archaeological sites are not available because of the
danger of vandalism. Future construction projects in areas where significant
archaeological resources are predicted should be surveyed.
G. Cultural Resources
Background
The most recent and extensive survey of Pawtucket architecture was done in 1976–77
by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission under contract with the
Pawtucket Department of Planning and Redevelopment. Funding for the survey was
provided in part by the city, through a Community Development Block Grant, and in part
by the Rhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission (RIHPHC), through
a survey-and-planning grant from the National Park Service. The survey inventoried
1,300 structures, districts, objects, and sites of architectural, historical, or visual interest.
These resources date from the late seventeenth century through to the mid-1970s.
Copies of the survey forms and maps are kept at the RIHPHC’s office at 150 Benefit
Street in Providence, the Pawtucket Department of Planning and Redevelopment, and at
the Pawtucket Public Library.
Following the survey, the RIHPHC published “Pawtucket, Rhode Island”, Statewide
Historical Preservation Report, P-PA-2 in 1978, which serves as an excellent reference
on the subject of local history and architecture. The report was reprinted in 1991 and is
available for sale to the general public at the City Clerk’s office and the Slater Mill gift
shop.
Currently, there are over 300 properties listed as part of a district or individually, on the
National Register of Historic Places in Pawtucket.
Table 4.2 National Register of Historic Places, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
National Register District
Contributing Structures
Quality Hill Historic District
Church Hill Industrial District
South Street Historic District
Old Slater Mill Historic District
Blackstone Canal Historic District
Slater Park Historic District
Exchange Street Historic District
Individual Structures
Downtown Pawtucket Historic District
180
20
20
3
N/A
4
7
37
35
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Total
306
Source: Department of Planning and Redevelopment, 2010.
A study commissioned by the City of Pawtucket identified a number of properties which
are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Properties are added
to this list, as the City becomes aware of them.
Community Character
Figure 4-2, Cultural and Historic Resources, identifies National Register-listed properties
and historic districts, cemeteries, and cultural sites within the city. There are six general
features that are most characteristic and unique to the city: the presence of a major river,
the Blackstone River/Pawtucket River; residential neighborhoods; multi-family residential
structures; mill structures; cemeteries; and the downtown.
Blackstone River - The Blackstone River is the largest and most historically significant
of the three rivers that run through Pawtucket. Entering the city from the north, the
Blackstone courses generally southward, dividing Pawtucket into almost equal parts. At
the Pawtucket Falls, the Blackstone falls into the tidal Seekonk River, a navigable
extension of Narragansett Bay. The waterpower available at the falls was the primary
reason for Pawtucket’s early development. It attracted past settlements with early
manufacturing activity and settlement continued to center around the river and the falls.
Residential Neighborhoods - In 2002, a team of Brown University students analyzed
Pawtucket geography, architecture, economic and demographic characteristics and
concluded that Pawtucket has 14 distinct residential areas that can be defined as
neighborhoods. The 14 different neighborhoods illustrate the diversity of the city,
ethnically, architecturally, and socioeconomically. The 14 neighborhoods include Barton
Street, Beverage Hill/Plains, Countryside, Darlington, Downtown, East Riverview,
Fairlawn, Oak Hill, Pinecrest, Pleasant View, Quality Hill, Slater Park, West Riverview,
and Woodlawn. Each of these areas has a unique history, which has been influenced by
natural and physical features. Figure 4-3 shows Pawtucket’s neighborhoods drawn with
generalized boundary lines.
Multi-Family Structures - As the City developed, most residents lived in multi-family
structures, and many of these structures are still in use. The private textile mills of the
nineteenth and twentieth centuries did not provide housing for their workers in the
manner of mills in other locations. Privately built and owned tenements were the main
form of housing, beginning first with two-family structures, then evolving to the threestory tenements of the early 1900s. According to the 2008 American Community Survey
approximately 65% of the housing stock in Pawtucket is comprised of multi-family
structures.
Mill Structures - Pawtucket has historically been, and is still today, an industrial
community. It has been the scene of some of the proudest accomplishments in
American industrial history. Although most of the great textile companies for which
Pawtucket was once famous have moved south or ceased operation, a number of the
mill buildings remain inhabited.
A survey of existing mill buildings in Pawtucket was prepared in 1990 by Extrados
Architects for the Preservation Society of Pawtucket. The Pawtucket Mill Building
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Survey documents approximately 100 textile-related structures in Pawtucket detailing
their historical and physical characteristics. This document contains location data,
architectural descriptions, historical narrative, and a conditions assessment for each
property. Some industrial resources along the Blackstone River still remain today.
These buildings represent industrial accomplishments from the age of steam power,
rather than those earlier industries run by waterpower. The largest mill building
remaining on the Blackstone River is the former Greene and Daniels mill, which dates
back to 1860. It is currently used as residential condominiums and office space for
Collette Travel. Not all of these structures will continue in manufacturing uses given the
decline of such activity in Rhode Island and New England. The Pawtucket Mill Building
Survey provides a valuable resource to evaluate individual buildings for potential reuse.
Currently, there is only one industrial building (Parkin Yarn) in Pawtucket’s local historic
district, but many of the mill structures are included on the National Register of Historic
Places.
Cemeteries - Historically, Rhode Island communities had small farm cemeteries, and
Massachusetts communities had large town and church cemeteries. Because
Pawtucket originated as a Massachusetts town it has few cemeteries. Pawtucket’s eight
cemeteries, each with their own unique history, total 192 acres and contain an estimated
19,000 marked graves. An unused portion of Swan Point Cemetery is also located in
Pawtucket.
See Table 4.3 for a listing of the affiliation and noteworthy information for each cemetery.
Generally, older private cemeteries are finding it difficult to finance the continuous task of
maintenance because of an inadequate fund established for perpetual care. Each
private cemetery is working on its own program to meet its obligations and secure
additional operating funds. Cemeteries are also plagued by vandalism. Tipped over
headstones are expensive to reset and damages to sculpture and statues are expensive
to repair.
Table 4.3 Pawtucket Cemeteries
Historic
Name
Cemetery
#
1
Affiliation
Comments
City-owned
Burial site of the Jenks family
2
Mineral Spring
Avenue
Mount St. Mary's
Catholic
Prospect Street
3
St. Francis
Catholic
Largest cemetery in Pawtucket,
4
Walnut Hill
Private
Armistice Boulevard
5
Oak Grove
City-owned
28 acres, in active use
6
Notre Dame
Catholic
Daggett Avenue
7
Riverside
Private
8
St. Mary's
Catholic
Listed on National Register of
Historic Places
Part of St. Mary's Church complex;
Historic
Source: Cultural Resources Plan, PAL, 2001.
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Downtown - Pawtucket’s downtown is a densely built-up area of both older and post
World War II buildings. A number of structures are listed on the National Register,
including the Public Library and Annex, City Hall and Slater Mill Historic Site.
Pawtucket’s downtown has been the subject of numerous studies and has been the
focus of redevelopment efforts in the past. Over the past decades, many of the past
efforts of the City had not flourished as anticipated, until the creation of the City’s Arts
and Entertainment District. In 1998, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed a law
establishing an Arts and Entertainment District in an area of the City that encompasses
the downtown and mill district areas (approximately 307 acres). Designated as a model
development project, the State and City provide significant tax incentives to artists
selling original art, who live and work within the district, and to art galleries that are
established within the district boundaries.
The effect on historic resources must be considered when attempting to attract new
development into the downtown and in 2007 Downtown Pawtucket became a designated
National Register District. With the exception of the Leroy Theater and adjacent Fanning
Building, there has been very little demolition of downtown buildings in recent years.
Wherever feasible, the City encourages reuse and redevelopment over demolition,
particularly in the downtown core.
Preservation Activities in Pawtucket
City of Pawtucket - The City of Pawtucket has rehabilitated a number of important City
resources using City funds and state and federal grant funds.
Table 4.4 City of Pawtucket Preservation Projects
Project
Funding Source
City Hall Tower Rehabilitation
Pawtucket Public Library
Slater Park Bandstand
Hiker Park Rehabilitation
JC Potter Casino, Slater Park
City Bond
Save America’s Treasures/State
Preservation Grant
Save America’s Treasures/RIDEM Open
Space Grant – Passive and Historic Parks
RIDEM Open Space Grant – Passive and
Historic Parks
State Preservation Grant
In addition, in 2009 the City of Pawtucket partnered with Cumberland, Central Falls and
the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council to receive a Preserve America grant for the
Broad Street Regeneration Initiative. This plan was prepared for Broad Street, the
commercial corridor which links the three communities. The focus of the plan was on
revitalization through preservation. A number of programs have resulted from the plan,
including a CDBG-funded façade improvement grant program and assessment funding
from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
Pawtucket Historic District Commission - The most common method for
municipalities to control or influence the condition of their historic areas and structures is
through the use of a local Historic District Commission (HDC). The State of Rhode
Island has enabling legislation, Title 45-24-1, permitting municipalities to appoint a
Historic District Commission to review alterations, new construction and demolition work
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within a historic district, or to designated individual structures. On January 25, 1989, the
Pawtucket City Council approved the appointment of the City’s first Historic District
Commission. The Pawtucket Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 410, Article V, describes in
more detail the powers of the Commission and their procedures for the designation and
review of structures.
Although the Pawtucket HDC was originally charged with protecting the Quality Hill
neighborhood, the District has been expanded Citywide. The largest additions occurred
in October 1997 when a total of 92 structures were added. A total of 280 public and
private properties are currently under the jurisdiction of Pawtucket’s HDC
Other activities of the HDC include collaborating with the Preservation Society of
Pawtucket on specific projects such as the publication of neighborhood guides. The
HDC applies for and receives a small amount of grant funds from the Certified Local
Government (CLG) Program of RIHPHC. CLG funds have been used for the
preparation of National Register nominations and the publication of tour brochures for
the City’s neighborhoods. Most recently, these CLG funds were used to install historic
markers designating the downtown as a National Register District.
The Pawtucket Historic District Commission celebrated 20 years of service in 2009. The
long-standing Chair, Fred Love, was also the recipient of the Antoinette Downing Award
for Volunteer Service in Preservation.
The HDC has a set of design review standards to assist local historic property owners
through the Certificate of Appropriateness process. The HDC also reviews
improvements to city buildings, designates new properties to the local historic district,
and provide opinions and technical advice on matters affecting historic properties.
Pawtucket recently became the first Rhode Island community to offer financial incentives
for becoming a part of the local historic district. As of 2000, owner-occupied properties
in the local historic district became eligible for a tax exemption of $30,000 on local
property taxes. Also, properties in the local historic district are eligible for a state income
tax credit for exterior repairs to their home.
The Pawtucket Library houses a Preservation Collection to assist in public education.
Public education will prove even more important over the years to come as the economic
development downtown intensifies, improvements to the Pawtucket Riverfront
progresses and the Zoning Ordinance is revised. The Elizabeth J. Johnson History
Research Center, which is housed within the private residence of Elizabeth J. Johnson,
contains her life’s work – a collection of documents and images related to the history of
Pawtucket. This collection is substantial and has been utilized by researchers across
the country. Currently, it is being operated by the Pawtucket Public Library, but a longterm plan for the safety of the collection and the continued access to the public is
needed.
Finally, the Pawtucket HDC worked with the Department of Planning and
Redevelopment on the drafting of a demolition delay ordinance which would allow the
City time to work with owners who propose to demolish significant historic structures
within the City, even those that are not listed within the local Historic District.
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Community Development Block Grants - Another major event affecting historic
preservation in Pawtucket was the start of the Community Development Block Grant
Program in 1975. The City is eligible for a sizeable federal grant contingent on the
completion of an annual application for eligible activities. As a part of the environmental
review for each project, the impact on historic properties must be assessed. The City of
Pawtucket continues to utilize the historical survey conducted by the Rhode Island
Historical Preservation Commission in the mid-1970’s for grants and ongoing questions
regarding the historical significance of houses and commercial structures in the City.
During the late 1970s and 1980s, through funding from the Community Development
Block Grant program, City bond issues were able to assist in the adaptive reuse of
several former fire stations: 636 Central Avenue, 420 Main Street, a city ward room,
several residential structures, an early gas station conversion to offices, and the early
post office into a library annex. The projects, which also used private funding, are
considered excellent examples of reuse.
The 1980s was a decade that witnessed intense interest in orienting development and
rehabilitation along the Blackstone and Pawtucket/Seekonk rivers. Some results of this
effort have been the creation of Hodgson-Rotary Park (1989) and the creation of a
Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater adjacent to City Hall (1990). Several mill buildings
close to the waterfront were also rehabilitated and reused, including the Green and
Daniels Mill, which was converted to condominiums.
Over the past five years, the city has seen many successful reuse projects. The former
Peerless building on Main Street has been reused as a Visitor Center and several city
agencies. The Pawtucket Armory building on Exchange Street is being reused for a
number of arts-related uses. The PSP bought and rehabilitated 67 Park Place to house
their organization’s office. The former Pawtucket Children’s Museum building at 58
Walcott Street in Quality Hill is now used for private functions and receptions under the
business name "Grand Manor." A number of mill rehabilitation projects have
successfully returned outdated industrial complexes into residences or mixed use
buildings.
Preservation Society of Pawtucket - The Preservation Society of Pawtucket (PSP)
was incorporated in 1978 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) membership-driven community
organization devoted to identifying, promoting, and encouraging the preservation of the
rich historical and architectural resources of the City of Pawtucket through education,
advocacy, and technical assistance. The PSP strives to protect the integrity of
neighborhoods, encourage policies that foster environmental and historic preservation
concerns, and promote a shared sense of community through education and advocacy.
The PSP has worked with the Pawtucket Historic District Commission to research, write,
and produce brochures highlighting seven of the city’s historic neighborhoods: Quality
Hill Historic District, Main Street - the Jenks Settlement, the Church Hill Industrial
District, Woodlawn, Pleasant View, Fairlawn, and Oak Hill. Each brochure is designed
to allow a self-guided walking tour of the area, and includes notes on architectural
features, anecdotal facts, and the significance of the buildings to the history of
Pawtucket. The PSP has also produced a well-received children’s education program,
"This is Our City", to teach 1st through 4th grade children about the history and
importance of local buildings. Survey work during the past five years has included a
Barton Street Study (1998), Pleasant View (1998), and the Sayles Heights Area (1998).
4-19
Currently, the PSP has no paid staff. The PSP volunteer Board of Directors carries out
all functions, including a quarterly newsletter. In 1999, the PSP purchased the building
in which their offices are housed. Located in the historic 1823 Jonathan Baker House at
67 Park Place, the building is the earliest remaining house between the Pawtucket River
and its location on Park Place, and is the only Federal Period brick house left in
Pawtucket.
Old Slater Mill Association - One of the early historic preservation efforts in Rhode
Island occurred in 1924 when the Slater Mill building was purchased by a group of
businessmen and incorporated under the name of the Old Slater Mill Association. The
mill was restored to its presumed appearance of around 1835, and opened to the public
in 1955. At that time, the adjacent Wilkinson Mill was still used for commercial purposes.
As part of the Slater Urban Renewal Project, federal funds were used in the late 1960s
to buy and restore the Wilkinson Mill and move the Sylvanus Brown House (circa 1758)
to the site as part of a three-building complex. The adjacent commercial land to the
south was converted into open space and named Hodgson-Rotary Park, and additional
land was acquired across the Blackstone River to provide a clear view of the entire site.
In the 1980s, through the use of a combination of federal, state, and foundation grants,
Slater Mill was able to reconstruct the water wheel in the Wilkinson Mill and provide
educational material for visitors to the mill complex. The Slater Mill Historic Site is
designated as the southern anchor for Blackstone River Valley National Heritage
Corridor. The opening of the Blackstone Valley Visitors Center across the street in
September 1999 has served to draw even more visitors to the area.
The Slater Mill Historic Site, together with assistance from local agencies, has been
engaged in a comprehensive planning process to reassess its current programs and
develop new attractions as a way to better serve its visitors. The City, together with the
Old Slater Mill Association, has planned some major construction projects around the
Slater Mill Historic Site to improve infrastructure and aesthetics at the site and as well as
access to the site.
John H. Chafee Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission - The
John H. Chafee Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
commissioned a study of the Blackstone Valley Canal in Rhode Island. The Lorraine Mill
area of Pawtucket was identified by this study as a key project. The City of Pawtucket is
working with the property owner to prepare a conservation easement which would allow
this resource to be preserved and made available to the public.
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council - The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is
located in downtown Pawtucket. Part of their mission is to encourage cultural tourism
within the Blackstone Valley, including Pawtucket.
4-20
This element has addressed the natural resources in Pawtucket. The major issue has
been, and continues to be, combined sewer overflows. The Narragansett Bay
Commission has begun an ambitious project to abate the pollution issues that arise from
combined sewer overflows. This effort, coupled with the new RIDEM guidelines for
storm water runoff, should begin to show an improvement in the quality of Pawtucket’s
water resources. There are still other ground and surface water pollution problems
remaining, particularly in the Pawtucket Water Supply watershed, that need to be
resolved through a combination of regulations, site monitoring, individual small scale
improvements, inter-municipal agreements, and resource management.
Pawtucket is rich in architectural and cultural resources. The preservation of these
resources requires the cooperation of the City, State, and local non-profit preservation
organizations. The past five years have witnessed increased participation in
preservation-related activities. The continued involvement of the City, Historic District
Commission (HDC), non-profits, and non-professional advocates in preservation-related
activities is important to the future success of preservation initiatives in Pawtucket. Each
has broadened its membership and clarified organizational goals. Pawtucket has had a
number of preservation successes, including having downtown Pawtucket listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. The HDC also spearheaded an effort to introduce a
demolition delay section of the City’s zoning ordinance to protect significant historic
properties.
4-21
SOURCES
Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, “Strategy for Reducing Risks
from Natural Hazards in Pawtucket, Rhode Island: A Multi-Hazard Mitigation Strategy”,
1997, 2010
City of Pawtucket, “Cultural and Natural Resources”, 1995, 2005
City of Pawtucket, “Zoning Ordinance”, Article V, Historic Districts, 1998.
City of Pawtucket, Department of Planning and Redevelopment, “Local Historic District
Directory”, 2002.
City of Pawtucket, Department of Planning and Redevelopment, “National Register
Properties Directory”, 2010.
City of Pawtucket, Department of Planning and Redevelopment, “Project Impact
Application”, 1999.
Extrados Architects, “Pawtucket Mill Building Survey”, 1990.
Hadden, Tracy and Ethan Horowitz, Brown University, “A City of Neighborhoods;
Pawtucket, Rhode Island: Neighborhood Analysis and Census 2000 Update”, 2002.
Pawtucket Water Supply Board, “Water Supply Management Plan”, 1998, 2007
Public Archeology Lab, “Cultural Resources”, 2001.
Rhode Island Department of Administration, “Greenspace and Greenways Plan,” State
Guide Plan Element 155, 1994.
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, “Regulations for the Rhode
Island Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Storm Water Program”, 2002.
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, “State of the State’s Waters”,
2002.
Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission, “Pawtucket, Rhode Island”, Statewide
Historical Preservation Report, P-PA-2, 1978.
Rhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission, “State Tax Credit
Program”, 2002.
Rhode Island Historical Area Zoning Act, RIGL 45-24.1, 1993.
United States Department of Agriculture, “Soil Survey of Rhode Island”, July 1981.
City of Pawtucket
4 - 22
2011 Update
Chapter 5 – OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION
Table of Contents
5-1
5-3
5-14
Sources
5-15
5-1
Goal
1. Continue to maintain and improve
existing recreational and open space
resources and programs.
Objective
1. Maintain all of the existing
recreation facilities within the City
of Pawtucket.
2. Seek sites for future active and passive
recreational activities which help Pawtucket
to provide a balanced geographic
distribution of resources.
2. Increase the number of
recreation opportunities in the
Barton Street neighborhood.
3. Develop recreation resources which link
together City recreation sites, cultural sites,
natural resource sites, etc., including the
Blackstone Valley Bikeway, the Ten Mile
River Bikeway, walkways along both sides of
the Pawtucket River.
3. Begin work on the next segment
of the Ten Mile River Bikepath
within five years.
4. Begin work on the Blackstone
Valley Bikeway within five years.
Policy
1. Continue to improve citywide facilities.
2. Continue to implement an overall maintenance plan as well
as maintenance documentation for each City facility.
3. Continue to promote and coordinate City funded activities
with the private sector to expand opportunities for recreational
activities and avoid duplication of services.
4. Coordinate recreational facility improvements with public
school site improvements and other City and privately sponsored
revitalization efforts.
5. Lease or purchase additional recreation and open space as
funding becomes available.
6. Continue to make existing recreation facilities universally
accessible through rehabilitation projects and include
accessibility requirements in new construction.
5-1
Actions
Planning District #1
(Fairlawn)
R 1 Acquire open space along the Moshassuck River and the Blackstone Canal for the creation of a greenway/bikeway.
R 2 Upgrade and improve recreational resources at Morley Field.
Planning District 2
(Woodlawn)
R 3 Evaluate and develop school sites for potential development of additional neighborhood recreation facilities
R 4 Continue progress on the Blackstone River Valley Bike Trail
R 5 Expand facilities at the Town Landing recreational area.
Planning District 3
(Oak Hill/West
Riverview)
R 6 Construct an outdoor track at Max Read Field that meets all necessary regulations to be used for scholastic track meets.
R 7 Provide public access to the Seekonk River at Max Read Field.
R 8 Automate irrigation and improve lighting at Wilkinson Park.
Planning District 4
(Barton Street/
Downtown Area)
Planning District 5
(Pleasant View)
Planning District 6
(Quality Hill/East
Riverview)
R 9 Consider needs of the Family Y and the Pawtucket Boys’ and Girls’ Club in an overall parking plan for downtown.
R 10 Add lighting at Goff lots.
R 11 Evaluate development of public access to the Blackstone River north of Exchange Street.
R 12 Continue field improvements at McCarthy Park including additional lighting.
R 13 Reconstruct/reuse tennis courts at McCarthy Park.
R 14 Develop the former State Pier, as recommended by the Riverfront Development Commission into a combination of open space, river
walks, boat facilities, and commercial activity.
R 15 Upgrade and improve facilities at Pariseau Field.
R 16 Continue to advocate for the next segment of the Ten Mile River Bikeway.
R 17 Request grant funding for the City purchase of the former “Red Farm Studios” (1135 Roosevelt Avenue) to ensure its continued
availability for passive recreation.
R 18 Upgrade facilities at Potter School.
Planning District 7
(Darlington/Pinecrest)
Planning District 8
(Slater Park and
Countryside)
R 19 Explore other recreational/educational/revenue producing possibilities for Daggett Farm.
R 20 Continue infrastructure improvements within Slater Park including the construction of new rest room facilities, installation and of new
water and fire protection services at the Looff Carousel, automated irrigation, and lighting within the Park.
R 21 Engineer a solution to improve water quality in the pond and in Friendship Gardens at Slater Park.
R 22 Develop parcel of land along the Ten Mile River known as Scout’s Island into a picnic area (passive park).
5-2
II. Community Profile and Needs Assessment
A. Historical Perspective
It is instructive to look back to the 1890’s to gain perspective on the development of
open space and recreational resources in Pawtucket. In 1890, the City’s population was
about 30,000 and these residents were concentrated in the area of multi-family homes
surrounding the downtown business district. There were, on the western and eastern
fringe of the City, large vacant tracts of land that would one day be developed into
Fairlawn Veterans’ Memorial Park and Slater Park. Developed active areas for
recreation were limited to several sporting fields owned by local industries and the small
areas at local public schools. Several ponds on the eastern side of the City, tracts of
undeveloped land, and the Pawtucket River also served as recreational resources.
During the course of the following one hundred years, a combination of circumstances,
some more planned than others, has led to the expansion of recreation and open space
property. Slater Park was acquired in 1894 and developed in the early 20th century. A
network of smaller neighborhood playgrounds such as Payne Park, John Street,
Smithfield Avenue, Ayotte Park and the Goff Lots were created. The State of Rhode
Island acquired title to several open space areas in Pawtucket such as the Ten Mile
River Reservation and the Seekonk River Reservation, also known as Metropolitan
Field.
The 1960’s and 1970’s were an era when state and federal funds for acquisition and
development were obtained, resulting in a considerable expansion of the recreation and
open space system. All of the following facilities were either acquired or developed
during this period: Morley Field, Newell Avenue Playground, Max Read Field, Lynch Ice
Arena, Pariseau Field, and Dunnell Park. During the 1970’s and early 1980’s, the Slater
Park Zoo was rebuilt together with other facility improvements at Slater Park.
In the late 1980’s, the City secured funds to construct and upgrade many facilities
including Metropolitan Field, Pariseau Field, Morley and Max Read Fields, John Street
and Payne Park, and Galego Court.
The 1990’s were focused on redevelopment and renovation of existing facilities,
particularly Slater Park. Most recently, the City has begun expanding and upgrading
playground facilities to bring them into compliance with current codes.
Since 2000, some new recreational facilities have been developed in conjunction with
school and parent organizations. The City has looked to the reuse of brownfield sites for
potential recreation and in 2005 completed the 5-acre McKinnon/Alves soccer complex
from a formerly contaminated industrial site. A skate park, along with upgrades to the
basketball and tennis courts, was constructed at the Jenks Junior High School in 2009.
The City’s inventory of open space and recreation land is approximately 434 acres. With
widespread interest in organized recreation activity and a year round need for
recreational facilities, the factors are present to make the open space and recreation
element a key part of the Comprehensive Plan.
City of Pawtucket
5-3
B. Description of the Area
The primary zoning district for recreation areas is the Public Open district. The Public
Open district is used to reserve open space, recreation, public education and municipal
uses. The following map illustrates all recreation/open space areas in the City.
C. Organization
The recreation facilities in Pawtucket are owned by the City, the State of Rhode Island
and several non-profit organizations. Approximately 426 acres of the total recreation
land is owned by the City. The major recreation areas that are not City owned are
Hodgson-Rotary Park, the facilities at the public housing complexes, 560 Prospect
Street and Galego Court and the Lynch Arena. The City-owned arena was sold in
August 2009 to a private corporation, under the agreement that the rink will continue to
be accessible to the public and utilized as a recreational resource for both City and nonCity residents.
Within the City, recreation facilities at schools and public housing are under the control
of the School Department and the Housing Authority. The remaining City recreation
facilities are the responsibility of the Department of Public Works, Division of Recreation
and Parks.
D. Relationship to State Recreational System
The residents of Pawtucket make extensive use of the state recreational facilities.
Residents utilize the beach at Lincoln Woods State Reservation. Outdoor swimming
resources in Pawtucket are limited to the pool at Fairlawn Veterans’ Memorial Park.
Indoor pool facilities are at the private Pawtucket Boys’ and Girls’ Club and the YMCA.
The Pawtucket facilities that are most used by non-local residents are Slater Park, Lynch
Arena, and the Hank Soar Softball Complex. During the summer, youth and adult
softball teams use the facilities at Fairlawn Veterans’ Memorial Park, the Hank Soar
Complex, Slater Park and Max Read Field. The public schools also use the recreational
facilities: Max Read Field (football, baseball, soccer, track), Pariseau Field (football,
soccer, walking track). The tennis courts at the Duffy Complex, Slater Park, and
Veterans’ Memorial Park are also used by the public and private schools. During the
winter, the Lynch Ice Arena is used by Tolman High School and St. Raphael Academy.
In summary, many of Pawtucket’s recreational facilities are used by non-city residents
and are an integral part of the State’s public and private schools’ athletic programs.
City of Pawtucket
5-4
5-5
E. Facilities Inventory
Public Recreation and Open Space Facilities
This section contains a summary of private and public recreation open space facilities in
Pawtucket by planning district. As shown in Table 5.1, the distribution of facilities is not
even. It is an established goal of this plan to have open space and recreation areas
distributed equally throughout residential areas. Also, it is important that as new
recreational facilities are created and existing recreational facilities rehabilitated, all
resources are universally accessible and recreational opportunities for those with special
needs are expanded. The 5-acre McKinnon Alves Soccer Complex, which was
constructed on a remediated Brownfields site in 2005, is a major addition to the City’s
recreation resources.
Table 5.2 lists all of the recreational facilities, size, ownership, and facility type. Over the
last 15 years, major reconstruction and renovation work has been funded through state
and federal grants, community development block grants, and City bond issues. This
has enabled major improvements to existing recreational resources (Slater Park,
Veterans’ Memorial Park, John Street, Ayotte Park). It is also important to remember
that although they are not all listed in the table, the City does provided an array of indoor
recreational activities for different age groups through the Department of Parks and
Recreation and the Senior Center. These activities include aerobics, dance, muscle
toning, yoga and other classes which are available to Pawtucket residents at a low-cost.
Private Recreation Facilities
Pawtucket is fortunate to have a number of private, nonprofit institutions offering
recreational opportunities to City residents. The Family Y and the Pawtucket Boys’ and
Girls’ Club offer a variety of indoor activities, such as basketball leagues, swimming,
aerobics and weightlifting. Outdoor activities for people of all ages are offered as well,
including summer youth camps. The Boys’ and Girls’ Club share the operation and
maintenance of a leased facility, McCarthy Park. Both the Boys’ and Girls’ Club and the
Family Y charge membership fees. The Pawtucket Country Club operates a golf course
that is located in both Seekonk, Massachusetts and Pawtucket. It is a 40-acre facility
that charges membership fees. Hodgson-Rotary Park, a privately owned park at the
Slater Mill, is 2.1 acres. The total area of private facilities is approximately 47 acres.
River Waterfront Access
There are three rivers flowing through Pawtucket, the Blackstone/Pawtucket, Ten Mile
and Moshassuck, and all of them are important from the aspect of public access to the
water. Clearly, the Blackstone/Pawtucket and the Ten Mile Rivers are important
because of the public land along the water that could potentially be developed for water
access. The City has acquired land from the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency that will
allow public access to the Blackstone River and is moving forward with plans for bike
paths along both the Blackstone and Ten Mile Rivers. There is public land abutting the
Moshassuck River and it is the City’s long-term goal for this land is to develop a
greenway/bikeway along it.
5-6
Table 5.1 Location of Public Recreation Areas by Planning District
Planning District
1/Fairlawn
2/Woodlawn
3/Oak Hill and West
Riverview
4/Barton Street and
Downtown
5/Pleasant View
6/ East Riverview and
Quality Hill
7/Darlington and Pine
Crest
8/Slater Park and
Countryside
Total
Facilities
Smithfield Avenue Playground
Fairlawn Veterans’ Memorial Park
Galego Court
Slater Jr. High
Baldwin School*
Morley Field
Payne Park
John Santos Park
Cunningham Elementary*
Randall Street Park
Collyer Park
Town Landing
Max Read Field
Perez Passive Park
Thomas Duffy Complex
Varieur Elementary
Wilkinson Park
Hodgson-Rotary Park
Veterans’ Park Amphitheater
Goff Lots
Winters Elementary School*
Jenks Junior High
Ayotte Park
Pariseau Field
McCarthy Park
Hank Soar Softball Field
Berkeley Park
McCoy Stadium*
Agnes Little Elementary School*
Dennis O’Brien Memorial Field
560 Prospect Street*
State Pier
John Street Playground
Ten Mile River Reservation
Potter Burns Elementary School*
Curvin/McCabe Elementary School*
Doreen Tomlinson Complex
Slater Park
Fallon Elementary School*
McKinnon/Alves Soccer Complex
Acreage
39.7
14.2
21.8
4.8
2.8
59.1
78.9
213.5
434
Source: Department of Parks and Recreation 2010
* Certain Pawtucket School recreation areas are not maintained by the Department of Parks and Recreation.
5-7
FACILITY
560 Prospect Street
Ayotte Park
Baldwin School
Berkeley Park
Collyer Park
Cunningham Elementary
Curvin/McCabe Elementary
Duffy Complex
Fallon Elementary
Fairlawn Veterans’ Memorial Park
Galego Court
Goff Lots
Hodgson-Rotary Park
Jenks Junior High
John Street Playground
Little Elementary
Lynch Ice Arena
McCarthy Park
McCoy Stadium
McKinnon/Alves Soccer Complex
Morley Field
O’Brien Memorial Field
Pariseau Field
Payne Park
Perez Passive Park
Potter/Burns Elementary
Randall Street Park
Read Field
Santos Park
Slater Junior High
Slater Memorial Park
Smithfield Avenue Playground
Soar Softball Complex
State Pier
Ten Mile River Reservation
Tomlinson Complex
Town Landing
Varieur Elementary
Veterans’ Park Amphitheater
Wilkinson Park
Winters Elementary
OWNER
H
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
H
C
P
C
C
C
Private
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
ACREAGE
1
1.4
0.2
0.9
0.5
0.2
0.2
1.7
0.2
39
2.5
2.4
2.1
0.9
1.4
0.2
1.7
15.8
17.9
5.0
5.3
1
5.3
1.2
1
6.8
0.1
13.5
0.1
0.4
208.3
0.7
9.6
5.1
65.5
5
5.4
0.2
0.3
0.7
0.4
1
2
3
4
5
6
•
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
•
21
22
23
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
24
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•*
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
MAP KEY
•
•
•
•
•
•
OWNERSHIP KEY
1
2
Baseball (only)
Football (only)
7
8
Multi-Use Field
Tennis Courts
13
14
3
4
5
6
Soccer (only)
Softball (only)
Volleyball (only)
Basketball (only)
9
10
11
12
Public Pool
Boat Ramp
River Access
Fishing
15
16
17
18
Picnic Area
Playground
w/Equipment
Track
Natural Areas
Restrooms
Hockey
19
20
Ice Skating
Lights
21
22
23
24
Benches
Passive Park
Play Area
Universal
Accessibility
P
C
H
Public
City
Housing Authority
5-
8
F. Open Space and Recreation Needs Assessment
Assessment Perspectives
Other recreation and open space assessment is restricted to comparing the amount of
recreation land in a community with the standards proposed by the National Recreation
Association. While an accurate measurement of the land used for open space and
recreation purposes was done, the City Planning Commission is also concerned with the
conditions of facilities, trends in recreational usage, funding sources and management
and upkeep of facilities. This section discusses recreation and open space areas from
the following perspectives:
•
•
•
•
What are the population age groups of the City and what are their main
requirements?
How does Pawtucket fare in comparison to national standards for recreation
areas?
What vacant areas could be used for recreation and open space purposes?
What is the recent level of expenditures in current revenue and capital
improvements for the recreation system?
Population
Of prime importance in considering needs are the overall population of the City and the
breakdown of the various age components. For the second decade in a row, the
population of Pawtucket increased slightly from 72,644 in 1990 to 72,958 in 2000 and
has remained relatively stable since then.
An analysis of Table 5.2 shows the 25-44 year old age group is the largest in the City
with approximately 23,000 people. This large group has two distinct needs: the first, for
themselves as adults, and secondly, as parents interested in recreational needs for their
children. Table 5.3 has been created to correlate the various age groups with the type of
recreational facilities most needed.
The next largest age groups are 45-64 and 5-19. The 45-64 age group is more
interested in passive activities, like walking, than active ones. Like the 25-44 year olds,
the 5-19 group is more interested in active recreational opportunities like skate parks,
ball fields, and passive parks.
Table 5.2 Population by Age Groups
Age
Number
under 5
5 - 19
20-24
25-44
45-64
65+
Total
Percentage
5,470
12,649
3,645
23,618
16,207
8,497
70,086
8
18
5
34
23
12
100
Percentage in
2000
7
21
6
31
20
15
100
Source: 2008 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimates
5-9
Table 5.3 Recreation Requirements by Age Group
Age Group
Facility
Under 5
Tot lots, Passive Parks, Pools
5-19
Playgrounds, Playing Fields, Open Space
Areas, Passive Parks, Skate Parks, Tennis Courts,
Basketball Courts, Bike Trails, Pools
20-24
Playing Fields, Skate Parks, Passive Parks,
Tennis Courts, Basketball Courts, Walking Trails,
Bike Trails, Pools
25-44
Playing Fields, Passive Parks, Skate Parks,
Walking Trails, Bike Trails, Basketball Courts,
Tennis Courts, Pools
45-64
Passive Parks, Walking Trails, Indoor Activities,
Pools
65 +
Passive Parks, Walking Trails, Indoor Activities,
Pools
Source: Department of Parks and Recreation, 2002
Recreational Standards
The adequacy of recreational facilities to meet the requirements and needs of these
population groups can be measured in many ways. The Parks and Recreation staff is
aware of National Recreational Standards put forth by the National Recreation and
Parks Association. Members of Pawtucket’s Parks and Recreation staff are members of
the Rhode Island Recreation and Parks Association and attend monthly meetings and
seminars to be better able to keep Pawtucket’s recreational facilities up to state and
national standards. All new and reconstructed recreational facilities incorporate ADA
requirements.
Voter support for recreational facility development and management had been weak up
until 1993. As shown in Table 5.4, “Local Recreation Bond Issues”, Pawtucket residents
approved referenda totaling $3.6 million for the reconstruction and renovation of existing
facilities. In 2000 a $1,500,000 bond was approved for the development of the
McKinnon Alves Soccer Complex.
Without capital funds, the improvement and expansion of the parks and recreation
system would not progress as it has been. The improvements would be limited to those
that are attainable through the annual operations and maintenance budget, which is
shown in Table 5.5.
5-10
Table 5.4 Approved Local Recreation Bond Issues
Year
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
$250,000
$500,000
$350,000
$350,000
$250,000
$250,000
$250,000
$250,000
$300,000
$300,000
$300,000
$300,000
Source: City of Pawtucket, Finance Department 2009
Table 5.5 Parks and Recreation Division Budget
Budget Category
1999-2000
2009-2010
Personnel
Maintenance/Operating
Programming
Equipment
Total
$1,786,693
$ 406,699
$ 87,320
$ 17,354
$2,298,066
$1,375,171
$ 452,896
$ 104,892
$ 25,056
$1,958,015
Source: City of Pawtucket, Finance Department 2009
In Pawtucket, the responsibility for the two main functions of activity programming and
facility management has been placed in one division, the Division of Recreation and
Parks. There are about 28 permanent employees and additional employees are hired
during the spring, summer and fall. As is evident from the bond funds utilized, the City
has invested considerable time and money rehabilitating its existing recreational
facilities.
A good example of an improved facility is Slater Memorial Park. Slater Park is a 200acre park in Pawtucket. Over the past few years, the historic core of the park has been
completely renovated including Daggett Farm (former zoo site), the Daggett House,
Looff Carousel, and various ball fields. The antiquated zoo was closed in 1993. The site
was reopened several years later as Daggett Farm. The farm houses many domestic
plants and animals and serves as an educational resource for the public school system.
There is also a cooperative agreement with RIARC in place where clients and personnel
operate and maintain an active greenhouse at the farm. The Daggett House (1685), the
oldest standing house in the City, was completely renovated using City funds and
Champlain Foundation funds. The Looff Carousel, the oldest of its type in the world,
was completely renovated in spring 2001, and the ceiling repainted in 2008. All 50
figures were historically restored, and the floor and ceiling were replaced. A 2/3 mile
bike trail along the Ten Mile River through the park was completed. The ball fields at
Slater Park were reconstructed and lighted and concession stands and bathrooms were
constructed. The tennis courts and the picnic area were also reconstructed. A
comprehensive arts program has also begun at Slater Park. This program includes
5-11
festivals in the spring, at Halloween and during the winter, sixteen summer
performances, and the annual Pawtucket Arts Festival.
Open Space Protection and Recreation Area Development
The City of Pawtucket is one of the most densely populated Cities in the entire state
therefore the amount of viable, vacant land is limited. Over the past few years, open
space protection efforts have focused on the vacant land along the riverfront. It is the
City’s goal to improve public access to the river areas and create additional recreation
activities linked to the river, for example, passive parks, boat landings, dock areas,
fishing opportunities, and bike trails. In 2000 the City of Pawtucket has purchased two
major sites along the east and west bank of the Pawtucket River and is trying to create a
walkable area along both sides of the entire riverfront. The City is working to reconstruct
docking facilities at one of these sites. Efforts to create the Blackstone Valley Bikeway
will also provide access along the riverfront.
As noted, there is limited vacant land for the development of new recreational facilities
so the City of Pawtucket needs to explore alternative solutions. In 2005 the City
remediated a 5-acre brownfield site and developed a first-class soccer complex which
serves Pawtucket’s youth. The City is currently remediating another brownfield site,
along the river, which will comprise part of the future Blackstone River Bikeway. The
City is also in negotiations with a private mill owner, to purchase a parcel of land that
contains an historic firepond, and could provide passive recreation opportunities.
G. Coordination with Regional Needs
While the emphasis of this plan is on Pawtucket, there has been a continuous
examination of what is occurring in the Greater Providence Metropolitan area and the
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. With the ease of transportation in
this region, many of Pawtucket’s recreational and open space resources can be
considered part of the regional context.
The following sections list a number of recreation areas that can be considered regional
in their area of influence and the patrons they attract.
Ten Mile River Bikeway
In 1993, the City of Pawtucket and the City of East Provident jointly applied for funding
for this bikeway as a Transportation Enhancement Project. A 3/4 mile segment in Slater
Park, Pawtucket, and a just under 2 mile segment from Slater Park south to the Kimberly
Ann Rock Athletic Fields in East Providence, have been completed. A segment of the
Pawtucket portion of this bikeway is included in the TIP.
Blackstone River System
The Blackstone River Valley Heritage Corridor is very active in all areas of the
Blackstone watershed. There is also the Blackstone River Watershed Council, which
has been working closely with RI Department of Environmental Management to compile
and adopt an Action Plan. The Action Plan, which is in draft form, addresses such topics
as water quality, public and environmental health, natural, cultural and recreational
resources, and sustainable economic development.
5-12
The Blackstone River Watershed Council and the Friends of the Blackstone are working
with RIDEM and NRCS to construct fish ladders at historic dams along the Blackstone.
There are two fish ladders plan in Pawtucket – one at the Slater Mill Dam and one at the
Main Street Dam. The City of Pawtucket is an active partner in this project, along with
the Slater Mill and National Grid. This project is slated to begin in 2010.
Blackstone River Bikeway
Work on the Blackstone River Bikeway, which will ultimately link Providence to
Worcester is ongoing. RIDEM has prepared 10% designs and the City of Pawtucket has
agreements with over 80% of the landowners for potential easements and acquisitions.
The next steps for this project are the development of 30% plans by RIDEM for
permitting. Additional funding will be needed for the completion of the Bikeway.
Pawtucket/Seekonk River
The Pawtucket River flows into the Seekonk River, which opens into the Providence
River and Narragansett Bay. There is a federal navigation channel up to the vicinity of
the former state pier on the eastern shore, just south of Division Street. The authorized
channel depth is sixteen feet. The site of the former state pier was once the location of a
privately operated marina. The City has purchased the site and is exploring its potential
for recreational uses. It has fishing access and a public boat launch. For the past nine
years, it has also been the site of the Chinese-American Festival whose events have
drawn over 1,000 people from all over New England to the site. The City of Pawtucket
has utilized Brownfields Assessment money and determined the steps that need to be
taken to redevelop state pier into a first-class waterfront recreational amenity, including
parking facilities, landscaping and support structures. The City has requested
Brownfield Cleanup funding to begin to implement these steps.
New waterfront recreational activities have been created on the west bank of the river
south of Division Street Bridge, just north of the former state pier. Portions of “Town
Landing” have been built, including handicapped accessible fishing areas and a boat
launch. There are plans to further develop the site to include a rest area and other
visitor amenities. The City is working on providing landscaping and pathways at Town
Landing. This work has been approved by the Coastal Resources Management Council,
and is slated to begin in 2010.
Moshassuck River Greenway
The John H. Chafee Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
commissioned a study of the Blackstone Valley Canal in Rhode Island. The Lorraine Mill
area of Pawtucket was identified by this study as a key project. The City of Pawtucket is
working with the property owner to prepare a conservation easement which would allow
this resource to be preserved and made available to the public.
5-13
Over the past few years, the City of Pawtucket has utilized state and federal grants as
well as local funding sources to upgrade existing recreational facilities and acquire new
areas for recreational development. Because of the developed character of the City,
new parcels for recreational development are scarce. The City is focusing acquisition
efforts along the city’s rivers – the Moshassuck, Blackstone, Ten Mile and
Pawtucket/Seekonk River corridors. These corridors offer the greatest opportunities for
interconnection with adjacent community facilities. Pawtucket is also looking for creative
redevelopment opportunities – like the McKinnon/Alves soccer complex – to expand its
recreation and open space.
As recreational facilities are continuously renovated and improved, management and
maintenance of the facilities becomes more important. The Division of Recreation and
Parks has and will continue to require maintenance plans for all park and recreation
areas throughout the City to ensure that facilities are properly groomed, equipped and
managed.
5-14
SOURCES
City of Pawtucket, “Capital and Operating Budget, FY 2002.”
City of Pawtucket, “Capital Improvements Program,” Various Years.
City of Pawtucket, Parks and Recreation Division, Interviews, 2002.
City of Pawtucket, “Open Space and Recreation Plan,” 1995.
City of Pawtucket, “Open Space and Recreation Plan Amendment,” 1998.
Rhode Island Department of Administration, “Ocean State Outdoors: Rhode Island’s
Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan,” State Guide Plan Element 152, June 1992.
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, “Outdoor Recreation Facility
Inventory,” March 2002
5-15
2011 Update
Chapter 6 – COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES
Table of Contents
6-1
6-3
6-20
Sources
6-22
I. Goals, Policies and Action Items
Goals:
Provide the City of Pawtucket with a full range of city services and community facilities commensurate with
the needs of an urban industrial city.
Increase energy efficiency, Citywide.
Objectives
Policies
Action Items
1. Get a clear benchmark of City
Energy Usage
1. Regularly review and prioritize public works
operations and capital need for inclusion in the
five-year capital improvement program and the
annual municipal budget.
CS 1 Investigate opportunities for consolidating services with other
Rhode Island communities to reduce costs.
2. Complete Long Term Energy and
Sustainability Plan
3. Decrease GHG emissions from City
assets by 10%
4. Increase energy efficiency by 10%
on a BTU/ft2 basis across the City’s
building portfolio
5. Improve the water quality of
Pawtucket’s waterways through the
elimination of combined sewer
overflows by cooperation with the
Narragansett Bay Commission to site
combines sewer overflow treatment or
mitigation facilities, as necessary.
6. Reduce the number of existing
homes that are not connected to the
municipal sewer system.
7. Achieve, through the recycling
program, a 30 percent reduction in
volume of the disposable solid waste
stream to reduce the overall cost of
solid waste disposal.
8. Reduce the amount of total
stormwater runoff.
2. Develop renewable energy generating
assets in the City and encourage the City’s use
of renewable energy
3. Maintain and improve groundwater and
surface water quality by requiring the use of
Best Management Practices for stormwater
management.
4. Utilize RIDEM’s “Standard Requirement for
Subsurface Stormwater Disposal Systems
within Residential Developments and
Roadways”, “Land Management Project”, “Land
Use and Water Quality Issues Series” and the
RIDEM-USDA Soil Conservation Service
“Rhode Island Soil Erosion and Sediment
Control Handbook” for design guidance for all
new and improved drainage systems.
5. Require developers of unserviced parcels
of land to connect to municipal sewer system.
6. Preserve the Pawtucket Water Supply
Board (PWSB) reservoir impoundment system
to guarantee a continued source of water for
future generations.
7. Explore numerous grant opportunities
through EMPG, UASI and FIRE grants.
CS 2 Identify a location for a new public safety complex, including
parking, municipal court, police administration and communications and
the fire department.
CS 3 Evaluate the sewer system capacity in the Beverage Hill drainage
basin to determine the causes of hydraulic overloading and develop a
program for eliminating the problem.
CS 4 Reserve potential sites identified by the Narragansett Bay
Commission for the location of combined sewer overflow mitigation
facilities.
CS 5 Continue the composting program at the municipal transfer station
and educate homeowners to compost landscape waste whenever
possible.
CS 6 Continue municipal curbside collection of residential solid waste
and require commercial and industrial solid waste to be handled
privately.
CS 7 Where feasible, separate the sanitary sewer and the storm
drainage systems and prohibit new connections of storm drains to the
municipal sewer system.
CS 8 Implement through the Executive Office and the PWSB, the
Watershed Protection Plan, which establishes a program of land
acquisition in the watershed region; requests regional communities to
incorporate watershed protection policies and actions in their zoning
and subdivision regulations; urges the establishment of intermunicipal
agreements for watershed protection and creates a management
program to protect water quality.
6 -1
8. Annually review through the budgetary
process senior services delivery systems and
levels of service to ensure efficient and
effective service delivery to qualified residents.
9. Utilize to the maximum extent senior
volunteer services in the operation of the
senior center and to provide assistance and
care to other older adults in the community.
10. Continue to be a proactive resource in the
community by increasing awareness and
access to library services.
11. Work independently and with local and
non-profit service providers to obtain sufficient
funding to meet the social service needs of
Pawtucket residents.
CS 9 Cooperate with the State of Rhode Island in the implementation of
the Drought Management Plan as a means to reduce Rhode Island’s
vulnerability to periods of low precipitation.
CS 10 Establish a communications center for the Fire Department as a
separate building or as a self-contained portion of a building.
CS 11 Continue to pursue funding opportunities from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency to assist in helping Pawtucket to be a
disaster resistant community.
CS 12 Implement the recommendations in “Strategy for Reducing Risks
from Natural Hazard in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, A Multi- Hazard
Mitigation Strategy- 2010 Update”.
CS 13 Implement the recommendations in the City’s Long Tern Energy
Efficiency and Sustainability Plan.
CS 14 Continue operation of the Leon Mathieu Senior Center,
12. Allow the use of alternative pavement
types on parking lots, sidewalks, and other
vehicular storage and travel ways to reduce
stormwater runoff and to preserve architectural
and landscape character.
13. Consistently seek out available social
service funding at all levels to apply to specific
issues or geographic areas (i.e. U.S
Department of Justice – Pleasant View Weed
and Seed, Rhode Island Housing – Barton
Street Neighborhood Revitalization).
14. Encourage through the Executive Office,
the PWSB and the NBC, industrial water use
conservation through exploring the use of
groundwater resources, developing process
water recycling and other technologies that
reduce the use of potable water and volume of
wastewater.
CS 15 Create a task force of library neighbors to solve parking
problems in the vicinity of the library.
CS 16 Investigate the feasibility of establishing satellite libraries in city
neighborhoods, youth centers, or gathering places.
CS 17 Improve access to library resources through improvements on
the library website.
CS 18 Identify and prioritize the social service needs of Pawtucket
residents as part of the needs assessment portion of the City of
Pawtucket Federal Housing and Community Development Consolidated
Plan.
CS 19 Continue to evaluate alternatives for the alleviation of
overcrowding and the provision of necessary classroom space at
schools in need.
6 -2
A. Introduction
This chapter addresses the various public services and infrastructure that the City
provides for its residents. In a City the size of Pawtucket that will include ensuring that
the roads are paved, storm water is collected and drained away, snow is plowed and
public places well maintained, our seniors are able to reach their daily activities, critical
services reach those in need, our schools in good physical condition and operating with
up-to-date facilities, there is sufficient water supply to meet our residential and industrial
demand and to provide adequate fire flow, the garbage is collected, the recyclables are
property recycled, and the City’s sanitary waste is treated. It is the provision of these
services and facilities that improve the quality of live of Pawtucket residents and the goal
of this plan to promote the health, safety and welfare or the City’s citizens, its
neighborhoods, and its business and industry through the provision of the necessary
community services and facilities.
All of these services are provided through delivery systems that are unique to the
particular service. Often the service or facility is greatly affected by federal or state
standards or law, or is the responsibility for the service is shared with other communities
in the Blackstone Valley. These complexities can impact the cost and the effectiveness
of services. For instance, the sharing of responsibilities for sanitary sewage disposal
affects the cost to Pawtucket, not only for daily use, but also eventually for the
elimination of combined sewer overflows. Standards for education programs and
facilities and state building code requirements can influence the cost of providing
building space for our schools. The National Fire Protection Standards can require
substantial changes in equipment used by our fire fighters to protect their health and
safety as well as to protect lives and property. Social services are provided to the City
by a number of regional and state entities that must ensure that they are offering
services that meet the critical needs of City residents. Changing community needs must
be continually addressed as the City’s population ages pr becomes more culturally and
ethnically diverse. Figure 6.1 is a map of Pawtucket’s existing community facilities.
Since 2005 there have been a number of major improvements and changes that will
impact the provision of community services to Pawtucket residents. The City recently
constructed a state of the art animal shelter within Slater Park. This shelter can
accommodate the current capacity of the City. Historic City Hall has been renovated.
The Pawtucket Public Library underwent almost $1million in renovations. At the same
time, due to fiscal constraints, the City has reduced its staffing.
B. Public Works
Pawtucket’s Department of Public Works (DPW) is comprised of eight divisions
including: Parks and Recreation, Highway, City Hall Maintenance, Sewer, Sanitation and
Recycling, Traffic, Engineering, Building Maintenance, and Equipment Maintenance.
The Department’s facilities are located on Armistice Boulevard. A staff of 153
employees is responsible for providing the Department’s varied responsibilities. Table
6.1 describes the staffing and duties of the various Departments.
6-3
6-4
Table 6.1 Public Works Departments
Department Staff Description
This Department maintains all passive and active parks, playgrounds
Parks and
45
and traffic islands throughout the City. Among others, this includes
Recreation
Highway
31
City Hall
Maintenance
12
Sewer,
Sanitation
and
Recycling
34
Traffic
8
Engineering
2
Building
Maintenance
9
Equipment
Maintenance
14
Slater Park, Veterans Memorial Park, and the Hank Soar Complex. The
Division is also responsible for recreation programming, facility
operations and permits. It coordinates a wide variety of programs,
performances, trips, field permits, and is also responsible for
maintaining and operating Daggett Farm, and the Looff Carousel.
Responsible for the maintenance and reconstruction of approximately
200 miles of City streets and curbing including the coordination and
supervision of outside contractors. Street sweeping services are
provided from April through November and snow removal and icy road
condition control during the winter months. The Division coordinates the
Youth Litter Corps during the summer, operates the Blackstone Valley
Regional Transfer Station on Grotto Avenue, and controls the compost
site where the fall leaves are composed into usable mulch. The City
owns two cemeteries, the Mineral Spring Cemetery and the Oak Grove
Cemetery, both of which are maintained by the Highway Division.
Responsible for all custodial services for City Hall, Police Station, Police
Annex, Public Works Center, Senior Center, Slater Park Office, VIN
Station, Fire Station Main Office, and Library.
Responsible for one weekly trash and recycling pick-up services to
Pawtucket residents by City trucks, and bulky waste metals by
appointment. The Division also maintains approximately 200 miles of
sanitary storm water lines within the City’s sewer system, including
maintenance and cleaning of the system’s 6,000 catch basins and the
operation and maintenance of the City’s five sewage pumping stations.
Responsible for the design, layout, installation, repair and replacement
of the City’s traffic control devices, and establishing and implementing
detours and road closures for many public and private events. The
Division also conducts studies and analysis on improving and reducing
congestion and accidents, improving conditions for motorist and
pedestrians, and safety through the usage, upkeep and recalibration of
traffic control devices.
Responsible for the 50-50 sidewalk program, inspection of new sewer
tie-ins, survey crews for all new municipal construction and
rehabilitation, maintenance of Tax Assessor’s maps, utility maps, sewer
pipe location maps, and blue prints and records for all municipal
facilities. The division is also beginning to become more involved in the
management and upkeep of the City’s GIS database.
Maintains all City-owned buildings and providing related services
including building, remodeling, installation of air conditioners, painting,
wallpapering, laminate work, basic plumbing, maintenance of
underground sprinkler systems, restrooms and concession stands,
including all winterization of facilities. Electricians maintain electrical
systems in all City-owned buildings and maintain lights for ball fields as
well as the lighting at Slater Park. The division builds, paints,
assembles and maintains stages for City run special events.
Responsible for the maintenance of the entire vehicular fleet under the
Public Works, Police, Fire, Library and Senior Center. The division also
maintains and repairs all small engine equipment, orders and apportions
all fuel, and performs all welding and fabricating.
6-5
Source: Department of Public Works, 2010
C. Public Buildings
The City owns and maintains approximately 318,600 square feet of floor space in 35
buildings. These facilities include administrative offices and operations as well as Fire
and Police, Library, Public Works and City Hall. Table 6.2 provides a more detailed
summary of the municipal buildings.
Table 6.2 City of Pawtucket, Municipal Buildings
Building Name
Location
Original Const.
Date/Renovations
Type
Total Area
City Hall – includes Police
Station & Fire Station #2
Public Works Center
Deborah Cook Sayles
Library
Roosevelt Avenue
1934/2006
Masonry
59,900
Armistice Boulevard
13 Summer Street
1967
1899-02 / 1962-67
Steel
Masonry
34,800
20,564
Gerald S. Burns Library
Annex
Fire Station #1
Fire Station #3
Fire Station #4
Fire Station #5
Fire Station #6
Slater Park Office
Daggett House
Boat House
Daggett Farm Building and
Gift Shop
Lynch Ice Arena
Municipal Transfer Station
Water Supply Board
Water Treat. Facility
Animal Shelter
Senior Center
Remodeled
New Horizons Day Care
Carpenter Shop
Cemetery Office
Cemetery Office (Oak
Grove)
Parking Garage
Quonset Hut #1
Welding Shop
Police Annex
Walter Gatchell Wardroom
Darlington Girls Softball
League Concession Stand
Darlington American Little
League Concession Stand
Looff Carousel
Hank Soar Restrooms
Veterans Memorial Park
Pool Locker Rooms
Fairlawn Little League
Concession Stand
Morley Field Concession
Stand and Restrooms
Max Read Concession
Stand and Restrooms
Pariseau Concession
Stand and Restrooms
Tomlinson Concession
Stand and Restrooms
13 Summer Street
1896-99 / 1980-81
Masonry
22,111
394 West Avenue
2 Columbus Ave
397 Cottage Street
301 Smithfield Ave
385 Newport Ave
Slater Park
Slater Park
Slater Park
Slater Park
1901
1957
1974
1963
1948
1874
1685
1917 / 1981
Masonry
Masonry
Masonry
Masonry
Masonry
Wood
Wood
Masonry
Masonry
5,070
5,266
7,870
5,106
4,775
1,320
2,178
4,552
4,962
Beattie Street
Grotto Avenue
Branch Street
Mill St, Cumberland
Slater Park
Original Fire Station
420 Main Street
Adjacent to 420 Main
Armistice Boulevard
Armistice Boulevard
Central Avenue
1973 / 1979
1963
1880 / 1980
1941
Rebuilt 2008
1896
1980
1920 / 1989
1981
1850
1880
Masonry
Masonry
30,926
17,194
Masonry
Masonry
10,000
8,842
Masonry
Masonry & Wood
Masonry
Wood
2,400
288
1,530
Main Street
Armistice Boulevard
Armistice Boulevard
Armistice Boulevard
171 Fountain Street
Slater Park
1978
1986
1887
2000
Masonry
Metal
Metal
Masonry
Masonry
Masonry
60,168
4,000
2,000
2,400
Slater Park
1998
Masonry
1,152
Slater Park
Prospect Street
Smithfield Avenue/
Vets Memorial Park
Smithfield Avenue/
Vets Memorial Park
Moshassuck Street
1910
1990
Wood
Masonry
Masonry
3,600
1,170
4,280
2002
Masonry
672
Masonry
602
Masonry
900
Masonry
336
Masonry & Wood
1,296
Pleasant Street
Division Street
Daggett Avenue
2001
456
6-6
Source: Pawtucket Department of Public Works, 2010
Several City owned buildings are leased to private organizations including: Daggett
Farm Greenhouse and Gift Shop to the Rhode Island Association of Retarded Citizens
(RIARC), Daggett House at Slater Park is leased to the Daughters of the American
Revolution, the Boat House at Slater Park is leased to the Rhode Island Watercolor
Society, and the Walter Gatchell Wardroom is leased to the Gatchell Post VFW.
As noted on Table 6.2, many of the public buildings date back to the early 1900’s and
require constant upkeep, maintenance and repair work. Since 2005, a significant
number of building repairs have been completed on municipal buildings including the
rehabilitation of the City Hall Tower, as well as interior upgrades. The Pawtucket Public
Library was further waterproofed. The Pawtucket Animal Shelter was rebuilt.
Public Buildings are valuable community assets that should be properly maintained. As
building codes change and building uses evolve, the space often requires renovations
that go beyond simple maintenance. The City has a base of information that has been
used to formulate cost estimates to support bond referendum to pay for building repairs.
This database should be expanded to include all City-owned buildings and the data
should be standardized and computerized to allow for prioritization of needs.
D. Sewage Collection, Treatment and Disposal
The City of Pawtucket is virtually 100% sewered. The existing sewer system is primarily
a combined system collecting both sewage and storm water.
Historically, the
construction of sewers was begun in the Blackstone and Moshassuck Valley areas in the
late 1800’s. The Blackstone Valley System was allowed to discharge untreated
wastewater directly into the river up until 1954 when the Blackstone Valley District
Commission, now the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC), was formed. Currently, all
sewers within the Pawtucket sewer system discharge to NBC interceptor sewers that
convey flows to the Bucklin Point wastewater treatment plant in East Providence.
The City owns and maintains approximately 200 miles of collector sewers that directly
service the City’s residents. The City also owns and maintains as a part of the collection
system, five (5) wastewater pumping facilities. These facilities provide for sewer service
to lower lying areas, primarily along the Ten Mile River. Table 6.3 provides a summary
of the wastewater pumping stations, including capacities. Operation and maintenance of
the local sewer system is provided through the City’s Department of Public Works –
Sewer, Sanitation and Recycling Division.
Table 6.3 Wastewater Pumping Stations, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Station
1
2
3
4
5
Capacity
367 gpm at 65’ TDH
50 gpm at 30’ TDH
Size
Force
Main
6”
4”
4”
4”
4”
Construction
Date
1980
1984
1979
1978
1984
Location
Narragansett Park
Slater Park
Parkside
Pinecrest
Branch Street
Source: Pawtucket Department of Public Works, 2003
6-7
Combined Sewer Overflows
Flows from Pawtucket’s collector sewer system go into NBC’s interceptor sewers.
Considering the system’s dual function as sewer and storm water collectors, wet
weather flows increase dramatically beyond the existing pipe capacities. A series of
combined sewer overflow (CSO) structures along the Blackstone and Seekonk Rivers
provide relief by allowing direct overflow of the system into the River. A total of 19
combined sewer overflows fall within Pawtucket’s city limits.
E. Solid Waste Management
The collection of the City’s residential waste is performed through the Department of
Public Works, Sewer, Sanitation and Recycling Division. Once per week curbside trash
pickup service is provided to City residents through the Division’s five daily collection
routes.
Trash collected by the Division is delivered to the City’s Transfer Station on Grotto
Avenue for ultimate disposal at the State’s Central Landfill facility in Johnston, RI. The
Transfer Station is operated at the former City incinerator building and used the existing
facilities, with minor modifications, to accommodate roll-off containers and a hydraulic
compactor.
In 2009, the Director of Public Works presented a plan for pay as you throw in the City of
Pawtucket. This proposal was, unfortunately, not successful. In an effort to still reduce
the amount of waste generated, the Director proposed an alternative plan – mandatory
recycling. The City of Pawtucket will not pick up trash unless there are also recycling
containers present. These efforts have begun to reduce trash and increase recycling
within the City. Table 6.4 describes the amount of recycling in Pawtucket before and
after the program has been implemented. These figures only represent ten weeks of
“After Program”. However, they do show a trend toward increased recycling, especially
since there were a number of issues with non-compliance within the first few weeks of
the program.
Table 6.4 Average Weekly Waste/Recycling Collected, 2010
Before Program
After Program
Difference
Total
Tonnage
459
427
-32
Trash
Tonnage
394
340
-53
Recycling
Tonnage
64
86
+21
Recycling as
percent of Total
14
20
+6
Department of Public Works, 2010
Considering the limited remaining life at the state’s Central Landfill in Johnston, recycling
and source reduction options will play a key role in helping the City maintain an
affordable trash collection and disposal system. The Division plans to pursue source
reduction and recycling options to reduce the City’s solid waste stream through various
public awareness campaigns, including a twice per year newsletter for recycling and
sanitation.
An oil “igloo” container is also available for recycling crankcase oils from City residents.
Tires are separated from the waste stream as a matter of typical operation, but recycling
opportunities are limited and constantly changing. The Division also operated a
6-8
composting program for leaves, grass clippings and Christmas trees.
facilities are located at the City’s Transfer Station.
Composting
F. Stormwater Management
Only very limited sections of the sewer system has been separated. Accordingly, the
existing infrastructure must accommodate widely fluctuating flows during wet and dry
weather. The City’s storm water system includes approximately 6,000 catch basins over
200 miles of streets and sewers. Operation and maintenance of the system including
catch basin cleaning and disposal, street cleaning, the flushing of dead end streets,
replacement of frames and grates, and other minor pipe cleaning repairs are performed
by the Sewer, Sanitation and Recycling Division of the Department of Public Works.
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I storm water
program, initiated in 1990, required discharges from large construction sites, certain
industrial activities and operators of medium or large municipal separate storm sewer
systems (more than 100,000 served), to obtain permits and implement a storm water
management program as a means to control polluted discharges from these activities.
Since 1984, RIDEM has been delegated the authority to implement the NPDES program
in Rhode Island (RIPDES Storm Water Program, 2002). The EPA finalized the Storm
Water Phase II Rule on December 8, 1999. It requires municipal separate storm sewer
systems to obtain permits and establish a storm water management program that is
intended to improve water bodies by reducing the quantity of pollutants that can enter
storm sewer systems during storm events. The Storm Water Phase II Rule extends the
coverage of the NPDES storm water program to include small municipal separate storm
sewer systems. The Phase II Rule automatically covers all small municipal separate
storm sewer systems located in urbanized areas as defined by the Bureau of the
Census, which includes Pawtucket. (RIPDES Storm Water Program, 2002). Pawtucket
has amended its Zoning Ordinance to ensure that new development complies with
requirements for stormwater control. The Division will continue to pursue funding
sources for the separation of storm and sanitary sewers to comply with EPA and RIDEM
standards.
G. Water Supply, Treatment, and Distribution
The Pawtucket Water Supply Board (PWSB) through a system utilizing both surface and
groundwater sources, supplies water to the City of Pawtucket, the City of Central Falls
and the Valley Falls portion of Cumberland. The original system was established in
1875. Up until 1970, the water system was operated and maintained by the City’s
Department of Public Works, at which time the PWSB was established to take over all
aspects of the water system.
Service Area
The PWSB system is one of the larger water suppliers in the state, serving
approximately 99,000 customers in Pawtucket, Central Falls, and the Valley Falls portion
of Cumberland. The PWSB has wholesale contracts with Seekonk, who has not used
PWSB water since 2001, and Cumberland. The PWSB currently has emergency
interconnections with Seekonk, Lincoln, Attleboro, East Providence, and the Providence
Water Supply Board. The service area is almost fully developed and includes similar
6-9
proportions of medium/high density residential, commercial and industrial zoning.
(PWSB, Water Supply Management Plan 5-year Update, 2007).
Water Sources
The source of the PWSB water supply is the Abbott Run watershed, a sub basin of the
Blackstone Valley Drainage Basin. The watershed covers an area of about 27.8 square
miles in the Town of Cumberland, RI and the Towns of Wrentham, Franklin, Plainville,
North Attleboro and Attleboro, Massachusetts. The Diamond Hill Reservoir is the first
and largest of the ponds and impoundments that make up the surface water supply. It
was originally constructed in 1887, has been enlarged twice, and has a storage capacity
of 3,666 million gallons of water. Downstream is the Arnold Mills Reservoir. It was
constructed in 1927 and can store up to 1,165 million gallons of water. There are four
other smaller ponds along the seven-mile length of Abbott Run. The Robin Hollow Pond
and the Happy Hollow Reservoir are owned by the PWSB. The total available storage in
these ponds is about 135 million gallons. Rawson Pond and Howard Pond are privately
owned. The total storage in these ponds is about 43 million gallons. (PWSB, Water
Supply Management Plan 5-year Update, 2007).
The PWSB owns and operates a series of eight wells along Abbott Run that can
supplement the surface water supply. The groundwater recharge area for these well
generally falls within the surface water watershed area. The PWSB has withdrawn
groundwater at various times, most often during the summer months. The PWSB has
plans to replace well #2. The safe yield of surface sources is 15-17 million gallons daily
from surface supplies and 3.6 million gallons daily from groundwater supplies, making
the combined water supply safe yield approximately 18.6 – 20.6 million gallons daily.
Water Quality Protection
The PWSB completed an inventory of known potential pollution sources in the Abbott
Run watershed in 1999 (1999 Pollution Source Inventory). This inventory identifies the
type of potential contamination and the proximity to key PWSB water sources. The RI
Department of Health conducted a source water assessment of the Abbott Run
watershed in 2003. Both these studies were updated in the 2007 Water Supply
Management Plan 5-year Update. Overall, the Pawtucket supply has been assessed as
highly susceptible to contamination.
The PWSB completed a Watershed Management and Protection Plan in 1999. This was
also updated in the 2007 Water Supply Management Plan 5-year Update. This Plan
specifies a comprehensive set of plans and programs that will work to protect the raw
water supply of the PWSB. Highlights of the plan include:
• Wellhead & Surface Water Protection Plans
• Raw & Treated Water Quality Monitoring Programs
• Watershed Management GIS System. This will allow the PWSB to both
consider the impacts of land use and zoning throughout the watershed and
more effectively monitor water quality and other conditions.
Current protection measures are limited to fences, signs and field inspections. The
portion of the watershed owned by the PWSB has some signs to prevent trespassing
and illegal dumping. Signs that warn that the watershed area is protected are posted in
6-10
many locations. Frequent field inspections are valuable for catching day-to-day
incidents like vandalism, and anticipating trouble spots. Inspections also provide
information for communicating and coordination with police, fire, and public works
departments in the six communities spanned by the Abbott Run Watershed. A
contracted security company patrols the reservoir areas regularly.
The PWSB has been involved in land purchases in the watershed area. A land
purchase priority list has been compiled and the PWSB has used this list to negotiating
land purchases utilizing funds from the water quality surcharge administered by the RI
Water Resources Board.
Water Treatment
The new treatment plant went online March 17, 2008. The existing eight (8) wells will be
reconfigured to pass through a Cascading Aeration Unit (for radon), then blended with
raw water from Happy Hollow, discharged directly to the Johnson Intake Screen at the
new raw water pump station, and then treated with permanganate (for iron and
manganese). This will also help initial treatment of the well supplies in the Happy Hollow
Reservoir itself prior to treatment in the water treatment plant.
Distribution System
Pumping Stations -There are two standby pump stations in the PWSB system that
have the ability to pump treated water into the transmission and distribution system.
Branch Street (Station 4) is located at 85 Branch Street in Pawtucket. In 1983, five new
pumps were installed at this facility: three 9 MGD pumps, one 6 MGD pump and one 3
MGD pump. Original design capacity was 36 MGD but due to impeller trimming and
operating inefficiency, the current estimated output capacity equals 27 MGD. In 1993,
the PWSB replaced the impellers and installed new surge control valves. (PWSB, Water
The second pump station is also on Branch Street (Station 1). It is also located at 85
Branch Street and is an emergency station consisting of one 9 MGD pump coupled to a
diesel engine. This pump has been run periodically during power outages. (PWSB,
Water Supply Management Plan 5-year Update, 2007).
Transmission System - The PWSB owns and operates a total of 263 miles of
transmission and distribution water main. Approximately 18 percent of these mains are
unlined cast iron pipe. All water mains 16 inches and larger are considered transmission
mains and do not have water services. The total length of transmission mains is
approximately 22 miles. (PWSB, Water Supply Management Plan 5-year Update,
2007). Water is conveyed from the treatment plant by a combination of four 13 million
gallon per day MGD pumps located in the treatment plant. The pumping station delivers
water into a network of transmission mains, which convey the water to the storage
facilities at Stump Hill, and into the distribution mains to the customers. (PWSB, Water
Water Services - The PWSB meters 100 percent of its customers and maintains two
types of billing periods. Residential and small industrial customers (approximately
22,800 accounts) are billed on a quarterly basis; this group represents approximately
99.6% of the PWSB customer base. There are approximately 100 large industrial and
6-11
commercial customers that are billed on a monthly basis.
Management Plan 5-year Update, 2007).
(PWSB, Water Supply
In 1988, the average water use was 13.0 MGD then decreased to 12.3 MGD in 1989. In
1992, the average water use was 14.3 MGD. In 2000, the average daily demand was
12.8 MGD, in 2008 the average daily demand dropped dramatically to 9.8 MGD.
System Management
Leak Detection and Repair - From July 1985 to May 1986, the PWSB employed the
services of Heath Consultants, Inc. of Stoughton, Massachusetts to conduct a Leak
Detection Program. During this time, every section of the water main owned by the
PWSB was (233.53 miles) was inspected using a sensitive sonic detection instrument.
The survey was successful in locating a total of 88 leaks, with an estimated loss of 2.6
million gallons per year. 79% of the leakage was service related, 16% of leakage was
hydrant related and 5% of the leakage was water main related. Each of these leaks was
repaired.
The PWSB does not currently employ an active Leak Detection and Repair (LDR) Plan.
The PWSB has requested funding for a LDR Plan including equipment and funding for a
position through the PUC. The PUC has previously only approved funding for
equipment and no funding for a position/manpower or training. The PWSB will look to
implement a formal LDR Plan pending approval of funding by the PUC for both leak
detection equipment and funding of personnel and training.
The PWSB has been replacing, cleaning, and lining mains as part of its Capital
Improvements Plan since 1988. The PWSB has approximately 27% of its system in
need of repair (cleaning and lining) or replacement as of 2007. Through this program
the PWSB has had the ability to review and evaluate water mains within its system. This
Capital Improvements Plan has rendered more than 70% of the PWSB water mains in
good or new condition. The implementation of this aggressive improvement plan has
ultimately achieved the objective of a leak detection and repair plan; the identification
and correction of water main defects. (PWSB, Water Supply Management Plan 5-year
Update, 2007).
Capital Improvement Plan - The PWSB maintains a comprehensive capital
improvement plan (CIP) that is updated on a yearly basis. The capital improvement plan
outlines capital improvements for raw water, treatment and distribution facilities for the
next 20 years. Capital improvements can be funded in two main ways: (1) pay-as-yougo Infrastructure Replacement Fund dollars which are collected through water sales
revenue; (2) Clean Water Finance (CWF) low interest loans paid through debt service.
The PWSB recently took advantage of the Federal Stimulus money and received ~23%
principle forgiveness on a main replacement project.
H. Public Safety
Emergency services are provided to the community through the Department of Public
Safety, which includes the Police, Fire and Emergency Management Departments. The
Mayor is the supervisor of the entire Department of Public Safety.
6-12
Police Department
The Police Department is headquartered in the City Hall complex on Roosevelt Avenue.
All administrative functions and temporary lock-up facilities are located at this office.
The Department’s vehicular fleet operates from facilities on Armistice Boulevard,
adjacent to the Public Works Department Complex. For the year 2001, the Department
received 67,805 calls resulting in a total of 14,505 written reports.
The Department currently has 153 authorized police officers. The personnel breakdown
includes: 1 – Chief; 3 – Police Commanders; 5 – Captains; 8 – Lieutenants;
22
–
Sergeants; 20 – Detectives and 94 – Patrolmen. The Department also employs 63
civilian personnel, which includes, among others, school crossing guards, animal control
officers, VIN station inspectors, and police signal operators.
Fire Department
The Fire Department maintains 6 active stations serving the City. Table 6.6 lists the
existing fire stations. The Department is headquartered at the City Hall complex on
Roosevelt Avenue and provides operational service through 2 shifts per day, 24 hours
per day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per year. The Department currently has a
Class 2 ISO Rating, which reflects favorably on the Department’s fire prevention and fire
fighting capabilities. The rating also affects insurance rates for residential, commercial
and industrial buildings. The Department maintains full fire fighting capabilities for multistory building fires. This is an important for the several multi-story residential complexes
for seniors in the City.
The Fire Department employs total staff of 146 and provides operational service through
2 shifts per day. Each shift is staffed by a Battalion Chief and provides a minimum staff
manpower of 31 per shift. The Department staff personnel include the following: 1 –
Chief; 1 – Assistant Chief; 4 – Battalion Chiefs; 8 – Captains; 28 – Lieutenants; 6
– Rescue Lieutenants; 2 – Rescue Captains; 98 – Fire Fighters.
The standard for Fire Department staffing requirements is generally five full time fire
fighters per 1,000 dwelling units. Based on the current number of full time personnel in
proportion to the 2000 count of dwelling units, 31,360, a net deficiency of 11 fire fighters
exists. Considering the slow population increase that is projected for the next 10 years
and the slow rate of new dwelling unit construction, this deficiency is not expected to
increase significantly.
As shown on Table 6.5, all of the existing fire stations are old structures ranging in age
from 102 to 28 years old. Station 4 at 397 Cottage Street is the most recent structure,
built in 1974. All of the stations require varying degrees of improvements to correct
Building and Life Safety Code deficiencies. The Fire Department has identified potential
improvements approaching $1 million to correct existing deficiencies. An extensive
rehabilitation of the exterior of West Avenue was completed in 2002 to ensure that the
structure remain a focal point of the neighborhood and retain its historic character.
Exterior rehabilitation of the other facilities in the City is also necessary. Interior
rehabilitation of the West Avenue structure as well as the other structures is necessary
to update heating systems, electrical wiring, and plumbing fixtures.
6-13
Table 6.5, Pawtucket Fire Stations
Station
Number
Location
Construction
Date
1
394 West Avenue
1901
2
Roosevelt Ave./
City Hall
1937
3
2 Columbus
Avenue
4
Building
Type
Area
(Sq. Ft.)
2 Story
Masonry
2 Story
Masonry
5,070
1957
1 Story
Masonry
5,266
397 Cottage Street
1974
1 Story
Masonry
7,870
5
301 Smithfield
Avenue
1963
1 Story
Masonry
5,106
6
385 Newport
Avenue
1948
2 Story
Masonry
4,775
Equipment
Staff
per
Shift
1 – Engine
5
1 – Rescue
1 – Engine
7
1 – Ladder
1 - Marine
1 – Battalion
1 – Chief
1 – Engine
4
1 – Marine
1 – Res.Lad.
1 – Res.Res.
1 – Engine
8
1 – Ladder
1 – Rescue
1 – Engine
3
1 – Res.Eng.
1 – Res.Res.
1 – Engine
7
1 –Res.Eng.
Pawtucket Fire Department, 2009
The Fire Department’s primary equipment includes six engines (pumper trucks), two
aerial ladder trucks and two rescue units, each providing advanced life support (ALS)
system capability. The Department also maintains reserve equipment including two
pumper trucks, one aerial ladder truck and two rescue units. Many of the vehicles are
over 10 years old. Replacement, up grading and life cycling of the Department’s fleet
should be continued.
Emergency Management and Response
Man made disasters (fire, chemical spills, terrorist attacks, and acts of war against the
United States) and natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, blizzards) are destructive and
disruptive events that can affect any community. Past disasters have taught valuable
lessons on mitigation and recovery out of which has emerged the field of emergency
preparedness. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal
branch of emergency preparedness assisting communities to recover from disaster as
well as assisting them in becoming disaster resistant. In the northeast, FEMA has been
most active in establishing development codes for regulating building in flood prone
areas. All states now have emergency management agencies, as do many large cities.
Pawtucket has a Director of Emergency Management housed at the new Office of
Emergency Management and Emergency Operations Center located at 260 Armistice
Boulevard.
In the case of an emergency, the office of the Director of Emergency Management will
coordinate all essential operations at the Emergency Operations Center. Based on the
incident type the Director will utilize his/her ESF partners to prepare, respond, mitigate
and recover from the manmade or natural disaster.
The Emergency Management
Agency has signed MOU contracts with Rhode Island Emergency Management,
American Red Cross, First Student Bus Company, and has designated shelters in the
city which include Jenks Junior High School, Baldwin Elementary School, Varieur
6-14
Elementary School, Curvin McCabe Elementary School and Nathaniel Greene
Elementary School. These locations are designated as emergency shelters in case of a
natural disaster, but can be utilized as a Point of Distribution (POD) as well.
The completion of “A Strategy for Reducing Risks from Natural Hazards in Pawtucket
Rhode Island” was integral in the city receiving $300,000 from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency in 1999 to implement projects that would reduce flood risks in the
City. This funding enabled the City to be proactive in creating a disaster resistant
community. As a result of the funding, a number of important projects were completed
including; rebates to approximately 35 residents for installing backflow prevention
valves, installation of an emergency generator connection at the Senior Center,
installation of backflow prevention valves at City Hall, the Roosevelt Avenue Fire Station
and Police Headquarters. Designing and printing of Disaster Preparedness Coloring
Book to educate young children about disaster preparedness, training sessions for a
variety of special interest groups including Post Disaster Recovery for municipal and
private industry and general training for boards and commissions, and a complete catch
basin cleaning of the Darlington area of Pawtucket where major street flooding has
recently occurred. The City also obtained a Class 8 rating from FEMA’s Community
Rating System, entitled affected properties to lower flood insurance rates. Most recently
the Pawtucket Emergency Management Agency opened a regional Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) located at 260 Armistice Blvd utilizing $ 286,900 of UASI grant
funding. Pawtucket is in the processing of completing an update to the Strategy. The
implementation items from this plan are incorporated into this plan as Appendix C.
The Director of Emergency Management also acts as the liaison for Emergency-911 (E911). Those responsibilities include the review and update of the E-911 Master Street
Guide (MSG) annually or as often as requested, verification and confirmation of street
ranges, check and correction of incorrect addresses, verification and confirmation of new
locations and addresses, and attendance at state and regional meetings and workshops
as scheduled. The Director of Emergency Management also sits on the Urban Area
Security Initiative (UASI) Stakeholders group representing the City on grant funding
which is made available to the City.
I. Senior Services
The Leon Mathieu Senior Center was designated as Pawtucket’s community focal point
on aging in November 1, 1980. The facility opened after the major renovation of a
vacant Fire Station and was funded by Community Development Black Grant and Title V
of the Older Americans Act monies. The Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs
was an integral participant.
The Leon Mathieu Senior Center has demonstrated its capability to provide
comprehensive services to its elderly population. The Senior Center enjoys its positive
community image of providing full access to information and services available through
all federal, state, and local sources with an emphasis upon targeting services to low and
low-moderation income individuals. The Senior Center offers a variety of programs
which include: support services, a monthly newsletter, daily exercise classes, monthly
health screenings, educational programs, tax preparation, arts and crafts, information
and referrals on resources, programs and services available locally, statewide and
6-15
federally, RIPTA bus passes, Senior Health Insurance Programs, Alzheimer’s Alert
Program and RI Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Elderly.
One of the most successful programs of the Senior Center is the Check ‘Em Program
run in conjunction with the Police Department. The Check ‘Em Program is a telephone
reassurance system that will call senior 60 years of age or older living in their own home,
or who live in private apartment, to ensure that they are okay. This is a potential life
saving program that is free to Pawtucket residents. It is especially comforting to children
living out of state with an older parent living along. An automated call is placed in the
morning. If there is no answer, the call is placed again every 15 minutes for 45 minutes.
If there is still no answer, a policeman is dispatched to check on them. Although the
number of people enrolled in the program is constantly changing, the program averages
about 100 participants.
After a 16-month evaluation and application period, the Leon Mathieu Senior Center
became nationally accredited by the National Council on the Aging’s National Institute of
Senior Centers, as of January 2002. The Center is one of 14 accredited senior centers
in Rhode Island and one of fewer than 100 accredited senior centers nationally.
J. Library Services
The Pawtucket Public Library is a facility made up of two connected buildings, both of
which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The buildings provide 42,675
square feet for library use including seating for 225 users and a 100-seat auditorium.
The library is open 64 hours per week, a reduction from previous years. The library also
has a bookmobile that delivers library services to Pawtucket neighborhoods and
schools.
The library owns over 180,000 items, including books, videos and audio materials. Not
included in this number are periodicals and the many on-line resources that the library
subscribes to and makes available to its users in the building and through the library’s
website www.pawtucketlibrary.org.
The library is a member of a network of public libraries in the state that share a common
database and circulation system. They purchase many items as a group at a discounted
rate. Interlibrary loan is provided to library users through a multi-type statewide library
network called Library of Rhode Island.
Library services include traditional information/reference service, circulation of materials,
and programs for children, young adults, and adults. Two of the library’s most popular
programs are computer workshops and literacy classes. The library provides meeting
room space for community meetings, access to the Internet and personal computers for
public use. The library’s website includes information about the library’s services,
library’s catalog, links and on-line resources our users find invaluable.
The library has seen increased usage as a result of the difficult economic times. People
are borrowing more books and media, using the libraries computers for job searching
and to further their education. They are attending the library’s free programs for
entertainment. The waiting lists for English language literacy and computer classes
continue to grow
6-16
K. Social Services
The City of Pawtucket is an active partner in the network of social service providers that
assist Pawtucket residents. Whether hosting monthly strategy sessions around the
issues of juvenile justice (Comprehensive Strategy) and substance abuse (Pawtucket
Prevention Strategy Coalition) or directly obtaining specific social service targeted
funding (i.e., Woodlawn Weed and Seed), the City of Pawtucket is constantly working to
enhance the resources available to address the social service needs of Pawtucket
residents.
The City of Pawtucket has, and will continue to, partner with area interest groups and
providers to define the nature and extent of social service issues, lend technical
expertise, develop appropriate programmatic responses, identify available resources,
apply and lobby for grant and legislative monies, and participate in implementation
efforts.
L. Public Schools
The Pawtucket School System consists of 10 elementary schools, 3 junior high schools,
and 3 senior high schools and the school administration building. Since the 2005 update
one elementary school, the Webster Street School, which was leased to address
elementary school overcrowding, is no longer utilized. The City of Pawtucket also added
the Jacqueline M. Walsh School for Performing and Visual Arts, a high school, in 2006.
The oldest facility in the system is Slater Junior High School (1915) while the newest
schools are Jenks Junior High and Curvin McCabe Elementary School (both 1977).
Table 6.6 provides an overview of the different facilities, including current enrollment and
estimated student capacity for each school.
Enrollments have been decreasing since a historic high of 12,474 students in 1970.
Between 1990 and 2000, enrollments have risen in elementary schools by 15%, in junior
high school by 35% and high school by 17%. Since 2000, elementary school and junior
high school enrollment has begun to drop, and from 2002 to 2010 total enrollment fell by
15%. However, in the last year, this trend is reversing. Due to both the closing of many
Catholic schools, and the impact of the economic recession, there are fewer children
attending private and parochial schools. The number of children in private or religious
schools went from 2,044 in 2000 to 1,357 in 2010. Right now this increase is only at the
Elementary School level, however, in the future it will affect all grade levels. Refer to
Table 6.6 for a summary of Pawtucket’s school facilities, and Table 6.7 for City
enrollment history. Projections provided by the New England School Development
Council predict an increase of 3.5% from 2010 to 2020, but these projections do not take
these two factors into account. The Pawtucket School Department predicts a greater
increase in enrollment over the next ten years.
6-17
Table 6.6 Pawtucket Public School Facilities
Facility
Enrollment
2009
Capacity
(estimated)
Remaining
Capacity
Construction
Date
Baldwin
Cunningham
725
501
755
597
30
96
1963/1974
1965
Curtis
327
364
37
1956/1965
Curvin/McCabe
448
510
62
1977
Fallon
Greene
Little
Potter/Burns
Varieur
Total Elementary
556
549
425
558
382
4,913
699
571
449
556
360
5,343
143
22
24
-2
-22
430
1949/1968
1918
1967
1919
1971
Goff
Jenks
Slater
Total Junior High
488
515
549
1,552
665.4
620
693.4
1,979
177.4
105
144.4
426.8
1931
1977
1915
Shea
Tolman
Jacqueline M. Walsh
Total Sen. High
958
1,154
125
2,267
1,016
1298.8
58
144.8
1940
2,455
202.8
Source: Pawtucket School Department 2010
Table 6.7 Pawtucket School Enrollment History 2000-2010
2000
2010
Net Change
Percent Change
Elementary
5,692
4,913
-779
-13.69%
Junior High
2,096
1,552
-544
-25.95%
Senior High
2,281
2,112
-169
-7.41%
Total Public School
10,069
8,577
-1,492
-14.82%
Private schools
2,044
1,357
-643
-34%
Source: Pawtucket School Department 2010
As of the 2005 Comprehensive Plan Update, elementary schools were operating beyond
capacity. Overcrowding was such a problem that the Pawtucket School Department has
leased space for the Webster Street School for 6 years. As of 2010, that lease is no
longer necessary. Overall, the 10 elementary schools have room for an additional 430
students before they are at capacity. However, as noted, enrollment is beginning to
increase at the elementary school level due to closing parochial schools and the
economic recession.
All three junior high schools and two high schools are currently operating below capacity.
The new high school, the JMW Arts School opened in 2005 and graduated its first class
6-18
in 2009. This is a conservatory style school and students are accepted based on
auditions. There are currently 98 students enrolled with an additional freshman class
being enrolled for the 2010-11 school year. An additional class of 25-28 students will be
added over the next three years. The school was initially housed at the Pawtucket
Armory but has moved to the Jenks Junior High School.
Each year, the Pawtucket School Department is required to submit an Asset Protection
Plan to the Rhode Island Department of Education, which illustrates the most important
school facility projects for the fiscal year. The Pawtucket School Department links the
Asset Protection Plan directly to its Capital Improvement Plan request. These projects
include upgrades to existing facilities like painting, parking, masonry, and window
replacement. The Pawtucket Capital Improvement Program (2011-2015) includes an
annual request of $1,500,000 from the School Department to maintain school facilities.
M. Sustainability
The City of Pawtucket considered preparing a separate chapter on
Sustainability for this 2011 Comprehensive Plan. However, most of the
sustainability measures were already discussed within other Chapters.
Specifically, Brownfield remediation, historic preservation, encouraging the
reuse of vacant mill buildings, revitalizing the downtown, working toward a the
Blackstone Valley and Ten Mile River bikeways are all sustainable practices.
In 2010 the City of Pawtucket received $660,000 in Energy Efficient Block
Grant (EECBG) funds. The first project that the City undertook was to change
out all of the traffic signals into energy efficient LED lights. The City retained
the services of a consultant to undertake a number of projects including a
lighting audit, developing existing utility consumption on each City building;
organizing baseline info on each City-owned building (architectural, HVAC,
infrastructure). The consultant will utilize this information to prepare a longterm energy plan for the City, and also recommend whether Pawtucket should
enter into a contract with an energy services company (ESCO).
The City also received EECBG funds to prepare a bike stripe, to connect finished
portions of the Blackstone Valley Bikeway with the City of Providence. This “Bike Stripe
Program” will be a placeholder while the City works with the State on obtaining funding
for the design and construction of the Blackstone Valley Bikeway. As noted, the City
also began its “No Bin No Barrel” program, which has increased recycling and reduced
the amount of waste generated.
6-19
Public
Buildings
The average age of Pawtucket’s public buildings is more than 70 years old,
therefore many of the structures are in need of significant repairs. The City has a
base of information that has been used to formulate cost estimates to support
bond referendum to pay for building repairs. This database should be expanded to
include all City owned buildings and the data should be standardized and
computerized to allow for prioritization of needs.
Sewage
Collection,
Treatment
and Disposal
The principle issue relating to sewage disposal is the system’s dual function as
sewer and storm water collectors. Although the primary responsibility for resolving
this problem rests with the Narragansett Bay Commission, the City should be of
assistance where possible.
Solid Waste
Management
The Division will continue to pursue source reduction and recycling options to
reduce the City’s solid waste stream through various public awareness campaigns,
including a twice per year newsletter for recycling and sanitation.
Storm Water
Management
The City will continue to implement the Storm Water Management Plan.
Water
Supply,
Treatment,
and
Distribution
The most important issue is the protection of the water supply reservoirs and their
watershed, which lie outside the corporate boundaries of Pawtucket. The PWSB
has worked with officials in Cumberland, co-purchasing several properties that will
be useful as open space for Cumberland and that also protect water quality within
the PWSB watershed.
Public Safety
The major problem facing both the Police Department and Fire Department at its
current headquarters is space. Both facilities are dated and too small to
adequately accommodate all the personnel and equipment needed at those
locations. A public safety complex would be ideal so that the Police Department,
Fire Department and Emergency Management Agency can share resources where
feasible and design and construct a space that would fully meet their layout and
space needs.
The neighborhood fire stations are in need extensive renovation and
modernization to be brought up to code for health and safety requirements.
The Emergency Management Agency should continue to work to implement the
action step given in “A Strategy for Reducing Risks from Natural Hazards in
Pawtucket, Rhode Island” to continue to strive to make Pawtucket a disaster
resistant community.
Senior
Services
Provision of transportation, meals, day care, support services and other senior
services, especially services that enable seniors to remain at home, rather than in
nursing or health care facilities is dependant upon Community Development Block
Grant funding.
Library
Services
The two major issues facing the Pawtucket Public Library are lack of convenient
parking and level of support.
6-20
Social
Services
The City will continue to work independently and cooperatively with the network of
area interest groups and social service providers to define the social service needs
of Pawtucket residents, develop appropriate programmatic responses, identify an
apply for available resources, and if successful, participate in implementation
efforts.
Public
Schools
Continued repairs to Pawtucket’s school facilities are a priority for the Pawtucket
School System. An Asset Management Plan is in place and specifies school
facility projects that are needed over the next five years.
The Department will also continue to provide technology related opportunities for
the largest amount of students possible and pursue funding for increased special
education and English as a second language resources.
Sustainability
The City will work on implementing the recommendations of the Long Term Energy
and Sustainability Plan.
6-21
SOURCES
Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, “Strategy for Reducing Risks
from Natural Hazards in Pawtucket, Rhode Island: A Multi-Hazard Mitigation Strategy”,
1997.
City of Pawtucket, “Annual Budget”, FY 1999 – 2003.
City of Pawtucket, “Community Services and Facilities Element”, 1995.
City of Pawtucket, Department of Planning and Redevelopment, “Federal Housing and
Community Development Consolidated Plan”, FY 2003.
City of Pawtucket, Department of Planning and Redevelopment, “Project Impact
Application”, 1999.
City of Pawtucket, Division of Senior Services, “National Council on the Aging, National
Institute of Senior Centers, National Accreditation Program Application”, 2001.
City of Pawtucket, Division of Senior Services, “Senior Programs”.
City of Pawtucket, Fire Department, “Annual Report”, 1997-2001.
City of Pawtucket, Police Department, “Annual Report”, 2000, 2001.
City of Pawtucket, “Sewer, Sanitation, and Collection, Annual Report,” 2002.
City Planning Commission, “Capital Improvements Program, 2003-2007”.
Pawtucket Public Library, “Five Year Strategic Plan”, 2001.
Pawtucket Public Library, www.pawtucketlibrary.org, 2003.
Pawtucket Public School System, “Asset Management Plan”, 2002-2006.
Pawtucket Water Supply Board, “Water Supply Management Plan”, 1998.
Pawtucket Water Supply Board, “Water Supply Management Plan Review”, 2000.
June 2001.
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, “Regulations for the Rhode
Island Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Storm Water Program”, 2002.
City of Pawtucket
6 - 22
Transportation
2011 Update
Chapter 7 –TRANSPORTATION
Table of Contents
7-1
7-2
7-13
Sources
7-15
7-1
Transportation
Goal
1. Complete the
Pawtucket segment
of the Blackstone
Valley Bikeway
2. Reestablish rail
passenger service
in the City of
Pawtucket.
3. Improve the
efficiency and
safety of
pedestrian, auto
and bicycle traffic
in the downtown.
4. Ensure that the
proposed Interstate
95 Bridge 550 is
constructed in a
manner sensitive to
Pawtucket’s
industrial heritage,
and also improves
circulation along
local streets.
Objective
1. Increase the
number of street
trees by 10%.
Policy
1. Work with federal, state and local agencies of government and
non-profit entities to maintain and implement the State’s
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
2. Complete
construction on
the Pawtucket/
Central Falls
Commuter Rail
Station within ten
years.
2. Evaluate the need to install sidewalks, curbs and drainage
improvements in neighborhoods and on streets where these amenities
do not exist.
3. Complete
construction of
the Blackstone
Valley Bikeway
within ten years.
4. Reduce the
number of
annual auto and
pedestrian
accidents.
3. Continue to improve universal accessibility at street intersections
and other crosswalks.
4. Improve the visibility and accessibility of downtown parking
facilities.
Action
T 1 Maintain and regularly update through the Department of
Public Works and the Department of Planning and
Redevelopment the list of potential projects for inclusion in the
State of Rhode Island Transportation Improvement Program.
T 2 Work with RIDOT on the reconstruction of the closed
bridges at Conant Street and at Cole Street to ensure
pedestrian and vehicle safety and access.
T 3 Work with RIDOT and FTA to advance the
Pawtucket/Central Falls Commuter Rail Station.
5. Maintain and expand as necessary, the database for the citywide
pavement management program to facilitate the prioritization and
implementation of local street improvements. Consider the inclusion
of data concerning sidewalk and drainage conditions.
T 4 Support the implementation of RIPTA’s Providence
Metropolitan Transit Enhancement Study, including plans to
make Route 99 an express bus, and efforts to provide a
connection to the South Attleboro Commuter Rail station.
6. Continue to implement the 50/50 sidewalk/curb improvement
program.
T 5 Develop a linear greenway along the Pawtucket
riverfronts.
7. Continue with the street tree planting plan and implementation
program which allows for the planting of new trees and the
replacement of diseased and dying trees along the city’s street.
8. Survey and evaluate intersections with narrow turning radii for
inclusion in the Capital Improvement Program to improve turning
movements.
9. Establish “No Right Turn on Red” signs at dangerous intersections.
10. Evaluate the population in need of para-transit services and
expand the service eligibility requirements if necessary.
11. Provide bicycle storage facilities at municipal buildings and other
facilities and work with community businesses to establish bicycle
storage facilities at places of commerce and employment.
T 6 Continue to cooperate with RIDOT in the development of
the Blackstone River Bikeway including the development of
agreements for all required private property and easements.
T 7 Continue to cooperate with RIDOT and the City of East
Providence in the development of the Ten Mile River Bikeway.
T 8 Seek funding to implement the downtown circulation
improvements identified in the 2010 Downtown Design Plan.
T 9 Improve/create boat landings along the entire riverfront.
T 10 Improve visitor access to major attractions by developing
a comprehensive signage program.
12. Enforce no parking and other regulations and ordinances to
prevent the obstruction of sidewalks and to allow for the safe passage
of all pedestrians.
7-1
Transportation
A. Introduction
Transportation infrastructure provides links between land uses. The Transportation
Element of the Pawtucket Comprehensive Plan considers a wide range of travel modes,
the most significant of which is the automobile. Table 7.1 below shows how the ratio of
cars per person has risen over the past fifty years so that it now approaches a ratio of
1:1.
Table 7.1 Ratio of Registered Automobiles per Person over time.
1960
1990
2010
Population
81,000
72,000
72,958
Registered Automobiles 25,000
51,000
65,000
Cars per person
0.3
0.7
0.9
Source: 2000 US Census; Pawtucket Tax Assessor’s 2010.
The City of Pawtucket, therefore, must continually work to make street and highway
improvements that will enhance traffic flow and improve traffic safety. The 2009-2012
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) identified $1.4 billion available for bridge
repairs, intersection improvements, traffic signals, universal accessibility, public transit
and other roadway improvements. During the next five years, the City will spend
approximately $800,000 per year to repair and maintain city streets, sidewalks and
bridges and control traffic. The adequacy of parking in neighborhoods throughout the
city has also been consistently identified as an issue due to the lack of off street parking
for many of the city’s older multifamily houses, which were constructed before the
prevalence of the automobile.
Although the automobile is clearly the predominant method of transportation in
Pawtucket, the City is working with state agencies to provide and encourage
transportation alternatives. The Rhode Island Public Transit Agency (RIPTA) provides
bus service in the City of Pawtucket. Senior Transportation is furnished by two City
funded para-transit vehicles administered by Blackstone Health/COASI, who are also
responsible for providing services for the RIde Program of the Rhode Island Public
Transit Authority (RIPTA). Three freight rail lines within the City are operated by the
Providence & Worcester Railroad. Pawtucket residents in need of rail passenger
services must travel to Providence or the South Attleboro commuter stop.
The bicycle can be an important means of transportation, especially for local trips and for
recreational purposes. There are two planned bikepaths within the City – the Ten Mile
River and the Blackstone Valley Bikepath and the recently completed Downtown Design
Plan emphasizes pedestrian routes and connections. Pedestrian movement is one of
the most important ways for getting people to their destinations. Once the car is parked,
the traveler must still walk. Sidewalk improvements, universal accessibility, signalization
and crosswalks assist in providing safe pedestrian access, while the continued
development of a riverwalk along the Pawtucket River will not only enhance the
aesthetics of the City, but also the recreational opportunities.
7-2
Transportation
B. Roads, Highways and Bridges
Approximately 1,000 acres of land area in the City is used for streets and highways.
This represents 18% of the total city land area and is the second largest land use in the
City. Table 7.2 shows how the approximately 56.27 miles of roadway in Pawtucket are
broken down.
Table 7.2 Roadways in Pawtucket
Road Classification
Interstate
Principal Arterial
Minor Arterial
Collector
Total
Mileage
3.54
20.95
13.99
17.79
56.27
The majority of these roadways are City owned and maintained. There are also some
numbered routes which are State owned, but City maintained, and still others that are
State owned and maintained (see Table 7.3). Interstate 95 is a federal highway which
bisects the City. Figure 7.1 illustrates the major transportation routes within the City.
Table 7.3 State-owned Roads in Pawtucket
Route #
Name
Location
1A
Newport Avenue
Entire roadway
15
Armistice Boulevard
From York Avenue to the Seekonk line
Central Avenue
From Industrial Highway to Seekonk line
Dexter Avenue
From Goff St. to Central Falls line
126
Smithfield Avenue
Entire roadway
1
Broadway
Entire roadway
Source: City of Pawtucket, Traffic Engineering, 2010
Table 7.4 shows the ten worst intersections in the City of Pawtucket, as well as any
improvements that are planned.
7-3
Transportation
7-4
Transportation
Table 7.4 Worst Intersections in Pawtucket, 2010
Location
Control
2009
Rank
2009
Accidents
Comments
Lonsdale Ave. at
Mineral Spring Ave
City
1
40
RIDOT is repairing sidewalks and
repaving along Mineral Spring Ave.
Armistice Blvd. at
Newport Ave.
Beverage Hill Av. at
Newport Av.
Mineral Spring Ave.
at Smithfield Ave.
Central Ave. at
Newport Ave.
Barton St. at Dexter
St.
RIDOT
2
37
RIDOT is repairing sidewalks and
repaving all along Mineral Spring Ave.
RIDOT
3
35
RIDOT
3
35
RIDOT
4
33
City
5
25
City installed LED displays and
implemented timing/phasing changes.
Cedar St. at Garden
St.
City
6
23
Division St. at
School St.
City
7
22
Experiencing increased traffic volumes
due to I-95 detour, State implementing
improvements under I-95 project.
due to I-95 detour, State implemented
phasing/timing changes, City installed
LED displays.
Benefit St. at
Newport Av.
Division St./Grace
St. ay Pleasant St.
RIDOT
8
20
City
9
19
Lorraine St. at
Mineral Spring Ave.
City
9
19
Main St. at School
St.
City
9
19
due to I-95 detour, State proposing to
redesign intersection, City installing
LED displays.
City installed LED displays and timing
changes. RIDOT is repairing sidewalks
and repaving all along Mineral Spring
Ave.
due to I-95 detour, City installing LED
displays and timing changes.
Source: City of Pawtucket, Traffic Engineering, 2010
Scheduled State Improvements
The Rhode Island Department of Administration, Division of Statewide Planning, in
conjunction with the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, the Rhode Island Department
of Transportation, along with cities and towns, prepares the Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP). This is a four-year scheduling document, which currently covers the
period of 2009-2012. All projects listed in the TIP are eligible for federal funding. The
majority of the funding in the FY2009-2012 TIP is allocated to the Highway programs
(69%). Bus Transit (13%) and Rail Transit (8%) also receive funding in the TIP.
The TIP funding categories and their percentage of the funds are as follows:
Administrative Program (0%), Bike/Pedestrian Program (1%), Bridge Program (22%),
7-5
Transportation
Change Orders (4%), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (4%), Enhancement
Program (1%), GARVEE Debt Service (17%), Highway Program (5%), Interstate
Program (8%), Major Projects with Multi-Year Funding (7%), Pavement Management
Program (9%), Planning Program (2%), Study and Development Program (0%), and the
Traffic Safety Program (7%), SAFETEA-LU Earmarks (13%)
Table 7.5 shows the Pawtucket projects that have been scheduled in the 2009-2012 TIP.
Only the projects listed in a specific year are eligible to receive individual funding
authorization. There were also three Enhancement Projects: Exchange Street
Enhancements, Roosevelt Avenue Enhancements and Blackstone Navigation.
Table 7.5 Transportation Improvement Program, 2009-2012, Pawtucket Projects
Funding in $ Millions
Project
2009 2010 2011 2012
Future
Ten Mile River Greenway
Conant Street Bridge #915
Pawtucket/Central Falls Commuter
Rail Station
Moshassuck Valley
Industrial Access Road
Waterfront Drive/ Newport Ave.
Connector
Mineral Spring Avenue
Pawtucket Bridge 550
I-95 Service Roads
Stormwater Retrofit Demo. Project
Blackstone River Bike Facility (3A)
Blackstone River Bike Facility (3B)
Total
.38
3
.62
4
1.83
Study/Development
Study/Development
2.09
17
38
37
6.25
1.03
3.75
6.25
20.62 43.83 38.03
6.25
12.47
Transportation Improvement Program, 2009-2012
Bridges
There are a total of 43 bridge structures in the City of Pawtucket. Of this total, 15
bridges are owned and/or maintained by the City; 23 of the 43 are associated with
Interstate 95. Two bridges are currently closed and have been for some time now: #915
Conant Street and #937 Cole Street. Bridge #915 Conant Street, has been approved
for inclusion in the TIP for $7,000,000 for reconstruction. This project is ready for
construction, but is currently on hold. Improvements to Bridge 550, which is the I-95
Bridge over the Pawtucket River, have been designed. There was a ground-breaking for
this project in November 2010 and the project is currently under construction. The
design of the new Pawtucket River Bridge was accomplished through a partnership
between Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the City of Pawtucket.
Emphasizing that this bridge is the southbound entrance to the State, the City of
Pawtucket petitioned RIDOT to provide a bridge that was reflective of the City and its
history. The resulting design, which was refined through a public process, is sensitive to
Pawtucket’s past.
7-6
Transportation
Photo 7.1 . Rendering of the proposed Interstate 95 Bridge 550.
Local Streets
There are approximately 186 miles of local streets and road which are the responsibility
of the City of Pawtucket. The Department of Public Works maintains these streets by
repairing the pavement, striping where necessary, maintaining the integrity of the road
shoulder and clearing vegetation along the roadside, plowing and sanding/salting in the
winter and maintaining the drainage systems. If the road is on the functional
classification, as indicated in Table 7.2, the City’s responsibility for repair and/or
reconstructions of the roadway may be assisted through funding from the state aid
system. The City has budgeted $500,000 for each of the next five fiscal years through
the Capital Improvement Program for street and sidewalk improvements. There are very
few private streets or private right-of-ways within the City. These ROW usually access
only one or two homes or businesses and are in very close proximity to an accepted City
street. These private streets and right of ways do receive City services like trash pickup.
The Department of Public Works has a pavement management system that provides a
rating of the City’s streets based on the Pavement Condition Index. The evaluation
results are computerized in conjunction with construction/inspection history and are use
to formulate the schedule of repairs.
C. Public Transportation
Fixed Route Scheduled Bus Service
The City of Pawtucket is serviced by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA)
through a total of 14 routes. A RIPTA bus facility was constructed in Pawtucket at
Roosevelt and Main Street, sharing space with the Visitor Center in downtown
Pawtucket. Most of the Pawtucket service goes through downtown Pawtucket.
Currently, there is no looped bus service within Pawtucket. Figure 7.2 shows the various
public transportation modes in Pawtucket, including marine facilities.
7-7
Transportation
7-8
Transportation
Though ridership has continued to decrease as a result of service reductions fueled by
both budgetary constraints and the elimination of underutilized routes, RIPTA is
upgrading its aging fleet and introducing improved facilities such as the Intermodal
Transportation Center in Kennedy Plaza. (RIPTA website, 2003). The average
weekday systemwide ridership for all RIPTA routes within Pawtucket is almost 11,000
passengers on routes serving Pawtucket (See Table 7.6)
RIPTA has no current plans for additional routing for the Pawtucket System. RIPTA
focuses rather on changing the current system by reassessing systemwide service,
consolidating low service routes where feasible, and replacing large capacity buses with
smaller busses. RIPTA is working on a pilot project, potentially designating one of the
most heavily traveled Pawtucket routes (the #99 which travels between Kennedy Plaza
and downtown Pawtucket) into an express bus.
Table 7.6 Total Ridership on Routes Serving Pawtucket Average Weekday Average Saturday Route Ridership Ridership 35 500 233 42 1,850 850 51 450 230 53 198 No Service 71 500 325 72 870 415 73 195 99 75 240 149 76 270 150 77 470 214 78 940 640 79 205 90 80 120 50 99 4,240 2,360 Total 11,048 5,805 Average Sunday Ridership 198 400 No Service No Service 170 207 65 110 85 74 263 No Service 23 1,345 2,940 Total 931 3,100 680 198 995 1,492 359 499 505 758 1,843 295 193 7,945 19,793 Source: RIPTA 2009
Para-Transit Service
Two Para-Transit operations provide service to City residents. There are two shuttles
owned and operated by the Pawtucket Senior Center: one shuttle provides fixed route
service to the elderly public housing complexes, the other provides service by
appointment. The RIde program also operates in Pawtucket. The RIde program is
coordinated and managed by RIPTA. If a disability prevents someone from using
RIPTA's regular bus service, (s)he may be eligible for ADA Para-transit Services.
ADA Para-transit service is available for any trip purpose. RIde also operates service for
people age 60 and over that can only be used for specific types of trips, such as medical
appointments or adult daycare.
7-9
Transportation
D. Downtown Parking and Circulation
In 2000, a Downtown Parking Study and a Market Based Strategy for Downtown were
completed for Pawtucket. Both documents address the issue of parking. The Market
Based Strategy stressed the need for a supply of accessible, well maintained and well
designed parking in an amount adequate to support a range of land uses and activities
in the area. Both studies found an overall parking deficiency currently at 162 spaces
and a future projected deficiency of 232 spaces. The current deficiency is in the
Summer Street area, related to the Pawtucket Public Library and the YMCA. The
Downtown Parking Study recommends the redistribution of surplus parking, an upgrade
of the existing City-owned parking structure on Main Street and the possible new
construction of parking lots or structures. Table 7.7 describes the parking situation in
2000. There have been minimal changes to the downtown since then, so the current
situation is very similar. Parking is also available for rental to downtown businesses at a
rate of $10.00 per month in the City-owned parking structure on Main Street. Table 7.7
describes the utilization of the City-owned lots and structures within the downtown.
Table 7.7 Downtown Pawtucket Parking Supply
Type
Number of Spaces
Utilization
On-Street
Off-Street (Public)
Off-Street (Private)
193 (10.6%)
359 (19.8%)
1263 (69.6%)
86%
65.2%
69.9%
Total
1815
70.7%
Downtown Parking Study, 2000
Appendix D contains the summary of findings from the Downtown Pawtucket Design
Plan.
E. Rail Facilities
Passenger Rail
Amtrak operates both high speed and regional intercity passenger rail service along the
North East Corridor (NEC) through Pawtucket and Central Falls. Amtrak’s operation is
focused on providing intercity service between Boston, New York City, and Washington
DC. On a typical weekday Amtrak operates 17 trains in each direction, for 34 total
trains. Of these 34 trains, 16 are high speed and 18 regional service trains.
Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) operated commuter rail trains traverse
Pawtucket and Central Falls along the Northeast Corridor. The MBTA operation is
focused on providing local service between Providence and Boston, and the nearest
stops are in Providence and in South Attleboro, Massachusetts. On a typical weekday,
the MBTA operates 15 trains in each direction, for a total of 30 trains. During the
weekday morning commute period, the MBTA operates seven trains from Providence to
Boston (5:00-9:00AM departure times). In the evening, six trains operate from Boston to
Providence (3:30-7:00pm departure times). The MBTA has recently expanded weekend
service to Providence, which consists of nine trains in each direction on Saturday, and
seven in each direction on Sunday.
Currently, no rail passenger service exists in Pawtucket. Commuter (MBTA) and Amtrak
passenger rail service is available only from Providence or South Attleboro. The
7-10
Transportation
mainline corridor passes through Pawtucket but there are no stations or terminals. The
cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls began examining the potential to restore access to
Boston to Providence commuter rail service in 2005. The cities believe that developing
a Commuter Rail station would benefit both the residents, by increasing mobility and
access to economic opportunity, as well as the cities, by improving the environment and
encouraging economic growth. With funding from Rhode Island Department of
Transportation (RIDOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), the cities prepared a Feasibility Study to answer their initial
questions about the viability of re-introducing commuter rail service in Pawtucket/Central
Falls.
The Feasibility Study’s key findings affirmed that commuter rail service in
Pawtucket/Central Falls was indeed viable based on the following findings:
• Of the 30 weekday commuter rail trains passing through Pawtucket/Central Falls,
based on the schedule as of July 2006, 23 could stop at a commuter rail facility
without adversely impacting Amtrak intercity, MBTA commuter rail, or Providence
and Worcester Railroad’s (P&W) freight rail service.
• Approximately 1,500 weekday daily boardings were projected for the proposed
commuter rail stop.
• There are numerous opportunities in the surrounding areas for transit-oriented
development.
With these positive findings, the City of Pawtucket is anxious to move forward onto the
next steps necessary for the development of a Commuter Rail stop on the MBTA
Providence to Boston Commuter Rail line.
The Feasibility Study identified two potential sites – the Providence and Worcester
Railyard and the Historic Depot. During the study, the Railyard site was dismissed
because of the costs of relocating the existing operation and because of traffic
constraints. Since the completion of the Study the City has entered into conversations
with Amtrak because the layout of the Historic Depot is such that both inbound and
outbound trains must stop on the mainline. Amtrak has determined that this is
unacceptable to them. The City has been working since then to identify an alternate
site, and has found one, directly across from the Railyard site, that has none of the cost
or traffic issues of the Railyard, and is able to satisfy Amtrak’s requirements. Pawtucket
currently has a $1.9 million authorization in SAFETEA-LU for the Pawtucket/Central
Falls Commuter Rail Station, and the City and RIDOT have secured the required match.
Freight Rail
Rail and freight service is available through and within Pawtucket provided by the
Providence and Worcester Railroad (P&W) along several secondary rail corridors.
East Providence Running Track - The East Providence Secondary Line and the East
Junction Secondary Track were merged into the East Providence Running Track. This
track has an overall length of 8.9 miles from Valley Falls to the Massachusetts State
Line.
Moshassuck Industrial Track - The track is owned by the P&W and the FRA rating is
Class 1. The track extends approximately 2 miles along the Moshassuck River Valley
7-11
Transportation
providing service to a heavily industrialized area at the Pawtucket/Lincoln line and it also
links to the P&W’s yard on the Shoreline route.
F. Marine Facilities
The Pawtucket River provides direct access to Narragansett Bay via the
Providence River. The Pawtucket River Channel extends approximately 2.9
nautical miles north from Cold Spring Point at the Providence River to the Town
Landing and provides an approximately 150’ wide navigable channel varying in
depth from 16 ‘ Mean Low Water (MLW) to 6.7’ MLW. The entire Seekonk
River Channel is tidal up to a point just below the Main Street Bridge. Although
several bridge structures cross the channel within this reach of the river, the
horizontal and vertical clearances appear to be capable of accommodating
larger vessels (See Table 7.8).
Table 7.8 Bridge Clearances along the Seekonk River Channel
Bridge
Horizontal Clearance
Vertical Clearance
Division Street
Cold Spring Point
Washington Bridge (I-195)
India Point Swing Bridge
50 feet
100 feet
100 feet
84 feet
30 feet
42 feet
40 feet
Unlimited
Siegmund & Associates, 1991
There are two areas where direct public access to the water is available for boaters.
Town Landing on Taft Street has a 100-foot dock, a small boat launch ramp, parking
facilities and a handicapped accessible fishing area. Because of the current at this
location, the dock has been damaged. The City of Pawtucket is currently working on a
construction project to relocate the dock and rebuild it. This project also includes the
redevelopment of the land area, into walking paths. The project has funding and is
ongoing. A future phase of the project includes the construction of an intermodal facility
(Town Landing is also the planned southern terminus of the Blackstone Valley Bikeway),
with restrooms and concessions. There is also a public boat launch at the Former State
Pier facility on the east bank of the Pawtucket River (now referred to by the City as
Festival Pier). Residents utilize the pier for fishing. Also, for the past nine years, the site
has also been host to the Pawtucket Chinese American Festival, which has drawn
thousands from all over New England to participate in the Dragon Boat Races and to
enjoy the food and entertainment.
G. Bikeways, Trails and Pedestrian Walkways
There are two bikeways proposed in Pawtucket. The Blackstone River Bikeway which is
about an 18 mile bikeway extending from Cumberland to Pawtucket and the Ten Mile
River Bikeway which connects Pawtucket to East Providence.
Blackstone River Bikeway
This Bikeway will be designed by Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT)
and constructed by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
(RIDEM). The Bikeway is divided into 8 project segments which cover approximately 18
7-12
Transportation
miles of both shared-use bike path and on-road signed bike routes. Currently the
Blackstone Valley Bike Path ends in Cumberland at the Town Hall.
Segment 3 of the Bikeway runs along the Blackstone River through Pawtucket. There
are ten percent design plans prepared for this section. Based on that information, the
City of Pawtucket has agreements in place for over 80 percent of the land required to
construct the Bikeway. Funding for the Bikeway’s construction is included in the TIP as
a future project. The City is currently working with RIDOT to identify funding for the next
phase of design.
Ten Mile River Bikeway
In 1993, the City of Pawtucket and the City of East Provident jointly applied for funding
for this bikeway as a Transportation Enhancement Project. A 3/4 mile segment in Slater
Park, Pawtucket, and a just under 2 mile segment from Slater Park south to the Kimberly
Ann Rock Athletic Fields in East Providence, have been completed. A segment of the
Pawtucket portion of this bikeway is included in the TIP.
Pedestrian Walkways
The City of Pawtucket is an urban environment; therefore, sidewalks exist in many areas
of the City to ensure pedestrian safety. Pawtucket has two intersections that have had
multiple pedestrian crashes, Dexter Street and Barton Street (3) and Main Street and
Roosevelt Avenue (4). The City, in cooperation with RIDOT and RIPTA, is about to
begin construction of intersection improvements including a pedestrian crossing signal,
better signage and an improved crosswalk, which should increase pedestrian safety in
the Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue area. The Dexter/Barton Street intersection will
be addressed during the planning for the proposed Commuter Rail facility. The
Pawtucket Downtown Design Improvements Study will include specific
recommendations for improving pedestrian safety and access within the downtown.
As part of the overall riverfront redevelopment, Pawtucket is working on improving
pedestrian access along the river. Their ultimate goal is to provide pedestrian access
along the entirety of both sides of the river. South of the Division Street Bridge, this is
feasible because a majority of the land is owned by the City or the Pawtucket
Redevelopment Agency. Other major landowners, including the Boys and Girls Club
and National Grid, have indicated their future cooperation. The reconstruction of Bridge
550, over the Pawtucket River, provides an opportunity to connect this area south of
Division Street with downtown Pawtucket.
Maintenance of Existing Infrastructure
The operation, maintenance, improvement and provision of streets, bridges, public
transportation, and transportation alternatives have significant costs that are shared by
the City of Pawtucket, the State of Rhode Island, combined with federal funding. As with
many older cities, transportation infrastructure continually needs maintenance and
upgrades. Timely, routine maintenance can extend the useful life of capital facilities
which the City accomplished through the annual budget and the five-year Capital
Improvement Program. The Capital Improvement Program should continue to cover all
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Transportation
transportation facilities, modes of transportation, and levels of responsibility from local
street maintenance to projects to be included in the state Transportation Improvement
Program. The replacement of Interstate 95 Bridge 550 is the most significant upcoming
improvement to the roadway system.
Planning for Transportation Alternatives
Public transportation service improvements, improved marketing, and the development of
infrastructure, such as walkways and bikeways, during the design of new roadways and
roadway improvements, are essential components of the overall strategy of keeping the
City’s transportation system functioning smoothly and efficiently. The following
projects are the most important transportation alternative projects: Pawtucket/Central
Falls Commuter Rail Station; the Blackstone Valley and Ten Mile River Bikeways and
the Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements identified in the Pawtucket Downtown Design
Improvement Study. These three projects were identified as priorities during the public
process.
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Transportation
SOURCES
City of Pawtucket, “Transportation Element”, 1995, 2005
City of Pawtucket, Division of Senior Services, “Senior Programs”.
City of Pawtucket Police Department, “Accident Statistics”, 2009.
City Planning Commission, “Capital Improvements Program”.
Harrall-Michalowski Associates, Lambert Advisory, “Market Based Strategy for
Downtown Pawtucket,” 2000.
Pawtucket Riverfront Commission, “Riverfront Development Plan: A New Vision for
Pawtucket,” 1997.
June 2001.
Rhode Island Department of Administration. “Transportation Improvement Program,
2009-2012.
Rhode Island Department of Administration, “Transportation 2030”, State Guide Plan
Element 611, August 2008.
Rhode Island Department of Transportation, “Bike Rhode Island Construction Update”,
www.dot.ri.gov, 2003.
Rhode Island Department of Transportation, “Listing of Posted Bridges”, 2009.
Rhode Island Department of Transportation, “Making Pedestrians a Priority: Pedestrian
Safety Plan”, 2001.
Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, www.ripta.com, 2009.
Wilber Smith Associates, “Downtown Parking Study, Pawtucket, Rhode Island,” 2000.
City of Pawtucket
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City of Pawtucket Comprehensive Plan 5-Year Update

Transcription

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