Our Focus: Downtown
Roosevelt Avenue Initiative
As part of a four part series on the Pawtucket Foundation, the Times outlined the Foundation's downtown agenda. Click to download the article: Times Rebuilding Downtown (pdf)
Introduction
Creating a dense, pedestrian-friendly urban core with a mix of commercial, residential and civic uses is a central focus of The Pawtucket Foundation. We hope to revitalize our downtown to become a regional hub of mixed-use buildings with active storefronts, vibrant business and retail activity within a safe neighborhood community. We are working to rebuild a residential and commercial district traditionally associated with a successful downtown.
As a catalytic project, The Pawtucket Foundation has proposed the development of a high-density, mixed-use building on the municipal parking lot across from City Hall at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and Exchange Street. The Roosevelt Avenue mixed use proposal would create structured parking, ground-floor retail and a mix of other appropriate uses to broaden the tax base and increase activity in the downtown.
Download the Roosevelt Ave Concept Plan (jpg)
View our film Reinventing Roosevelt, produced for our 2008 Awards Celebration!
Next Steps
The Foundation is currently working with the City of Pawtucket to secure a market study to help determine the feasibility and suitable mix of uses to make the project a reality. In addition, Pawtucket Foundation Co-Chairman, Dan Sullivan is leading a Mayoral Taskforce to move this project forward. Joining Mr. Sullivan on the taskforce are Executive Director, Thomas Mann, and members of the City administration, City Council, Planning Department and the Pawtucket Foundation. As the taskforce continues to meet they will explore best practices for creating a successful outline for developing the site.