Local Students Work to Turn Around Struggling City

Transforming Woonsocket's sporadically vacant, dilapidated and economically challenged Main Street to a vibrant cultural and business center requires more residents, teamwork, organization and a full-time manager.

Those suggestions were part of the presentation Roger Williams University Professor Jeremy Wells and five of his graduate program in historic preservation students noted in their recommendation for Woonsocket to adopt the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Approach Monday night at the Museum of Work and Culture.

Wells and his students have been studying the downtown Woonsocket Main Street area for the last few months, speaking with community leaders, business owners, and incorporating the Cecil Group's Main Street Livability study. "We hope that we can provide a model for success in Woonsocket," said Shannon Pitt, one of the five student presenters.

The students suggested focusing revitalization efforts on the city's main building assets: The Stadium Theatre, Stadium Theatre Building, RI Hospital Trust Building, Langley Building, City Hall, and Railroad Station. The buildings should be renovated for a combination of retail, commercial and residential uses, Pitt said.

Funding for the rehabs can be found through grants from Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Enterprise Zone on Tax Base Planning, RIDEC and tax credits, Pitt said. Since many of the buildings are old, requiring significant work before they're up to code, the students suggested the city adopt the RI Rehabilitation Building and Fire Code to provide some relief for the building owners.  

When one member of the audience noted the RI Rehabilitation Building and Fire Code probably wouldn't provide enough relief for the owners of the Langley and RI Hospital Trust buildings, Pitt said the city might also look into adopting the International Building Code for additional relief.

Also, "More people have to live in downtown Woonsocket," Wells said. He noted that the city's downtown has about 490 people living there, as opposed to 4,000 in Warren, an example of a very active and vital downtown area.

Pitt said she and her fellow students recommend courting Trader Joes as a new tenant on Main Street to serve the people living there. "The reason for that is because of what they have to offer the community," Pitt said.

In their talks, the students learned that Lincoln-based Blackstone Valley Outfitters, is planning to open a store near the city's bike path when it's finished, as well.

The Langley Building and mill building at 15 Island Place would be ideal as artist living and working space, the students said. "Lets get them living here and working here," Pitt said.

City Hall should be renovated to make it more public-friendly, the RI Trust Building would be a good spot for a boutique hotel or mixed use retail/residential, and the Stadium Theatre Building (where there is a current proposal for condos) would be good for an arts and business center, according to the students' findings. 

The students relied on the Cecil Group and Economic Development Director Matt Wojcik's assessment that the city has ample parking, agreeing that it should be more clearly marked, resurfaced and well-lit.

Organizing all of that will require a lot of volunteers, community partnerships and a full-time downtown manager, the students said.

The city is fortunate to have willing volunteers in large store among its senior population, the report noted. The students recommended the city partner with Neighbor Works Blackstone River Valley to organize the program.

Regarding the manager, the report suggests hiring a full-time person to lead the effort, at $46,000 per year. "You need to have a face," Pitt said.

The students also included a 5-year timetable for securing funding, and organizing volunteers and plans. "The idea is that within five years the Main Street program will be a driving force in Woonsocket," Pitt said.

"You did a very good job," said City Councilman Christopher Beauchamp.

Mayor Leo , said he was impressed with their work to tie together all the city's strengths to breathe life into Main Street. He said he hopes the effort will be the first step in a more permanent city relationship with Roger Williams University. "Having some sort of college presence here in downtown would be a gold mine for us," Fontaine said.

The entire report will be available May 17 at http://heritagestudies.org/mainstreet/