State wins OK to sell former Shooters property

PROVIDENCE—The state Department of Transportation won permission Tuesday to sell a piece of property on the Providence waterfront, despite critics who said the site should be put to use for the community.

The DOT bought the former Shooters nightclub in 2000 for $4.7 million to make way for the Interstate 195 relocation project. The department said it has no use for a remaining part of the parcel and that it wants to sell it for a minimum of $3.5 million, based on an April 2008 appraisal.

The state said it is under obligation to sell the unused property and put the money toward the Iway project under its financing agreement with the Federal Highway Administration.

Residents and local officials said the state should try to find an alternative to selling the land. They asked the State Properties Committee to hold off allowing the site to be sold until various options, such as preserving it as public space, can be studied.

But it was to no avail.

The committee voted 3-2 to give the DOT permission to sell the property, but with conditions. The DOT must come back to the committee with its request for proposals before it can go out to bid.

Once the state receives proposals for the property, the previous owner has 30 days to match the winning bid.  If not, the city of Providence gets right of second refusal. If the city passes, the property goes to the high bidder.