Providence Campus : Ready to Row

New academic buildings. More defined green space to connect and enhance the urban setting. A multi-storied parking garage. The university has big plans for the Downcity Campus, proof of its deep commitment to its host city, Providence. But Providence, like so many municipalities throughout the country, has been struggling under a burden of debt and is turning to tax-exempt institutions for relief.

Relief comes in many forms. You could see it on the smiling face of Providence Mayor Angel Tavares, Esq. at a February afternoon City Hall press conference when he announced that after months of talks, an agreement had been reached where Johnson & Wales University would make a payment in lieu of taxes of potentially more than $11 million over the next 10 years. The payment will be in addition to the $6.8 million JWU pledged to provide the city over 20 years, when the city last faced a severe deficit in 2003. The arrangement offers some financial relief for the strapped city.

“I am grateful to the university for being a strong partner to the City of Providence,” said Taveras with JWU Chancellor John Bowen ’77 by his side.

Bowen, in turn, pledged the university’s commitment to Providence. “This is the Ocean State, and we are in this boat. We are not going to be passengers, nor jump ship,” Bowen said. “We want to put our hands on the oars and row. We’ve got to believe in this city, and we do.”

Relief can also take the form of space. That morning, before the City Hall press conference, the university officially welcomed a Providence Police Substation to the Providence Campus. Once located in the middle of Weybosset Street, the substation now can be found right next door to JWU Campus Safety & Security — the university and city rowing together.

Image: right: Providence Mayor Angel Taveras (holding scissors) takes charge of the Police Substation ribbon cutting with Providence Campus President Mim Runey LP.D., right, and Chancellor John Bowen ’77, left, along with city and police leaders.