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Council approves $25 million bond authorization to buy city office space and WaterFire arts building
Summary
The Providence City Council approved a bond authorization to allow a municipal authority to acquire 444 Westminster Street and the WaterFire Arts Building, citing long-term savings compared with escalating rent and maintenance costs.
The Providence City Council approved a resolution authorizing bonding to acquire two properties used by the city: 444 Westminster Street and the WaterFire Arts Building.
Chairwoman Ryan, speaking for the finance committee, said the bond—approximately $25 million—would let the city end a long, expensive lease and bring multiple city departments under municipal ownership. Ryan said the city currently pays about $1.7 million annually to rent the building, which houses roughly 10 departments and about 70,000 square feet of space, and that the purchase…
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