Lgn4 & Community Revitglizgtion
BROWNFIELPS SUCCESS IN NEW ENGLAND
MEETING STREET NATIONAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
Property Details
Property Address: 1000 Eddy Street, Providence, RI
Property Size: 8.0+ acres
Former Use: Residential, Iron Works facility, automobile service
facility, furniture warehouse, produce distributor
Contaminants Found: Lead, arsenic, other hazardous substances
Current Use: Comprehensive educational facility
Current Owner: Meeting Street
Project Partners
Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corporation, U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Health Resources
and Services Administration, City of Providence, Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Rhode Island, The Rhode Island Foundation, various private
donors and foundations
Drivers for Redevelopment: Meeting Street is a nonprofit
organization with a history of innovative educational programs
that help children of all abilities to reach their potential. Meeting
Street selected a former commercial and industrial property
in South Providence as a location for their new home. The
property is located within an economically distressed area, a
federally designated Enterprise Zone/Empowerment Zone with
many vacant lots and little recreational space. In addition to the
educational benefits provided by Meeting Street, redeveloping
this property would bring jobs to the community and create
much-needed recreational space. In 2003, Meeting Street
launched a capital campaign called "The Power of Inclusion" to
raise the funds needed to relocate to this brownfield.
Property History: The selected property had a variety of
residential, industrial, and commercial uses that contributed to
onsite contamination. At the time of Meeting Street's purchase,
several old, deteriorating buildings and two storage tanks
were present on the property. Meeting Street applied for and
received an EPA Brownfields Cleanup grant to remediate the
site. Cleanup was completed in June 2006, and construction
of the new facility began shortly thereafter. In keeping with
the sustainable theme of this project, all construction and
demolition materials were recycled.
Project Results: The Meeting Street National Center of
Excellence opened its doors in January 2007 with three
schools that serve children from six weeks to age 21. The
first school in Rhode Island to be LEED® certified, the center
includes a number of sustainable features, such as the use of
Funding Details
Foundations and Private Donors: $15,000,000
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: $500,000
U.S. EPA Brownflelds Cleanup Grant: $200,000
Rhode Island Health and Educational Building
Corporation: (for Construction and Permit Financing) $200,000
Project Highlights
First school in Rhode Island to be LEED® certified
Conducted a $15 million fundraising campaign to build the
new campus
The facility is now centrally located and easily accessible by public
transportation
Created a national center of excellence for education and brought
much needed jobs, resources and development to an economically
distressed neighborhood
low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint, high recycled
content in construction materials, and advanced heating and
cooling systems. In addition, 90 percent of the interior can be
lit by natural light. The relocated facility is now in a central
location that is easily accessible by public transportation, and a
community resource. By relocating near existing development,
Meeting Street further reduced its environmental footprint for
this project. Three acres of the property were also designated as
greenspace for recreational use by both students and residents,
addressing a critical local need for such space.
Meeting Street serves children of all abilities through its three
schools, early childhood programs, and outpatient therapy.
The facility also serves as a resource center for families for
information on medical issues, educational curricula, and
treatment options. In order to ensure full accessibility, the
building includes ramps in addition to stairs and elevators.
Through the unique and innovative programs offered at this
educational center, Meeting Street now serves more than 3,000
children and their families annually.
Project Timeline
2003 Began Fundraising for National Center of Excellence
2004 Applied for an EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant
June 2006 Cleanup Complete; Building Construction Begins
January 2007 Meeting Street National Center of Excellence Opens
November 2009
Local Contact: John Canole, Meeting Street • (401) 533-9238 •jcanole@meetingstreet.org
------- |