Committee delays consideration of ordinance to transfer 14 Alaska Street to redevelopment agency

The City Property Committee moved on July 9 to continue consideration of an ordinance that would transfer 14 Alaska Street to the Providence Redevelopment Agency, after the sponsor asked for additional time to refine terms.

The item was introduced by the clerk as an ordinance to transfer the parcel to the redevelopment agency. Real estate staff, including Nick Chikataly, director of real estate (representing the Providence Redevelopment Agency and the planning department), told the committee the sponsor had requested the matter be continued so council and staff could refine the transfer terms.

Chikataly described the sponsor’s concern as seeking "more teeth" in how the transfer would be structured; the sponsor and staff discussed using either an ordinance or agency tools to secure those terms. The chair and staff said they would coordinate a date certain to resume deliberations.

Councilor Houston made a motion to continue the ordinance; Councilor Graves seconded. The transcript records the motion and discussion about setting a future date but does not include a detailed roll-call tally for that continuation in the provided excerpt.

Why it matters: transferring property to the redevelopment agency allows the city to use the agency’s greater flexibility on disposition, including competitive bids and alternative disposition terms that may be intended to support housing development. The sponsor’s request for additional terms indicates council members are seeking stronger contract or development conditions before completing the transfer.

Next steps: Staff said they will work with the sponsor and the policy office to schedule the item for a future committee docket and to refine the proposed ordinance language before it returns to the committee.