Saturday morning’s 20 degree temperature deter residents and elected officials from venturing into the old, rundown church across from the Cranston Print Works Complex for a site walk. This Cranston Street building is part of a proposed multi-family housing project which would have a 15 percent (at least) affordable housing component and a high-end restaurant.

Dubbed “Knights Corner Development,” the approximate five acre property at 1388 and 1390 Cranston Street is currently zoned M-1 (residential industrial). The applicant, Jotham Coe, would need this zoning altered to allow for the mixed-use of a multi-family residential development combined with commercial uses.

The Feb. 18 site walk gave professionals from South County Architecture and Design Inc. and DiPrete Engineering the opportunity to explain the project so residents and officials could grasp the scope of the development and ask questions.

The proposed plan calls for four five-story residential buildings that will be 70 feet tall. Three of the 10,550 square foot facilities will offer parking on the first floor while the fourth building would house a recreation center. There is a proposed outdoor common area to include a tennis/pickleball court, outdoor kitchen, dog park and fire pit. The developers are also in the talks of possibly creating a walking path around the development.

Floors two through five of each building will include a mix of studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom apartments. There will be a total of 39 units per building – resulting in 156 units total. Ron Stevenson of South County Architecture and Design Inc. added there are 233 spaces proposed for parking; the majority of these spaces will be used for residents while approximately 35 spaces will be used for the development’s high-end restaurant which is set to operate Thursdays through Sundays at night.

This $30 million project is looking to attract families. The developer said there will be an open area for kids to play; a theatre and gym are also proposed for the interior.

The longstanding 1,600 square foot church will be renovated into a high-end restaurant. Stevenson said the plan is to keep the high ceiling, big windows, mezzanine and stage. The building will fit roughly 95 customers and the business’s kitchen will be located in the church basement.

“We’re excited about bringing this back to life as a focal point of this project,” said Stevenson.

Project Engineer Jenna Shea of DiPrete Engineering added that there are currently three curb cuts on the property and the applicant intends to close the curb cut directly in front of the traffic signal so the complex is not interfering with the traffic signal for the Fire Department.

During the site walk, Councilman Robert Ferri inquired about the development’s impact on traffic since Cranston Street and Dyer Avenue already see a high volume of roadway vehicles. The future Cranston Print Works Complex (which proposes housing) will also add an influx in traffic. Developers stated a formal traffic study is in the works and will be peer reviewed by outside consultants; this document will be made available to the Planning Commission and City Council.

Planning Commissioner Steve Frias said a key issue for him is the development’s parking space projections. The complex calls for 1.25 parking spaces per unit. While Frias said he is sympathetic to this approach for one bedroom and studio apartments, the developers are proposing approximately 68 two or three bedroom apartments on this site.

“We in this city experimented between 1966 and 1974 with less than two parking spaces for apartments and it was a major parking problem and that's why we changed it in 1974 to two spaces per apartment,” said Frias, looking at the plan through a historical lens.

The complex is located on a bus route, which could reduce the need for a vehicle. 

Stevenson added that part of the development’s green space could be used for additional parking. The developers could also look at allowing one parking space for studio and one bedroom apartments and two spaces for two and three bedroom units. If this were to be pursued, the developer would only need to add 20 more spaces to the current plan. Shea added that the restaurant will have valet parking, so they could double up on parking and free some spaces for residents.

This five-acre property was previously owned by Cranston Print Works, and the company used the site for dumping ash. Due to this debris relocation, there are some hazardous waste issues the developer must confront on the site. Shea said developers will be working with the Department of Environmental Management; there is a remediation plan built into the project’s budget.

Additionally, Stevenson said a large portion of the southeastern property is considered wetlands and will remain untouched. The developer will also try and match the existing storm water flow to what currently exists. There are hopes of improving today’s water quality conditions.

Council Vice President Lammis Vargas asked about renewable energy for the facility. Coe hopes to have solar panels installed on the rooftop.

Council President Jessica Marino described the potential development as “a bit of a pinch me project.” She enjoyed the thoughtfulness of the project and, with the need for housing, she’s thrilled Coe is looking to build this complex in Cranston.

The project’s next steps involve going before the Planning Commission and City Council. Murray said the developers hope to present to city officials in April. The project will not break ground in 2023.

HERE’S THE PLAN: Ron Stevenson of South County Architecture and Design Inc. explains the proposed project for 1388 and 1390 Cranston Street at a Saturday morning site walk. (Herald photo)

MORE HOUSING IN CRANSTON: Dubbed “Knights Corner Development,” the approximate five acre property at 1388 and 1390 Cranston St. is currently zoned M-1 (residential industrial). This property would need to be altered to a special zone to allow for a mixed-use of multi-family residential development combined with commercial uses.