Although the Providence Plan Commission offered initial approval on Monday, September 17 for Feldco Development's revised plan for a $31 million shopping center at Eagle Square, the ultimate outcome of the fiercely debated proposal remains uncertain.

A familiar division played out during the meeting: supporters like Councilwoman Josephine DiRuzzo (who offered unqualified support last year for Feldco's original plan, which called for demolishing all of the 19th-century mill buildings at the site) cited the dire need for economic development in the area. And an array of critics, many from the arts community, argued that Feldo's revision -- which would partially preserve four mill buildings -- still falls far short of the highest and best use of the location.

The three hour-plus meeting included misinformation (commission chairman George Calcagni said environmental issues preclude residential activity in Eagle Square, although a state environmental official has declared otherwise), a dubious lapse of taste (state Representative Steven Constantino (D-Providence), a supporter of the project, likened last year's demolition of the Silver Spring mill complex to the collapse of the World Trade Center), and the unexpected (after voting to consolidate consideration of two approvals for the project, the commission rescinded the vote on a request from Feldco's lawyer - a move, he acknowledged, to avoid offering grounds for litigation).

In the end, as expected, the vote for initial approval split on a 4-3 margin, with commission members Harry Bilodeau, Stephen Durkee, and Bryan Principe in opposition. A subsequent vote for approval is likely to be considered in three weeks -- close to the time when the National Trust for Historic Preservation will be holding its annual conference in Providence. And although Feldco seems likely to maintain its support on the plan commission, some of the developer's property options for Eagle Square are due to expire in November, and opponents could potentially extend the process through an appeal or litigation.

Mayor Vincent A. "Buddy" Cianci and Patricia McLaughlin, his director of administration, describe attempts to preserve more of the mill buildings at the 13-acre site as impractical.

But opponents who favor Baltimore developer Bill Struever's more costly and complex vision for Eagle Square retain hope that city officials will consider it, even though this is a remote prospect.

Feldco's critics lost a valuable ally in the Providence Preservation Society (PPS), which had provided pro bono legal support since last year in the form of board member Deming Sherman. The main concern, says PPS executive director Catherine Horsey, is that Feldco be constrained to execute its development plan as presented. "By providing conditional support, we are able to remain in the process," she says.

But another lawyer, Timothy More, emerged to represent the coalition of opponents, and he joined the critics in questioning the propriety of the process leading to the commission's September 17 vote. And even though Feldco still has a majority of backers on the plan commission, not even supporters like McLaughlin are ready to call the developer's plan a done deal.

Issue Date: September 21 - 27, 2001