Developer: 157,000‑sq‑ft warehouse at 1 Moshassik moving forward; neighbors demand Morley Field reopened

JK Equities representatives told the Pawtucket City Council on Aug. 6 that construction of a 157,000‑plus‑square‑foot warehouse and office at 1 Moshassik Street is under way with a construction loan, a tax‑credit bridge loan and state funding, and that the company expects about 14 months to complete the building.

The developer update was followed by more than an hour of public comment and council questions focused on a tax‑stabilization agreement (TSA) tied to the site, long delays in site remediation, dust and runoff at the demolition site, and whether the developer plans any work that would affect nearby Morley Field — a public park that residents say has been closed and inaccessible for more than two years.

Why it matters: The project sits near dense neighborhoods, a planned high school and other community assets. Residents say prolonged demolition and uncovered debris have harmed air and water quality near Morley Field and asked the council to press for reopening and remediation. The council and the administration must balance those neighborhood concerns against the developer’s claim that the project will bring investment and jobs and that it is meeting permitting requirements.

What the developer told the council Kelly Morris Salvatore, counsel for JK Equities, and Jerry Karlick, the company principal, said the developer has secured financing that includes a construction loan, a tax‑credit bridge loan secured by re‑build tax credits, and support from the Rhode Island Ready program. Salvatore said the city issued a building permit on June 11 and that a general contractor is on site. "We expect construction will be about 14 months," Salvatore said. She also said the developer is not in default under the TSA and provided an estoppel certificate from the city she said shows compliance with the agreement.

Karlick and counsel repeatedly said the 1 Moshassik project is a stand‑alone site and that the developer does not own and is not undertaking work at Morley Field. Karlick said the project will be completed "within 14 months" and that early foundation and steel purchases are in place.

Questions from council and staff Council members pressed the developer on timelines, the number of jobs the project would create and whether an updated traffic study is planned now that nearby development plans have changed. Councilors asked whether the company still intends to use Morley Field for any stormwater or wetland work; Karlick replied that they do not own Morley Field and that the Moshassik site is being developed independently.

Council members also asked about wetlands permitting. Councilor Clovis Gregor cited a 2022 wetlands application that, according to comments he read aloud during the meeting, had been held up by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management pending National Park Service (NPS) review of a separate Morley Field conversion proposal. The developer representatives said they were not pursuing wetlands work in Morley Field and said they were unaware of any active wetlands permit application for the Moshassik parcel beyond the site work covered by the building permit.

Community testimony and concerns More than a dozen residents and area advocates addressed the council during public input. Speakers included local elected officials from neighboring Providence and state Representative Jen Steward, multiple neighborhood activists and residents who said they had documented dust, uncovered piles of soil and runoff from the demolition site. Common themes in public comment: - Contamination and dust: Residents and several speakers said they have photographed uncovered piles of contaminated soil, dust clouds during demolition and runoff entering storm drains and the nearby river. Several said they reported these concerns to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and to city inspectors; speakers disputed the developer’s and some officials’ repeated statements in the meeting that there are no current violations on the property. - Morley Field access: Multiple speakers urged the council to reopen Morley Field, saying it is the only green space for the Woodlawn neighborhood and that children and families have been deprived of access for years. - Jobs and traffic: Residents and councilors pushed the developer to provide clearer commitments on local hiring and an updated traffic study, citing a planned high school and other nearby projects that could change traffic and pedestrian safety needs.

Developer and city responses during comments Karlick and Salvatore said city inspectors had been on site, that water was being used to suppress dust during active work, and that the developer would respond to specific requests from the city if officials identified concerns. Salvatore asked the council to stop public calls to rescind the TSA, saying an attorney’s opinion from the city solicitor concluded the council lacked authority to terminate the contract.

What the record shows and what remains unclear City staff told the council that the developer obtained a building permit on June 11 and that, according to written communications the developer provided, no open municipal or state code violations are listed for the address on file with the city or DEM. Residents disputed that characterization and asked the city to provide transparent documentation — copies of permits, inspection reports, and any correspondence from DEM — so the community can verify compliance.

Council action and next steps Council members called for clearer documentation from planning and zoning staff and for follow‑up with DEM. Several council members asked staff to provide copies of the building permit and any other permits issued for the site; at least one council member requested evidence of routine site inspections and what, if any, remedial steps the developer has committed to take. No formal vote was taken on the project itself at this meeting; the council confirmed a related appointment (see Votes at a glance) and heard extensive public comment.

Ending JK Equities’ representatives told the council they plan to continue construction and to meet the clarified completion date. Residents and councilors left the meeting having secured commitments for additional documentation and follow‑up from city staff and called for continued oversight of air‑quality and remediation work at the site.

Votes at a glance: The council did not vote on the project or the TSA at this meeting. Several other, unrelated motions and licenses on the evening agenda were approved (see the “Votes at a glance” article for full outcomes).