City Council postpones vote on overriding Fane tower veto

PROVIDENCE — A majority of the Providence City Council voted Tuesday to postpone a scheduled vote to override Mayor Jorge Elorza’s veto of a change to the city zoning ordinance that would allow a controversial luxury apartment tower to be built downtown.

Ward 8 City Councilman Wilbur Jennings, who supports the override, was absent because he was sick and had been taken to the hospital, according to Majority Leader John Igliozzi.

Without Jennings present, the council did not have the 10 “yes” votes necessary in order to override the veto.

Ward 1 City Councilman Seth Yurdin, who opposes the override, was also absent because he had a prior engagement.

Council members scheduled a new special meeting for 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Some members present Tuesday expressed frustration at the council’s decision to postpone the vote.

Ward 13 City Councilman Bryan Principe, Ward 3 City Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune, Ward 2 City Councilman Samuel Zurier and Council President David Salvatore voted against delaying the vote.

“...When a majority of a legislative body comes together to take a formal vote on a matter that’s on a printed docket and refuse to take that vote, [it] sends a negative message to the general public that the City Council didn’t want to do their job tonight,” said Salvatore, who opposes overriding Elorza’s veto. 

But Igliozzi said it was the right thing to do, given that two council members were absent.

“It’s all about democracy,” he said.

If the veto is overridden, the change to the zoning ordinance approved by the council would allow developers to build the project, known as the Hope Point Tower, on Parcel 42 on former Route 195 land and surpass local height restrictions sixfold.

In recent weeks, Ward 11 City Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, who previously voted against the change to the zoning ordinance, has said she is considering both sides of the issue. She has not yet announced how she plans to vote on the override. 

“It’s clear to me why many oppose this project, but it is less clear why and what the real, long-lasting benefits are for this City and my neighbors,” she said in a statement issued last week “... Finally, as a former a tradeswoman (yes, I was a welder), I am in full support of our tradespeople and our unions. I know full well what this kind of project can mean for the men and women who work to build our City every day. However, I am thinking about and reflecting on the totality of this project.”

On Monday, Harris said the opinions she values most are those of her constituents and community members — people like Gretchen Pottle, a 42-year-old mother who works in Harris’ ward and has struggled with housing insecurity and homelessness for years.

“It makes no sense to build a big building like that for high-end people when there’s a housing crisis for families in Rhode Island,” she said.

Politicians, she said, are “just so focused on the rich. They’re really not considering all the poor people in the state. I work seven days a week and [I'm] still just trying to make ends meet.”

Those who support the project say that it will bring much-needed economic development to the city and help expand the tax base.

Ward 5 City Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan, who supports an override of Elorza’s veto, said in a November interview that affordable housing is extremely important, but it is a separate issue.

“We sorely need a comprehensive affordable housing plan,” she said.

The City Council can work on affordable housing issues while also welcoming development, Ryan said.

“We’ve done a wonderful job addressing our short-term finances, but we have a lot of hurdles ahead of us to keep Providence moving forward,” she said. “We need to continue to expand our tax base. ... The financial vitality and economic vitality of the city of Providence will be greatly served by this tower.”

 — mlist@providencejournal.com

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