Sale of NK Park and Ride Lot Tabled Pending Committee Opinion
Will one of North Kingstown's Park and Ride lots be sold to CVS?
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation will have to wait a little longer for an advisory opinion regarding the sale of one of North Kingstown's Park and Ride lots to CVS/pharmacy. The DOT appeared before the State Properties Committee Tuesday morning, seeking an opinion on a proposed sale of the commuter parking lot located at the corner of Route 2 and 102 in North Kingstown.
One of the key points that DOT was seeking clarification on was whether or not they could continue with the sale without providing a replacement parking lot. Originally, the DOT was looking to use a plot of land just up the road on Route 2. Unfortunately, that land is no longer feasible as an alternate location, according to information relayed to Rep. Robert Craven and Sen. James Sheehan of North Kingstown.
According to press releases from several of North Kingstown's state legislators, the DOT is now looking to send commuters to park at the MBTA parking garage at Wickford Junction. That garage, however, is not a free lot and charges $4 per day for parking.
According to a DOT spokesperson, they are looking at all options before finalizing the sale – including the expansion of an existing commuter lot, finding other locations suitable for a commuter lot and consolidation of transit parking at an intermodal facility at Wickford Junction.
DOT would need to return before the State Properties Committee with any request to sale the Park and Ride, which is a piece of state property. The committee tabled the issue for further review.
M. A. Waterbury
7:17 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
aw, for cryin' out loud, why can't the CVS' marketing folks tweak their plans and move into established locations close to Stop n Shop or Walmart or the new medical center near Tarbox? Does anyone give a fig for the needs of citizens who commute to Providence and need a free place to park? 80 bucks becomes a major expenditure for households barely scraping by in this lackluster economy. If we are to encourage the use of mass transit, why make it all the harder by making it more expensive?
Govstench
7:58 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I question the location for this CVS. Has anyone done an impact study of traffic in that area and what impact another business would have?
jeff barry
8:42 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Go To Post Rd. Plenty of empty Bld and Land old Tarbox would be great, your CVS on post road is to small and has crappy parking or none most of the time.
ru4real
8:59 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Peel back the onion.
The much acclaimed commuter parking garage is a disaster. They are now giving free parking and train tickets on Wed. We all knew it would flop, but so what it's only tax money. The insiders get their brown bag filled by the taxpayers.
Free parking on Rt.2 and the bus to Prov.--ng. Let's get rid of this problem and maybe the use of the train station will increase--not. Ok let's charge to use the lot, that's a better idea, people will be po'd but they will pay.
MA the answer is no to the Q @ citizen needs. We are here to pay for the stupidity and arrogance of the pols and support the insiders of RI. Everything else is just noise to keep the foolish people of RI in line. Just look at what the legislature is considering as the most important issues before them. Pay attention to the Paiva-Weed noise it should be very entertaining. Where's Mr. Fox?
RI has always been a lost cause and will continue to be so because the people don't care when they are being screwed. It hasn't changed in 30 years why would it happen now.
RI deserves exactly what it gets because the taxpayers (I did not say electorate) won't do anything to make it better. I give kudos to those who try, but there are not enough people who care in this state. Too many on the free ride.
RI could be a model for the country if the proper measures and focus were applied, but that will never happen. The solution is to move, there are better places that are prospering.
OrangesPoranges
5:09 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
You nailed it on the head, ru4real. That train station was perhaps the biggest boondooggle I have seen in RI in my lifetime. Every time I pass that monstrosity, I wan to throw up. I commute to Providence every day and would never, ever take that train. Too expensive, and too far to walk from the train station to my office.
chucklesinri
11:05 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Terrible idea. Let's not privatize our public resources. That Park n Ride is very useful and well located. CVS will be earning some very bad karma if they push the public elsewhere.
Scott Madison
1:05 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Perfect.
Just what 2/102 needs.....more traffic. Do I live in Warwick?
OrangesPoranges
5:12 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Might as well change the name of our town to South Warwick. RIP North Kingstown. Very sad to see what is becoming of my home town.
Doreen Costa
2:20 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I was at the meeting yesterday at the DOT and I asked why do we need another CVS? I also will be having a meeting to find out what and who is behind this. I asked them NOT to close the park and ride and thanked them for their decision. There were also letters submitted by me on behalf of the people of North Kingstown and Exeter that use the park and ride and will not be able to afford paid parking if that ever becomes and option. I will keep you all up to date.
OrangesPoranges
5:13 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Thank you Doreen. Let us know what else we can do to help.
Scott Madison
1:13 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Thank you very much Doreen. I would hate to see the western side of town become like Route 1, where the economic stimulus should be focused. The last thing we need is more commercial building (and vacancies) on the western part of town as the Route 1 corridor becomes desolate. Thanks for all your efforts, keep up the fight.
Ksd
3:23 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Ok, so you don't want another CVS but 3 Rite Aids are ok. Funny how people oppose all these new things in NK, yet they are the first ones in there shopping when it opens.
AnneCF
2:30 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Yes please! Would love this. I have to say that all the negative posts on the patch doesn't make me feel good about living in North Kongstown. Makes it sound like I live on a town of people who hate any and all changes. Maybe all the businesses closed down around town are because of the people. Have you read the police logs on the patch? If I were a business, I'd pack up and run to a different town after reading those, so I think we should feel lucky for any business willing to open here.
highflyer
8:44 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
@Anne-respectfully, it is not that people hate change. It is the policies of the last few TC's that have created many problems in NK. I would suggest that you look at the influx of low income housing in our town. This is the result of the TC embracing and exceeding the 10% state mandate, no other town in So. Cty is close to this level. We have become the dumping ground for the migration of problems in this state from North to South. The ripple effect of these TC decisions is destroying NK. The TC continues to send negative messages as they pursue court cases that they continue to lose. They foolishly spend our tax dollars so that their attorney friends and developers prosper at our expense.
The negative comments are very often rooted in the fact that the electorate chose to ignore reality in the last elections. NK had a great chance to vote for honest government with no ties to insiders and special interests and they did not. That is the system and we will all pay for that decision dearly. Have you noticed all the new for sale signs and for rent signs in NK since Nov?
Ultimately people vote with their feet.
Post Rd. is a disgrace. The TC loves the Gateway and Quonset.
NK receives $ from Quonset in lieu of taxes, but that does not make up for the decay that is creeping through the rest of NK. It is like a cancer quietly destroying us from inside.
Connect the political dots and try to see what is going on in NK the reality is not sending a positive message.
Don Thela
7:40 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
We could get a lot of money for the State house site! Not being used that much, sell it to Hilton for a hotel!
Patchdog
9:39 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Want to know the real deal. That park in ride is full during the day because those few that are taking the train are parking for free and walking to the train. Move the lot out of walking distance and commuter gets the boot.
Don Thela
4:11 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Why doesn't CVS build in the Station site near Walmart????????? Because they would have to pay actual value for the site?
NK Parent
3:37 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Or perhaps because there is already a full-service pharmacy in Wickford Junction?
raven ciccone
8:58 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
Walmart is hardly full service. They have shorter hours and only order from their own wholesaler meaning they are frequently out of stock on meds with less selection and several days wait to complete prescriptions. All of the other drug stores in RI order from outside vendors overnight.
NK Politics
9:57 am on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Park and Ride Politics.
So let me get this right, the state is looking to sell a successful park and ride lot to CVS.
So let me get this right, with multiple areas available within 1000 feet, the State and CVS insist on building at the park and ride lot.
So let me get this right, the state is looking to relocate a free lot to a fee lot.
So let me get this right, the NK Town Council and Planning Commission condoned this proposal.
So let me get this right, as a sitting member of the NK Council, Mr. Bestwick looked to profit from this arrangement.
So let me get this right, NK Town Council approved of Mr. Bestwick’s actions.
Why is the State doing this?
Who besides Mr. Bestwick is involved with this action?
Hopefully Rep Costa is not being swallowed by RI politics.
Hopefully Rep Costa stop’s this ridiculous effort.
While appreciative of her efforts, many residents are looking forward to hearing back from Rep Costa letting residents know what and who is behind this proposal.
Please, someone help NK and Exeter residents while ensuring that the people behind this are NOT allowed to profit at the expense of hard working -tax paying residents.