AIPC

West Side dreams move closer to reality

April 1, 2009

West Side dreams move closer to reality

April 1, 2009

By: Tom Shevlin
EastBay RI.com

NEWPORT — A short time after the bus pulled out from the parking lot on Connoll Highway and made its way onto the site of the former Navy Hospital, the prospect became real. The future of Aquidneck Island’s west side is at hand, and the people who have working tirelessly in perpetual preparation, will soon be working to put real plans into action.

Sometime in the next 60 to 90 days, Naval Station Newport will announce a timeline for the disposition of nearly 400 acres of surplus property, the majority of it hugging Aquidneck Island’s coastline.

For planners, it’s a dream – a virtual blank slate for a swath of waterfront property along an otherwise densely developed section of land. For residents, long cut off from the west side of the bay, it could be a boon.

“This is a really unique opportunity,” said Tina Dolen, executive director of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission. For the last 10 years, her organization has been spearheading a coordinated effort between federal, state and local agencies, to determine the best use of the soon to be surplused land.

Last week, over two dozen state and local officials piled into a chartered Viking tour bus and set out on a three-hour tour.

Up until then, for most, the sites had only been plats on a map, existing more in concept than reality. Peering over the Melville Marina complex from a property known as Tank Farm 2, Narragansett Bay in the distance, several bus riders couldn’t help but remark on the view.

If plans hold, the property could be used for a nature trail or sports complex, abutting Portsmouth’s bucolic Melville Pond. Indeed, slowly, the natural habitat is reclaiming this area as well.

In Newport, at the site of the former Naval Hospital, the faded white clapboards of a former chapel seem to direct your eyes toward the bay. A massive stone pier juts out from the shore, a transient boater’s dream. And the 147,000 square-foot hospital building sits quietly, as if to await its next set of orders.

For Newport, the property represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reclaim seven acres of developable waterfront land in the city’s downtown core. According to Newport Planning Director Paige Bronk, four of the buildings including the hospital building have been determined historically significant and therefore ineligible for demolition. Should the city acquire the property, he envisions a mixed used development and publicly accessible marina complex.

In Middletown, the former Navy Lodge property and Burma Road dominated conversation. While plans are still in flux for both areas, Town Planner Ron Wolonski said he is excited about the prospect of opening the west side of the island up to Middletown residents.

After the tour, Ms. Dolen was thrilled with the feedback she’s received. “I was most impressed by the camaraderie and great energy on the bus among so many diverse individuals interested in a single regional project that will ultimately benefit the entire island,” she said.

“I was later told that our tour guides from the Navy, the Land Trust, the Town and City Planners, the Coastal Resources Management Council, and the Conservation Agency were greatly appreciated and full of relevant information: Everyone learned something new. Finally, but perhaps most importantly, this was a regional effort among people from all three communities and the state, which reflects a renewed sense of working together on this significant west side redevelopment project.”

The Tour: At a Glance

Former Naval Hospital Newport

The site of the former Naval Health Care Newport England is located at the south end of the Newport Naval Complex at 43 Smith Road. The excess property consists of seven buildings on approximately 10 acres, including three under water. The main facility, the former Navy Hospital, is a 147,566 square-foot brick structure originally built in 1913.

The former Navy Lodge site Middletown

Made up of three prime acres at the corner of West Main and Admiral Kalbfus roads, the former Navy Lodge property was an unexpected gift from the Navy. Abutting a roughly 12-acre stretch of municipally owned property, no definitive plans have been drawn up for the site, and according to Middletown Town Planner Ron Wolanski, it could be re-zoned for commercial use.

Defense Highway Middletown, Portsmouth

Approximately 67 acres of land, located in the towns of Middletown and Portsmouth. The property includes an approximately 15-acre parcel located adjacent to the railroad right of way along Narragansett Bay. A multi-use pathway and series of parks, a kayak launch, and fishing pier is planned for this area.

Tank farms 1, 2, 3 and 4, Portsmouth

The Navy’s tank farms were originally constructed to support the Navy Supply mission to store and distribute fuel to Navy ships. The Navy plans to retain approximately 30 acres from either Tank Farms 3 and/or 4 for renewable energy purposes.

Tank Farm 1 consists of 49 acres, which includes two partially buried concrete underground fuel storage tanks, six underground steel tanks, two above-ground tanks, one underground water tank, and three support facilities. It could be integrated into the expanding Melville Marina complex.

Tank Farm 2 consists of approximately 96 acres, including 11 underground concrete fuel tanks and three support facilities. A nature walk path, recreation building and town facilities building are potential uses for this land.

Tank Farm 3 consists of 41 acres of land with seven underground storage tanks and four support facilities. It is being eyed as a nature preserve.

Tank Farm 4 consists of approximately 83 acres of land with 12 imploded underground concrete fuel tanks. A use has yet to be determined for this property, which is currently undergoing cleanup as a Superfund site.

By: Tom Shevlin
EastBay RI.com

NEWPORT — A short time after the bus pulled out from the parking lot on Connoll Highway and made its way onto the site of the former Navy Hospital, the prospect became real. The future of Aquidneck Island’s west side is at hand, and the people who have working tirelessly in perpetual preparation, will soon be working to put real plans into action.

Sometime in the next 60 to 90 days, Naval Station Newport will announce a timeline for the disposition of nearly 400 acres of surplus property, the majority of it hugging Aquidneck Island’s coastline.

For planners, it’s a dream – a virtual blank slate for a swath of waterfront property along an otherwise densely developed section of land. For residents, long cut off from the west side of the bay, it could be a boon.

“This is a really unique opportunity,” said Tina Dolen, executive director of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission. For the last 10 years, her organization has been spearheading a coordinated effort between federal, state and local agencies, to determine the best use of the soon to be surplused land.

Last week, over two dozen state and local officials piled into a chartered Viking tour bus and set out on a three-hour tour.

Up until then, for most, the sites had only been plats on a map, existing more in concept than reality. Peering over the Melville Marina complex from a property known as Tank Farm 2, Narragansett Bay in the distance, several bus riders couldn’t help but remark on the view.

If plans hold, the property could be used for a nature trail or sports complex, abutting Portsmouth’s bucolic Melville Pond. Indeed, slowly, the natural habitat is reclaiming this area as well.

In Newport, at the site of the former Naval Hospital, the faded white clapboards of a former chapel seem to direct your eyes toward the bay. A massive stone pier juts out from the shore, a transient boater’s dream. And the 147,000 square-foot hospital building sits quietly, as if to await its next set of orders.

For Newport, the property represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reclaim seven acres of developable waterfront land in the city’s downtown core. According to Newport Planning Director Paige Bronk, four of the buildings including the hospital building have been determined historically significant and therefore ineligible for demolition. Should the city acquire the property, he envisions a mixed used development and publicly accessible marina complex.

In Middletown, the former Navy Lodge property and Burma Road dominated conversation. While plans are still in flux for both areas, Town Planner Ron Wolonski said he is excited about the prospect of opening the west side of the island up to Middletown residents.

After the tour, Ms. Dolen was thrilled with the feedback she’s received. “I was most impressed by the camaraderie and great energy on the bus among so many diverse individuals interested in a single regional project that will ultimately benefit the entire island,” she said.

“I was later told that our tour guides from the Navy, the Land Trust, the Town and City Planners, the Coastal Resources Management Council, and the Conservation Agency were greatly appreciated and full of relevant information: Everyone learned something new. Finally, but perhaps most importantly, this was a regional effort among people from all three communities and the state, which reflects a renewed sense of working together on this significant west side redevelopment project.”

The Tour: At a Glance

Former Naval Hospital Newport

The site of the former Naval Health Care Newport England is located at the south end of the Newport Naval Complex at 43 Smith Road. The excess property consists of seven buildings on approximately 10 acres, including three under water. The main facility, the former Navy Hospital, is a 147,566 square-foot brick structure originally built in 1913.

The former Navy Lodge site Middletown

Made up of three prime acres at the corner of West Main and Admiral Kalbfus roads, the former Navy Lodge property was an unexpected gift from the Navy. Abutting a roughly 12-acre stretch of municipally owned property, no definitive plans have been drawn up for the site, and according to Middletown Town Planner Ron Wolanski, it could be re-zoned for commercial use.

Defense Highway Middletown, Portsmouth

Approximately 67 acres of land, located in the towns of Middletown and Portsmouth. The property includes an approximately 15-acre parcel located adjacent to the railroad right of way along Narragansett Bay. A multi-use pathway and series of parks, a kayak launch, and fishing pier is planned for this area.

Tank farms 1, 2, 3 and 4, Portsmouth

The Navy’s tank farms were originally constructed to support the Navy Supply mission to store and distribute fuel to Navy ships. The Navy plans to retain approximately 30 acres from either Tank Farms 3 and/or 4 for renewable energy purposes.

Tank Farm 1 consists of 49 acres, which includes two partially buried concrete underground fuel storage tanks, six underground steel tanks, two above-ground tanks, one underground water tank, and three support facilities. It could be integrated into the expanding Melville Marina complex.

Tank Farm 2 consists of approximately 96 acres, including 11 underground concrete fuel tanks and three support facilities. A nature walk path, recreation building and town facilities building are potential uses for this land.

Tank Farm 3 consists of 41 acres of land with seven underground storage tanks and four support facilities. It is being eyed as a nature preserve.

Tank Farm 4 consists of approximately 83 acres of land with 12 imploded underground concrete fuel tanks. A use has yet to be determined for this property, which is currently undergoing cleanup as a Superfund site.