COSTCO wants to go where it’s not wanted

November 24, 2020/RINewsToday

It seems unanimous. From local Cranston neighborhood groups, including homeowners within the closest vicinity, to everyone who ran for office – to the current Mayor-elect – the pledge to the community – and to COSTCO is this: We’d love to have you in Cranston – but that location at Mulligan’s Island – is out of the question for several good reasons. Let’s go find you a spot where you’re wanted.

Several plans were mentioned for the vacating Mulligan’s property – including at least a partial recovery as green space for the community.

There is a public hearing at the Planning Commission, on Dec. 1 to address zoning changes needed.

Integral into each of the nearly two dozen people who ran for office in Cranston was their expressed opinion about COSTCO and if they were in favor of a disagreeable attempt to locate on the Mulligan’s Island property. The plan would include a detached liquor store, a gas station, and over 750 parking spots. The look would be more of an industrial park than a handsome shopping area.

This publication – RINewsToday – painstakingly polled those running for office, publishing their official stances on this COSTCO proposal. See the detailed response summary, here:

Read here: NO to COSTCO? Statements in from Cranston City Council candidates

A group called Cranston Neighbors for Smart Development, who successfully ran an opposition years ago to the location of a B.J.’s on that site, immediately gathered together, holding a meeting in the community outdoors, and blanketed the area with flyers and organized their social media. They even did a promotional video, above.

The developer has come back with new plans – plans that still contain their store and gas station. Now they’ve removed their residential component and added that the land be “gifted” to the city. Some mention of affordable housing was included. “We think that’s a big gift to the city,” Michael DiGuiseppe, managing partner of Coastal Partners, said during an interview with the Cranston Herald.

Newly elected, Nicole Renzulli, was walking the neighborhood again delivering flyers and talking with neighbors about the upcoming presentation to Cranston’s committee. Noteworthy, it is nice to see a “politician” walking a neighborhood after an election is over – and on a beautiful day, in the middle of a COVID-19 pandemic. The Cranston Neighbors for Smart Development has other plans in development to oppose the COSTCO development.