Developer Hopes to Turn Farmland Into Commercial Land
The Portsmouth Town Council approved a request to advertise a zoning change for the Briggs property on West Main Road.
A well-known Rhode Island developer is seeking to purchase the longstanding Briggs property on West Main Road.
Derrick Mesolella, representing well-known developer and former state Rep. Vincent J. Mesolella, confirmed Monday evening that an offer has been made on the Briggs property.
"We are in negotiations to purchase," Derrick Mesolella said. "There is a purchase and sale agreement conditional to this process."
The developers are first seeking a zoning change for 905 West Main Road, which is known in town as the "Briggs property."
Richard H. and Frederick D. Briggs own the land at 905 West Main Road, according to Vision Appraisal. The property is located directly across from the entrance to Hedly Street and on the corner of West Main Road and Cory's Lane.
Vincent Mesolella, a member of CVDD III LLC in Providence, is seeking to rezone this land from light industrial to commercial.
Portsmouth town council members questioned the firm's young respresentive about this company's plans.
"There's a lot of rumors going on around town about this," Councilor Judi Staven said. "Are you the developer who wanted to put a Lowe's at the old skating rink in Middletown?"
"We do own 1747 West Main Road. The Lowe's was never the case," Derrick Mesolella said. "Lowe's never signed a release."
"Is the plan to put a Lowe's (in Portsmouth)," Staven asked.
"That is not the plan," Mesolella said.
"So you have no plans?" Staven asked again.
"Not at the moment," Mesolella said. "We don't have tenants at this time."
The 25-acre property currently houses a boarded-up farmhouse, which is surrounced by overgrown brush.
According to Vision Appraisal, the Briggs property dates back to 1925 when it was owned by Mervin C. and Marguerite Briggs.
East side
8:06 am on Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Portsmouth but a big box limitation when Target was coming to town so why stir the pot? there should be a test before these people become town reps.
Al Honnen
8:39 am on Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Town involvement in this property goes back a few years when the council voted to allow for some residential developement of this farmland in exchange for a piece of land that would place a road between West Main Road and Corey's Lane and would eliminate one of the lights at this location on West Main Road.
I would suggest that the council ask if this will (could) be done by the new developer. That is a very dangerous intersection where many accidents happen each year.
Werner Loell
6:58 pm on Tuesday, September 13, 2011
It never stops, does it! Now why does this property have to be sold instead of saved for open space and one day support a city park initiative for those who come after us...? Is there no soil that is sacred from development? The town deserves its pain for not demonstrating greater feed and care of its inactive property given the circumstances of changing climate, pollution, crowding, congestion, budgetary shortfalls, yearly water restrictions, inadequate sewage infrastructure, coastal erosion, unpredictable weather fronts, changing EPA laws, food shortages all over the world that should promote organic farming of arable lands, fertilizer and herbicide run-off into the bay, rising energy costs, rising cost of public works services, increase security costs, declining air quality, and eroding support for education.
Who is there to consider where this town is going, more development, housing, cars, roads, parking,...is that what we want? I hope not, it is crowded enough.
Feel free to respond or let me have it:
wloell@cox.net
Cheers,
Werner Loell
TEELAM
12:45 pm on Monday, November 28, 2011
Open space is nice. I agree that the Town should invest in it. However, Town-owned open space is not FREE. The Town (1) has to "buy" the property, then (2) it loses any taxes it may have gotten from the property, (3) it has to maintain the property (mowing, or maintaining any improvements) and (4) it accepts all liability for the property. Yes, open space is nice as long as the citizens realize what it will cost them to have it. The Brigss property is in a very strategic location. It would be nice to have it as a nice park to be the 'gateway to Portsmouth". However, it is also a very prime piece of potential commercial property that could be high end development that would provide needed tax revenue. Why not work with the developers to have THEM keep a certain portion of the property as open space that THEY would maintain? Let's come up with some realistic ways to keep the Town's character, not just say "buy the property and make it a park" without some idea of the cost to the Town.
Werner Loell
6:36 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
True to form TEELAM, thank you for responding, but we do not live in the 20th century anymore and arable land, open space, carbon foot print, congestion, pollution, nitrogen and phosphoric runoff into the bay, rise in public services cost, potable water availability, cost benefit to the community, more revenue means more spending, more growth means greater risk in case of emergencies, escape route capacity, sewage issues, and clear zoning stipulations. We nee reform of our business model for the Aquidneck Island, but that would take a comprehensive and integrated approach to where this island is heading. Present course is not sustainable.
Robert E
9:31 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
I have lived in this town all my life and would love to see a couple of big box stores a McDonalds and maybe a few other franchise restarants. I am sick of pizza and chinese. This town is fooling itself if you think this is a nice quaint place to live.There is plenty of open space in town already that people don't use what we need is to come up with new revenue streams for the town. Commercial development would provide those streams residential development puts a drain on town resources. We have over developed on the residential side and need more commmercial development to balance it out. Get with the times or be left behind.
J. Lane McMahon
9:59 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
100% Dead on target....couldn't have said it better myself. This town owns enough open space already. MORE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT!
That is why we have an EDC, right?
Home Ports
12:28 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
Let's get this straight, there are no plans for the property and Lowes is isn't part of the non-plan? Sounds like a lot more than a double negative to me. Yet there is support for rezoning the property before any future use is revealed? Can I borrow your car? Trust me.