Thursday, June 16, 2005

Gala to Celebrate Mark Lerman

Mark Lerman, artistic director of the Perishable Theatre,(and a long time friend of mine-- we went to the same college and graduate school, and then have lived in the same city for 15 years) will be honored at a Gala on Monday June 20.

WHEN:Monday, June 20th from 6pm to 9pm
WHERE:Restaurant Prov, 99 Chestnut Street in downtown Providence.
COST: $15, cash bar.
HOW: click image below to purchase tickets online.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Sasaki Plan-- Public Input Meetings--PROVIDENCE 2020

Apparently a lot of meetings going on-- that's been the thrust of a lot of my recent emails!

SASAKI ASSOCIATES TO PRESENT REVISED "VISION FOR PROVIDENCE 2020" AT COMMUNITY FORUMS



Revisions to framework for future economic development based on community feedback

Providence - Mayor David N. Cicilline announced today that the architectural and urban design firm Sasaki Associates is returning to Providence to present changes to the "Vision for Providence 2020" based on further analysis and feedback from the community forums held in May.

Sasaki Associates will present revisions to the public at two community forums:

Wednesday, June 15th, 6:00 p.m.
Bridgham Middle School cafeteria
1655 Westminster Street

Thursday, June 16th, 6:00 p.m.
West Broadway Elementary School cafeteria
29 Bainbridge Ave.

For more information about the plan, visit http://www.providenceri.com/planning/DowntownPlan_Summary-Web.html

Monday, June 13, 2005

Artist Tax Exemption Meeting tomorrow

The Artist Tax Exemption Act creates a zone within the Mill District in Providence that gives artists in 37 buildings eligibility to receive State Income Tax, Sales & Use Tax, and Tangible Property Tax exemption. House Finance Chair Costantino and Rep Lewiss introduced the bill and it goes in front of the House Finance Committee TOMORROW June 14 at 1PM at the State House - Room 35 in the basement. Please come to show your support and help pass this bill for artists!!!

The legislation was originally intended for all the 250 buildings in the Mill District (or ICBD), but we were advised to reduce this number significantly to increase the likelihood of passing. The 37 buildings include Steel Yard, Monohasset Mills, Atlantic Mills, Ajay Land, Dirt Palace, Hive Archive, Carpenter Mills, Hope Brewery, Rau Fastener, PUENTE, Rising Sun, Wanskuck Mill & Hall, 111 Summer Street, and others in Olneyville, South Side and Westminster Street. They were chosen to represent buildings which are artist owned; where a concentration of artists currently have space; that have been recently redeveloped and rent prices are now prohibitive to artists; and, the most practical buildings on the market (or vacant) for artists to buy using this tax free zone as incentive.

It will give those living and/or working in these buildings eligibility for tax incentives, similar to the DownCity Tax Free Zone. Artists would need to be qualified by RISCA in order to receive the benefits. A recent amendment to the bill means those artists living in these spaces will be eligible for all three incentives, while those working only will be eligible for the Sales & Use, and Tangible Property Tax. The work only incentive is the only such measure in any of the tax free districts throughout Rhode Island, and meets a direct need for the artist studios and creative businesses in these mills.

Help us bring these incentives to the buildings where artists actually are, and help bring more artists back to these areas. The passing of this bill will truly reflect the city's committment to the artists and their promotion of an arts-friendly city.

You can find out more information here: www.pcisprov.org/news.htm .

Three Rallies This Week

There are three really important rallies going on downtown this week:

1) On Monday at 5pm, the Library Reform Group will be leading a rally on the steps of City Hall, calling on the Providence Public Library (PPL) to require public appointments to its Board of Trustees.

2) Tuesday, June 14, at 7:15 at City Hall, a party with cake and pointy hats will be held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the First Source Ordinance. The ordinance requires that businesses receiving City loans, grants, or tax breaks hire Providence residents for new jobs created by those businesses—but it’s never been enforced.

3) Wednesday is national Justice for Janitors day. At 4pm, custodians and other community members will be rallying at the Turk’s Head building at the corner of Westminster and Weybosset Streets, downtown. The rally will focus on custodians’ efforts to join a union. We’ll also be showing our support for the so-called “Displaced Workers Ordinance,” currently before the Council.

More at rifutures.org

JDA Meeting features Brown Expansion Plan

Brown University will be presenting its “Institutional Master Plan” at the June 14th, 2005 Monthly JDA Meeting to outline its plans for expansion and to open it to discussion with the community.

Presenting will be Michael McCormick, the Director of Planning, and Abigail Rider, the Director of Real Estate/Administrative Services, both from Brown University.

The meeting will take place at:

The Brown University Development Offices
110 Elm Street, Providence
Corner of Elm & Hospital Streets in the Jewelry District

5:00pm-6:15pm



Please note that the doors are locked and require someone to buzz you in, so please be prompt. After about 5:10pm, you will be unable to get in.


Read the complete agenda for the meeting here