Grow Smart to Honor Rumford Center

Saying there is no better way to promote the many benefits of smart growth than to profile successful local examples, Grow Smart Rhode Island will honor individuals, plans and projects that play to Rhode Island’s strengths, generate sustainable economic benefits and improve communities and neighborhoods in the process.

The Rumford Center in East Providence is one of the Outstanding Smart Growth Projects that will be recognized at the second annual Rhode Island Smart Growth Award presentation on June 10.

The Monday evening reception and ceremony will start at 5:30 pm at the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket -- itself a 2012 award-winner for its redeveloped mill space that is home to more than 90 business tenants. 

 The public was invited to nominate candidates, and a selection committee made up of Grow Smart Board members and staff made the final selections.

The Rumford Center is famous for its most prominent product, baking powder. The the former 1856 Rumford Chemical Works was redeveloped by the Kirkbrae Development Corp. and Peregrine Holdings LLC of East Providence in 2009. 

The project involves the redevelopment of an 8.5 acre, 200,000 square-foot historic mill into a mixed-use complex that includes homes, jobs and restaurants.  By 2005, several buildings in the complex had fallen into disrepair and were in danger of condemnation.  Due to opportune timing and the presence of the State Historic Tax Credits, the future of the complex took a dramatic turn from an endangered historic property to a vibrant mixed-use development that is redefining and revitalizing this section of Rumford in the East Providence. 

In addition to an awards ceremony, the June 10 event will feature a keynote address by Mayor Marilyn Strickland of Tacoma, Wash., drawing connections between smart growth and economic development in her city.  Mayor Strickland and Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian are colleagues on Smart Growth America’s Local Leaders Council Advisory Board.

Tickets to attend are $50 and can be reserved at www.GrowSmartRI.org.