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Bristol Rhode Island Property Redevelopment
June 26, 2008...Proposed redevelopment plan targets more 'blighted' properties
The Bristol Redevelopment Agency's first effort to clean up downtown's dilapidated properties began in 2005 and concluded last month, and now the agency is ready to bring the broom out of the closet again. Members have targeted eight commercial properties in the upper Franklin Street area which they consider "blighted" or substandard. The plan will require, with town council approval, owners to rehabilitate them or face possible seizure by eminent domain as mandated by state law.
The properties listed in the proposed plan include the former Carr-Fulflex manufacturing facility on the corner of Franklin street and Buttonwood streets, the Bristol Industrial Park on Wood Street at the top of Bradford Street, and smaller properties on Wall, Roma and Franklin streets, all of which fall under the umbrella of the Franklin Street Corridor.
"We're hoping the second plan will be less problematic than the first, though it's evident this one is fraught with its own problems," said agency chairman Peter Calvet at last week's town council meeting. All owners are in agreement with the agency that something needs to be done, though "what might become an issue is how much work should be done to a property," said Mr. Calvet.
"These buildings jump out at you because they're not kept up to the community standard," said Bristol's Director of Community Development Diane Williamson, who works with the redevelopment agency. "'Blighted' sounds like a harsh term, but it's the language the law requires in determining these properties."
The proposed plan states that the owners of the Carr-Fulflex property have already begun major rebuilding efforts to transform the area to service boat building and related industries. The plan also makes clear that the owner of the Bristol Industrial Park is pursuing leases with Roger Williams University and others to occupy vacant spaces. A public hearing for the redevelopment plan will be scheduled for July 30, after which the town council can approve it, request modifications or ask for a major revision.
"This is a very fine line we're dealing with here," said Mr. Calvet. "We're going into someone's private property and basically telling them what to do. It's tricky stuff. We just want them to come into line with the community standard.
When asked to define "community standard," Mr. Calvet replied, "I don't know how to define it, but I know it when I see it. But we're not the aesthetic police and we're not trying to bully anybody."
He said there are two ways to determine if a property is blighted or not: There's a technical definition, which falls under the guidance of state law, and there's a "common sense definition."
Samuel Shamoon, the agency's hired consultant who helped draft the new plan, said state law, roughly speaking, defines any property as blighted that is deteriorated, dilapidated and that requires extensive repairs, primarily external improvements, because it can have a negative influence on surrounding properties.
"There's no science to it, and I wouldn't pretend that there is," said Mr. Shamoon. "It's based on a visual inspection of the property."
If the plan is approved, owners have 12 months to rehabilitate their properties. In the extreme case that a property owner refuses to comply, the agency, under state law, can seize the property and redevelop it in accordance with the plan. That has yet to happen, said Mr. Calvet.
"Any plan to improve a property proposed by an owner that is reasonable we will approve," said Mr. Calvet.
"Once an owner secures a building permit, our work is done and one assumes that a good faith effort has been made."
The agency can assist owners by directing them to possible sources for grants and introducing them to banks for necessary loans. Mr. Calvet stressed, however, that "the property owner is in the driver's seat to seek assistance and set the goal."
The agency's first project focused on, among other properties in the downtown area, the Belvedere Hotel. On May 20, all properties of that plan fell into compliance when the former Tuplin's Garage, across from Stone Harbor Condominiums, acquired a building permit to begin its redevelopment.
By Rob Merwin Bristol Phoenix June 26, 2008