🌱 Less Parking = More Development? + Will Take-Out Drinks Stay?

Happy Saturday, people of Woonsocket, and happy National Plum Pudding Day! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

Would more developers be interested in building here if they didn’t have to provide so many parking spots? Also, will take-out drinks become the norm? Finally, Landmark weighs in on a proposed healthcare merger.

First, today's weather:

Breezy with some sun. High: 59 Low: 29.

Here are the top five stories in Woonsocket today:

1. Woonsocket seeks to woo developers. One tool is a reduction of the parking minimum threshold. This figure currently requires “three parking spots for every 1,000 square feet” of commercial space. We learned Thursday that exceptions have been made on a case-by-case basis. For example, the retailer buying 1099 Social Street requested to provide only 59 parking spots instead of the required 81. Now, the Planning Board proposes “changes to the ordinances that are in line with the future goals of the city, which include a bustling, walkable downtown area and continued economic growth.” (The Valley Breeze)
2. Will take-out drinks become permanent? Initially, the exception to the established rules was to sunset on March 1. We learned on Friday that a bill is heading to the governor’s desk that would permanently allow “any Class B liquor license holders and brewpubs to sell up to two 750 ml bottles of wine, 72 ounces of a mixed-wine drinks, 144 ounces of beer, and mixed drinks with no more than nine ounces of distilled spirits with take-out orders.” (On Worldwide)
3. Landmark Medical Center doesn’t like the proposed merger between Lifespan and Care New England Health System. There are concerns about this move creating a monopoly. The FTC is expected to weigh in by the end of the month. If the merger were to go through, Landmark argues that the new entity would be “holding an estimated 80 percent of hospital revenues and services statewide.” (Woonsocket Call)
4. Governor Dan McKee lifted the “state-wide mask or proof of vax mandate” on Friday. Insiders have already noted an uptick in restaurant income. Restaurant “owners have reported that its occupation and reservations have soared from about 50% to close to 100% for the upcoming weekend.” (ABC)
5. The Board of Canvassers decided last Thursday that it won’t “send mail-in ballot applications to all registered voters ahead of this year’s election.” If the city were to continue, it would cost about $17,000 per election; in contrast, in 2020, “Woonsocket saw a return rate of 17% for all the applications it sent out.” That said, voters can still request absentee ballots. (Woonsocket Call)

Today in Woonsocket:

• Virtual Valentine's Day Children's Baking Class with the Museum of Work & Culture (1 PM)
• Planetarium Show at the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium (2 PM)
• Valentine Sweets POP UP Pickup at Providence Bagel (4 PM)
• Verdant Vibes Benefit Concert at the Music Mansion (7:30 PM)
• Live Jazz with Your Valentine at Chan's Fine Oriental Dining (8 PM)

From my notebook:

• Jan Thall is running a birthday fundraiser for the Woonsocket Cat Sanctuary. The goal is to raise $500 in the next five weeks. So far, the fundraiser collected $175 in donations.
• A Bernon Cares neighbor is wondering if someone can recommend a local, seasoned CPA or CPA firm that specializes in both elder care AND special needs issues. (Nextdoor)

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• Youth and High School Rugby Camp! (February 22)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (February 22)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday. I'll see you soon!

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.