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

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