Aquidneck Avenue Construction NDN 3.2.07

NDN online 3/2/07

By Matt Sheley/Daily News staff

A construction worker shingles a new building Wednesday on Aquidneck Avenue and Vierra Terrace in Middletown. (David Hansen/Daily News staff)

The beachfront section isn't the only part of Middletown's Aquidneck Avenue that is getting a makeover.

Drive down the upper portion of the busy two-lane road and you will see several significant projects already under way or preparing to get started.

The nature of this work is vastly different than the restaurant and hotel projects in the heart of the Easton's Point neighborhood that look to capitalize on lower Aquidneck Avenue's draw as a tourist destination.

Instead, about a half-mile away on upper Aquidneck Avenue, there is a new 10-unit tradesmen center under construction, along with a retail and/or professional office at the corner of Vierra Terrace. Plans also were approved recently for a plumbing office on a lot across from Polo Center that once housed a used-car dealership.

"I think the reason you're seeing it is because it's some of the last developable commercial and limited business land in town," Middletown Building Official Jack Kane said. "There's only so much land available and most of it is concentrated there."

Approximately one-tenth of the town's total acreage is used for commercial, industrial, mining and other related uses, according to Middletown's Comprehensive Community Plan. Of the more than 8,400 acres, about a quarter is used for residential homes and another quarter is used for farming.

While there has been significant construction in town since the last five-year update to the document was approved in July 2004, the upper Aquidneck Avenue area north of Valley Road continues to reflect a mix of uses, such as homes, restaurants, office buildings, a large construction material lot and two public schools.

The zoning uses along the road vary as well, from largely residential north of the intersection with Valley Road until Polo Center shopping center, where it switches over to limited business until East Main Road. Special trade contractors, restaurants and professional services are allowed on property zoned for limited business.

The Planning Board is considering a proposal to update the look of the lower neighborhood, a concept that includes new gas lamps, crosswalks and "traffic calming devices."

In the upper Aquidneck neighborhood, town records indicate that David E. Michael, who owns David E. Michael Distinctive Homes, is building the Aquidneck Tradesman Center on land next door to Sturm's Appliances.

Down the street, the lot at 613 Aquidneck Ave., across from Polo Center, recently was cleared to make way for the new home of Donavan & Sons plumbing. Kane said a building permit has not been issued for the project, but the Zoning Board of Review has granted all the approvals the business needs.

Neighbors have complained about that site, the mix of uses on the property and the crumbling building that was once there, which they described as an eyesore. Paperwork at Town Hall indicates that the structure to be built will be two stories high and designed in a "Cape Cod-style."

Christopher J. Behan, the attorney who represented the project before the town, said the new office will address many needs.

"It's a commercial project in a residential neighborhood and normally that would be taboo," Behan said. "The neighborhood supported the project because the building that was there was in disrepair and it appeared from studies that parts of the property were contaminated. This project gets rid of that eyesore and cleans up the property."

As for the new two-story structure at Vierra Terrace, Kane said property owner Kenneth J. Haslam intends on making the building retail or office space.

Kane said plans for a new shopping plaza-tradesmen center on a three-acre lot from Reed Development Corp. were withdrawn in late January so another plan could be considered.

Town Planner Ronald M. Wolanski said the growth on upper Aquidneck Avenue seems to be isolated and not part of a wider trend.

"It seems to be just a factor of individual property owners taking an opportunity to develop their land," Wolanski said. "I wouldn't say the development or the timing of any of the work is related to each other."


	Projects under way all along Aquidneck Avenue NDN online 3/2/07 By Matt Sheley/Daily News staff A construction worker shingles a new building Wednesday on Aquidneck Avenue and Vierra Terrace in Middletown. (David Hansen/Daily News staff) The beachfront section isn't the only part of Middletown's Aquidneck Avenue that is getting a makeover. Drive down the upper portion of the busy two-lane road and you will see several significant projects already under way or preparing to get started. The nature of this work is vastly different than the restaurant and hotel projects in the heart of the Easton's Point neighborhood that look to capitalize on lower Aquidneck Avenue's draw as a tourist destination. Instead, about a half-mile away on upper Aquidneck Avenue, there is a new 10-unit tradesmen center under construction, along with a retail and/or professional office at the corner of Vierra Terrace. Plans also were approved recently for a plumbing office on a lot across from Polo Center that once housed a used-car dealership. "I think the reason you're seeing it is because it's some of the last developable commercial and limited business land in town," Middletown Building Official Jack Kane said. "There's only so much land available and most of it is concentrated there." Approximately one-tenth of the town's total acreage is used for commercial, industrial, mining and other related uses, according to Middletown's Comprehensive Community Plan. Of the more than 8,400 acres, about a quarter is used for residential homes and another quarter is used for farming. While there has been significant construction in town since the last five-year update to the document was approved in July 2004, the upper Aquidneck Avenue area north of Valley Road continues to reflect a mix of uses, such as homes, restaurants, office buildings, a large construction material lot and two public schools. The zoning uses along the road vary as well, from largely residential north of the intersection with Valley Road until Polo Center shopping center, where it switches over to limited business until East Main Road. Special trade contractors, restaurants and professional services are allowed on property zoned for limited business. The Planning Board is considering a proposal to update the look of the lower neighborhood, a concept that includes new gas lamps, crosswalks and "traffic calming devices." In the upper Aquidneck neighborhood, town records indicate that David E. Michael, who owns David E. Michael Distinctive Homes, is building the Aquidneck Tradesman Center on land next door to Sturm's Appliances. Down the street, the lot at 613 Aquidneck Ave., across from Polo Center, recently was cleared to make way for the new home of Donavan & Sons plumbing. Kane said a building permit has not been issued for the project, but the Zoning Board of Review has granted all the approvals the business needs. Neighbors have complained about that site, the mix of uses on the property and the crumbling building that was once there, which they described as an eyesore. Paperwork at Town Hall indicates that the structure to be built will be two stories high and designed in a "Cape Cod-style." Christopher J. Behan, the attorney who represented the project before the town, said the new office will address many needs. "It's a commercial project in a residential neighborhood and normally that would be taboo," Behan said. "The neighborhood supported the project because the building that was there was in disrepair and it appeared from studies that parts of the property were contaminated. This project gets rid of that eyesore and cleans up the property." As for the new two-story structure at Vierra Terrace, Kane said property owner Kenneth J. Haslam intends on making the building retail or office space. Kane said plans for a new shopping plaza-tradesmen center on a three-acre lot from Reed Development Corp. were withdrawn in late January so another plan could be considered. Town Planner Ronald M. Wolanski said the growth on upper Aquidneck Avenue seems to be isolated and not part of a wider trend. "It seems to be just a factor of individual property owners taking an opportunity to develop their land," Wolanski said. "I wouldn't say the development or the timing of any of the work is related to each other."