News

Developer details Tourister site plans

01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, January 9, 2007

By Alex Kuffner
Journal Staff Writer

 WARREN — In the most detailed presentation yet of the proposal to redevelop the American Tourister complex, developers last night showed residents and town officials a plan that would dramatically transform the northern end of Warren.

For the most part, the standing-room only audience during the public hearing before the Planning Board responded positively to the plan for the sprawling 16-acre site. Many spoke in general terms of supporting a redevelopment of the mill, pointing to the positive things the project could bring to town — jobs, a boost to local businesses, and millions of dollars in tax revenue.

Others talked just as broadly about an uneasiness with allowing 350 new residential units in a town of 11,000 people. They raised concerns about traffic, parking and the affordability of the townhouses and condominiums in what’s being called the Tourister Mill development.

No matter their position, everyone, it seemed, could agree on one thing. With its massive presence in Warren, the redevelopment of the complex would have an effect throughout town.

“We rarely get an opportunity to work on such an incredible site, and we take it very seriously,” John Rosenthal, president of Meredith Management Corp., said as he introduced the project his company is planning.

What followed during an hour and a half were presentations by the project architect, engineer, lawyer and traffic consultant. It was the first time they had presented their ambitious plan to the full Planning Board.

The project would be completed in phases. The first part of the plan calls for dividing the main Tourister building into 200 condominiums. The remaining 150 units would be in townhouses and larger buildings on the southern end of the property. A warehouse that currently stands there would be torn down.

Along with the residential units, the project also includes 40,000 square feet of commercial space and 200,000 square feet of open space.

Other features include restaurant and retail space on Water Street, affordable live/work space for artists, a 1,400-foot waterfront walkway open to the public, and pedestrian and bike paths connecting the waterfront walkway and the East Bay Bike Path to the Warren Town Wharf.

They predict the plan would bring in 200 construction jobs, work for retail employees and trade professionals and approximately $2 million a year in property-tax revenue.

Still, there were concerns last night about converting what has been a manufacturing site into a largely residential development.

“Historically this site has been a source of employment for the citizens of Warren,” said Spencer Morris, president of the Warren Preservation Society. “We’re wondering why this can’t continue.”

The hearing in Town Hall, which lasted more than three hours, comes at a time when the members of the Planning Board and the town’s Voluntary Historic District Committee have recommended hiring an outside consulting firm to review the project. Some audience members last night said the town needed expert advice because of the size of the project, which has been hailed as the largest potential development in the East Bay.

“Can the town of Warren, with its limited resources, conduct an effective review of this project?” said Sandy Scott, of the Alliance to Develop Warren Wisely.

Scott said the town couldn’t afford to make any mistakes and recommended bringing in consultants.

Others said the town is ultimately responsible for what happens with the project.

“A sure we ask all the right questions,” said resident Woody Kemp.