Welcome to the committee on five hands regular meeting.

It is Tuesday, February 172026.

And we are staffed by the wonderful Eti solicitor Schwab.

We've got a full house.

Okay, please read the first item into the record.

Resolution authorizing the sale of city owned parcels, AC Messing.

Okay, who do we have to testify?

Please wear everyone else.

Please raise your right hands.

We are under penalty of perjury that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

And please state your names for the record.

Courtney Hawkins, Chief Operating Officer.

Nicholas Chipotelli, director who's the channel.

So maybe you're in the public property.

Wonderful.

And they provided a um proposal to this package.

Um I'd like to make a motion or accept a motion to enter this exhibit into the record exhibit uh 1A, we will call it.

Motion made by Council One and the Boss Second Right, Councilman Taylor.

All in favor, aye.

Any closed ayes have it motion carrying?

We have an exhibit entry.

Okay.

Please take it away.

Thanks, Chairman.

So we're here tonight on two purchasing matters, both happen to be a city property.

I just want to take a minute to thank Nick Chick and Tommy or Director of Real Estate.

I think our administration is moving more city property to market than maybe in the industry.

Um it's a lot of work.

Um so thank you now.

The two uh for both of these properties that are reported today, they both went through the Board of Contracted Supply, uh, which approved the RFPs that were excuse me to you intend to talk about these two together.

I'm not just gonna give the RPG.

I was just gonna change the motion if that was your desire.

Okay.

So they went through Board of Contracted Supply for approval of the RFP.

Um, and then we're opened in that uh same meeting uh with the response of bidders.

So as it relates to uh master street properties, it's actually a bundle of properties um that uh was put out together.

Just for a general background, the city charter is very specific as it relates to the sale of properties, which is why sometimes we transfer properties to the PRA because the redevelopment authority has a little bit more flexibility.

Um but as it relates to a property going from the city, um the pro we cannot take less than 90% of the appraised value.

Um, and then we have to take the highest responsible bidder.

Um and the RFP lays out what a responsible bidder is.

So in the case of this property, the proposal before you is that it is the highest responsible bidder uh valued at 1.5 million dollars a bid.

Um it provides for approximately 50 units of new housing, um, 20 units offered at 80 percent AMI, um, and then you know, make some commitments to pursuing additional affordability based on um availability subsidy through word island has anything with all to that um three bids select the highest bird, each of the bidders have all that affordable housing to it, and um they will be responsive to allow us to go to the uh section 416 of the charter, which always no less than 90 percent of the accredited volume to the highest bidder.

Anyone else?

Mr.

Wishing, do you want to say anything?

I'm good.

You're good?

Okay, does anyone want to talk just briefly about the proposal?

What the plan is?

Yes, so the proposal has the historical school order from 1876, I believe.

So that's a historic renovation.

Uh it could be a tax credit project or storage tax credit project, and we're gonna put uh mixed housing so renovating that full building and then with the remaining lots, reserving some for open space and for uh for parking.

They're gonna put new construction housing on the lots, so there should be a five addition to the street that's been uh under the vested in force uh the able to justice uh with the construction desk to restore the remote.

Wonderful.

This clearly benefits to the community that are expressed in this proposal.

Does anybody want to get that on the record or are you good with that?

Presentation as is.

Okay, everyone.

Okay.

Um there's any questions, concerns, councilwoman and three questions.

You can ask three questions.

Thank you.

Um just about process.

So one is you said for all that are deemed responsive.

How do you determine that's deemed responsive?

So the the criteria is laid out in the RFP.

So there is really two things happening.

One, the criteria and the LRP, which determines responsive bidders, so long as you know they should use legal requirements of the charter, and then should they meet all the sponsors, then you go to the highest bidder as is required by the charter.

So were they to uh not follow Group is slightly different.

Um specifications for each of the properties of wait tonight, but should they not have met uh the minimum threshold, then uh they would not have been determined to uh that was the price consideration.

Okay, so we just have to meet a minimum threshold.

It doesn't matter like who has a higher score or lower score, it's like I mean this one is a little irrelevant because you've been somewhat higher than the next person, so yeah, yeah, but it's correct.

Um then my other question is um why and this is just a question why are we selling this directly instead of going through the PRA?

That's a good question.

There's two reasons.

So for uh the Master Street school, it will seem to have negative value or zero market, so that rule that would have run away with 90% of praise value.

It doesn't mean it's not his property.

Otherwise, we review put it on to the PRA, but it's supposed to be a council to that anyway.

So it was really saving us every time about it.

And that's the second uh that uh in that part of town is located outside of the redevelopment area, which makes the process uh a lot trickier than uh it would be one for and then my third question which you touched on in a minute.

Um what was the appraised value and then who did the appraisal for this property?

Uh I'd like to I have I think it was um 150,000.

For all the properties together is 180,000.

So landed the building had negative value.

Oh, and you had the land together, it was 180,000, and that was stuff like you're scotting.

Okay, yeah, building we've been trying to get people interested in this building.

That's one of my questions at this one.

Anyone else?

Councilman Taylor, yes.

Real quickly since it's in my moon, thank you for settling it.

It was really a delight and they thank you for fencing it in before and get those people sleeping there and graffiti and rash, and it's been a mess.

And uh I know I meant Eric out there, and I'm very happy with uh the stuff that he plans on doing over there, it'd be a lot better than what's there.

But thank you guys for doing everything to that.

Yeah, thank you for having me.

You surprised me it was worth 180 grand because I would be the land, yeah.

It was it was narrow, um, but thank you very much for all the work to get that done.

I thank Eric if it was not there for uh uh jumping into this project and looking after doing some stuff for warning to make agreement.

People don't realize that John and Nick and the team like we have to spend money on taking care of these properties also.

This is an example of one where we're like fencing and re-fencing and cleaning, and sometimes there are other issues, so it also helps the city be able to invest our money, not in things that aren't adding value to the city more broadly to be able to put them in somebody else's hands to make good use of them.

So that's it's a good story.

Also, we have our state investors putting uh just them in a pretty strong underinvested community, and uh the tax role is a lot of good parts of this work.

Council president, do you have any comments or thoughts on this?

One and a half comments.

Uh so one is right on the edge, as you know, of uh word eight and word 15.

Could not agree with councilman telling more.

It has been a fight and a hazard, and um excited that it will have a future.

There are some um neighbors who want to just have an overview and a discussion on the historical as particularly, and I heard historical uh preservation and affordability.

I have not been able to think that happened because my own health issues, but I'm gonna move that forward and um I'm just really excited to see the future for this building.

So and the bidder in being responsive did commit to achieving historical standards as like audience to part of the process because we moved with that.

We're good.

Great.

I'm also glad you're that into the table because I know you have an L.

I would just like to echo um my colleagues' comments on the the property itself.

It is just so good to see this moving on, and the plan is exceptional.

Um, and it's uh a great piece of property, and um I looked at the proposal, and I'm a big fan of everything that Eric has proposed, and he certainly is uh great developer to take on this project.

He has a strong track record on, and I'm just excited to see it to move on.

With that, do I have a motion?

Make a motion we approve number one motion to approve number one by councilman Taylor, second by councilwin and deploy.

Um all in favor, aye.

All right, any opposed, eyes have it, motion carries.

This will go to the full council.

Okay, thank you.

All right, on next, Madam Clinton, would you kindly read it two into the record?

Resolution authorizing approval of the following contract award by the Department of Contract and Supply in accordance with section 416, sections three and five of the Providence approval charter of 1980 as amended.

Richard Gavaran Mark Alvark Providence Redevelopment Agency, 1,150,000.

I'm assuming from the administration we've got the same percenters.

Yes.

We've already been sworn in.

Please uh tell us about this one.

So it's as Nick mentioned, this property is not in a um redevelopment areas.

We had to put it out through the board.

Um there was an RFP that was released.

Um, and we have uh as councilwoman Andrew asked, um, the bidders were evaluated um to be responsive or responsible.

Um they then went to the pricing and we're recommending the highest bidder, which is 1.15 euro million.

Um the proposals for three units of residential, converted into three units of residential with a garage as a you know uh secondary use to the property.

Um there is a commitment to a historic renovation.

Um there's also a uh commitment to increased green space.

Um we didn't talk about in the previous one is that this will just allow us to move forward to an execution of a purchase and sale agreement.

If for some reason in that process, it becomes clear that the proposer is not gonna either meet the standards that were laid out in the proposal or comply with other kind of zoning standards for the area.

Um we would not execute a purchase and sale, and we would go to the next bidder.

Um so this allows us to just move forward with that process.

Um do you want to ask a question?

Do you want to go through?

Nick was continuing.

Please, Nick.

Yeah, I just want to talk about a process on this too.

We had two open houses.

We had uh more than 60 people showing this in this.

Okay, we got uh we got six bids each of them with deemed uh minimum threshold, so then it counts about price again.

Um that note, there's um of the six, it's only positions one and two that were qualified for 90 percent number four, although we were doing proposal to be not the price consideration.

John, you're okay sitting back in the corner.

Yeah, he's really back.

We like when you lose.

He's been wheeling down there for that explains it all.

Um councilman Taylor, I had a question.

Yes, so obviously this is going on the tax rules now, but that's what it all for since it's got a fire station.

How much are the taxes gonna be for it's gonna be roughly?

It's probably better at 925,000, but then once that migration project is completed, it'll be a lot more valuable.

So I don't want to speak, but uh so we'll be making money.

It's gonna be a productive thing, actually.

We'll make money and any semester too.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

That's right.

In addition to the taxation, we didn't talk about the funding that comes through these projects because we haven't done a lot of them.

There's a separate fund that the city keeps um that uh like use of these funds will have to go back to the council.

They're generally restricted for capital investments, so it could be a housing trust investment, it could be some other kind of um infrastructure that we jointly decide we want, but that's where this funding goes into it, doesn't go into the general craft.

So that was gonna be my second question as a retired fireman who worked on that station many years ago.

Um would that money be can it be put aside for like future fire station reveals instead of a fire station?

That could be something that's contemplated.

It would have to be a joint initiative between the council and the administration.

Okay, sorry.

And I guess my third question from my please continue.

I know I read something about uh custom cars or something on the down floor.

Is it gonna be like an open cash show type of thing that people could go in there and see or not?

No, that would have to be this gotta be this property cannot be used for commercial use like this.

It has it's just an accessory use to the three units.

Okay.

Right.

So it's just having a garage associated with a window and they'll have to they'll have to couldn't probably not just they'll have to conform to certain zoning requirements as it relates to all of those restrictions.

Anyone else I don't know if council go committee first thank you council thank you.

Um some of these I don't see thought everybody asked you questions that's okay because I've heard um and the process is helpful because I as we've seen here in our testimony I've gotten I've personally received a lot of notes from my constituents with concerns about this and a lot of support for the second bidder um so this is coming in light of those questions and just better understand the process so um it sounds like okay you answer what I think does get right um for the responsive bids there was a commitment to historic like the historic quality of the area after the building is sold what recourse do we have to hold them to that if we don't own a building this comes up a lot actually there's going to be in that real purchase and sales given going to the verb which will then get recorded with public records.

So should they not perform the right of the bargain we can take the property back.

That might get a little tricky if the money's already spent but processing other okay but like we we would be monitoring it to like make sure that they're keeping in line with yeah this is just like the start of the process now that if we go through the permitting process um team I think it's allows us to move forward ahead and clear so I don't expect anybody to start paying for expensive consultants or builders until we get through this level process that we got support thank you.

Another question I had was could you share more information about the proposed units because it looked like there was a bunch of information about the car garage but like it was like three units and I just like it didn't seem like there's a lot of information about how big the units were it just felt a little light um and maybe I just didn't see it I went through what we had but could you share more information about what those units are like um we uh there are three units two on the second floor one on the ground floor which you know will be 1500 and 2500 square feet um each with a dedicated entrance and that fits in that footprint you can just put what we would control what you can put there is really uh comes down to zoning how many uh units you can put there as a function of um how many cars you can fit outside this is the new adaptive use on this thing um so by right by zoning you could put three plus in it um but really it's even one that solves you know uh as you're at that building so I've got to follow the parking zoning related thing okay so it's basically it's possible to fit the number that they're talking that's also the size garage that we're talking it's possible from a zoning perspective part of this process is not so like nobody's proposal was evaluated to say like can you build the things that you're saying yeah from a you know beyond the zoning perspective that's not required but this is allowed um it's a lot and it is uh evaluated that it could happen with this okay but if like as you move forward with the purchase and sale if they change it because my concern is just like Frank is like obviously we don't want to build more housing so we're gonna make housing that's great then they're like oh actually it didn't fit we're only gonna be one unit and a huge garage like that's different than what I think we'd be approving so is that to be to be clear like it's if they did one unit and we're the highest bidder yeah they might still win right um what they couldn't do is one unit with a giant garage because that's not enough from from a zoning center's perspective okay and then for the question on the highest bidder so like even if another proposal was higher ranked which it was like score wise which it wise because they both met a minimum threshold then it would be moves to highs bid that's right charter okay and I guess I'm a little bit looking at editing about that that's like the charter we have to buy it and the RFP was approved by board and contractors and supplies which a lot of people don't pay attention to that but like that is also a governing body with council representation saying we agree that this is how the RFP should be constructed.

So if somebody didn't you know want that at that time they could have thrown it out at that moment.

You agree?

Councilwoman Davis Hendry question.

Yeah, I do.

Uh thank you, Madam Chairman, for allowing me a little time to offer some thoughts.

And I really want to thank the chief of the director for sort of helping um shed more light on the process as you know, I'm catching up quick, but I was you know late to the party on this one.

Um, and you know, to that point, um the city because circumstantially, because councilwoman Anthony stepped on up down on August 1st, and I was not sworn in until December 17th.

The entire RFP process happened within that period.

So there was not the opportunity for anybody in Ward Two when this property is in Ward Two to weigh in at all.

So I just want to note that, and what I want to do is use a little bit of time to share what I would have shared had I had the opportunity at the time.

Um the you know, I think that what might have informed the RFP, just as you pointed out, and I certainly would have attended that meeting just as another council person sitting in, um, might have informed the best views for 155 humble.

Um, and I wanted to make a couple notes about the Montessori Children's House itself, just so we can have full information when making this decision.

I realize the decision we're making is not, if not one, then two, but I just want people to have full information so you can you know, sort of be thoughtful about the process.

Um, Montessori Children's House is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Uh it's been in Ward Two the whole time, currently located on Lloyd Avenue, and it's uh you know, educated more than 3,000 kids from toddler to sixth grade.

Right now, this they're looking for a property and been looking for a long time in the neighborhood to be able to extend expand their toddler program.

That's a piece of early childhood education that we're really missing in this city.

Um, a lot of kids go from the Montessori system to public school to other schools, um, but there just aren't enough toddler young early childhood education spots at all.

So, you know, this you know, I think that one of the desired uses for this project was to be able to expand that.

Um, and that really is a top priority, not only for the school, but for the city of Providence.

We know it's a real need.

Um the school, as I mentioned, the school's been working for years to find a suitable location near its current space on Lloyd Avenue, and it's going to continue to use that space instead of sort of moving somewhere else in the city isn't really feasible.

Um, and one thing that about their proposal that I do really appreciate is that it would provide they're willing to provide public access to that space and non-school hours for a gathering space.

And you know, the Ward 2 is a wonderful place.

We don't have um we only have one public school, we don't have any community centers, we don't have a public library.

We have sort of an unusual lack of places for people to gather.

Um I find that what I'm trying to do at community meeting, I've got like nowhere to go.

Um, if hope is busy.

So it's it's a real issue, and it would have been nice to be able to have that.

Um, you know, we already made noted the difference, the price difference.

Um, Montessori bid 1,100,000, um, the other bidders bid 1,150,000.

So fairly negligible difference to the city in terms of money and then being able to use it once that money comes in.

And you know, the last piece I want to speak to is around community support.

Um, over the past couple months, um, many of you have received emails from constituents and supporters of the school, you know, asking for you know, consideration of the school's use of that space.

Um, as well, um, there's a robust petition with 312 signatures that have been gathered supporting that use.

So there is real community demand, and sort of to go back to the beginning, you know, had either counselor Anthony or I had opportunity to be part of this process, we definitely would have spoken to that, and that might have shaped up the RFP and what and the ways in which you know it was used and sort of what the outcome might have been.

Um, so just you know, conclude that um, you know, the Montessori Children's House, you know, has a real commitment to providing affordable um child care for lots of young people in Providence.

It's about the third of cost of um neighbor of other neighborhood preschools.

Um it's less than many other daycares and would fill a real need.

Um half of the financial, sorry, half of the families are on financial aid as well.

So, you know, I just I want to share all of this because I think it's important to consider as we look at sort of what the process has been and what got us here.

I think some of that information really didn't inform the beginning of the process, and there might have just been a fluke of timing.

I don't think there was anything ill-intended about it at all.

But I do think it's important to note.

So thank you very much for providing that testimony.

May I ask the solicitor on can you please provide guidance?

Is the RFP that was issued to comport with the charter requirements?

Yes.

Are you satisfied with the way it was carried out?

Yes, ma'am chair.

Okay.

All right.

Do you have any further testimony?

You guys, no?

Councilman?

I would just like to add that I know the charter means that you have to go by the I bidder.

And unfortunately, unfortunately for the Montessori school, they weren't the high bid.

But um, I think it's I've been around the city for a long time, as well as other council members.

And I think if we didn't go with the high bidder, we would take it.

Let's just say Joanne Ryan's husband was second bidder.

Please leave my husband.

Oh, my son.

My son was a high bid.

And we went with it, and that either with the second bidder.

Then it looks like it would do in favor.

I mean, I don't want to use there's some names on here.

I could use that, I don't want to use those, but in the past, that's what we we only have is the charter to say, listen, it's the high bidder.

Whether it's a dollar fifty thousand fifty cents, it's the high bidder.

Um, so for us to, and I feel bad for Montessori's when I agree with everything it's saying, but unfortunately our hands are tied unless we change the charter to say something.

If we had time to change the charter, we didn't do that.

There's those other issues that we had to do.

Um, but unless we change the charter, unfortunately, as a council hands tied, I just want to echo this the Montessori because I'm not going to make any friends by voting this, but uh it's unfortunate that we have to do it this way.

Um we have to be fair.

Because if we go to, like I said, the second or third, it's an off the name we all do.

Vincency and grandson.

And we gave that.

Yeah.

Oh, look what the council's doing in the favor to it like so.

We're kind of we're between a rock and object.

So they agree with that.

I don't know.

So I just wanted to put it out there that it's unfortunate.

Um it is going on the tax rules.

That's a good thing.

Both both that and the school go back on the tax rules.

So that's a very good thing.

Yes, um, but I just want to put that up.

Thank you, Councilman.

I see uh Council Sanchez, did you have a um question, Charlie?

Yes.

Um I guess it's for the city solicitor.

Um so what happens if the city council does not approve this legally speaking.

It goes back to contracts applied for uh a new RFP or what was the so it could, um, but it would leave the city in a position where it is acting against its own charter, and that can leave the city particularly vulnerable.

I don't want to go, yeah.

I I just don't want to go into the specifics because I'm not a fan of explaining the strongest arguments to somebody trying to say the city out loud.

I think the latest testimony is what's before us is one.

We've gone through all the groups and hurdles that comports with the charter that we're obliged to uh as you actually stated uh follow.

So whether we like it or not, that's what it is.

I thank you again for your testimony.

I can assure you that even when a council person is missing, the rest of the council usually stands up to try to help out in that that area.

So I think we did the best we could, and I think what we have before us is a is a solid proposal.

Can they have a motion at this point?

We approve number two.

Motion made to approve by councilman Taylor, seconded by I can think seconded by councilwoman Andebor.

All in favor, aye.

Aye, any opposed, eyes have it.

Motion carries the matter passes.

This will appear before the council.

I thank you very much for all your work.

Um that is all we have on our agenda.

I have a motion to adjourn.

Council Taylor, second by councilman hands.

While in favor, aye.

Any opposed, eyes have motion count.

Thank you.