FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2022
CONTACT INFO. :
Office of the Mayor
Patricia Resende
(401) 529-3207
City, East Providence Waterfront Commission & RI Waterfront Enterprises breaks ground on $30M investment
EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – The City of East Providence, together with RI Waterfront Enterprises and the East Providence Waterfront Commission, broke ground on a new $30 million concert venue location.
The site, known as the Union Oil Company of California (UNOCAL), has been inactive since 1984. The property, which is listed as a brownfield site by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was left in environmental ruins.
To establish an understanding of the site, the owners looked at the region, history and site itself. They identified community goals, reviewed plan documents and analyzed existing conditions. They needed to overcome overarching challenges, such as remediation, flood risk, and storm water run-off. Lastly, the owners outlined an implementation strategy, including funding, phasing and operations.
“Through a comprehensive approach, RI Waterfront Enterprises worked closely with Gov. Dan McKee and his team who have given us support at every turn and of course Mayor Bob DaSilva, who was first at the door to extend his hand to say ‘we really want to make this happen’ and it is fair to say we would not be here without Mayor Bob DaSilva – he made this happen and we are thrilled with his support,” Live Nation New England President Don Law said.
“Breaking ground on the project was not possible without assistance from the RI Dept. of Environmental Management Dir. Terrance Gray, local union leaders, as well as countless consultants who created an exciting plan for the Unocal parcel, which will include public access to the waterfront, outdoor concerts during the warm weather months, and other warm weather amenities,” Law added.
Live Nation New England presents more than 1,000 shows per year, selling approximately three million tickets annually.
“Our administration from day one has been working hand-in-hand with RI waterfront enterprises to first negotiate the acquisition of this land,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “We are so excited to have Don Law, David Ting and Melissa Martin on this project because they’ve proven that they have the capabilities to deliver on their promises.”
“Bold Point Park has become a signature, outdoor destination for entertainment for Rhode Island,” Gov. Dan McKee said. “This venue, will be first class, state-of-the-art and part of a new Rhode Island that we are building.”
“It’s a win for the economy, a win for local music scene and a win for our labor markets and workforce and what a win this is for Rhode Island’s environment,” RIDEM Dir. Terrance Gray said. “This is another sequence of projects along the city of East Providence waterfront that takes a site that is underused with a few environmental challenges and makes it into something amazing. It’s a success story.”
