$$ Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development $$

Goal: CGoal: Contribute to encourage residents of the town ontribute to encourage residents of the town of Coventry to keep commercial, industrial, and office of Coventry to keep commercial, industrial, and office

development in our community attractive with less development in our community attractive with less visual pollutionvisual pollution. “Promote and encourage high . “Promote and encourage high

quality, low polluting commercial, industrial, and quality, low polluting commercial, industrial, and office development” office development”

To approach this goal we plan to…

Idea 1Idea 1

• Encourage buildings, recreational, and commercial areas to come Encourage buildings, recreational, and commercial areas to come in the future in the town of Coventry to be attractive, safe, and in the future in the town of Coventry to be attractive, safe, and unique.unique.

• To accomplish this the town shouldn’t let land go to waste when it To accomplish this the town shouldn’t let land go to waste when it can be re-used for a new store. Constructing a new lot for the new can be re-used for a new store. Constructing a new lot for the new store will lead to loss of natural forests and open space. More lots store will lead to loss of natural forests and open space. More lots cut down and more roads to them will cost taxpayer money that is cut down and more roads to them will cost taxpayer money that is not necessary.not necessary.

Idea 2Idea 2

• Minimize the space used for one commercial area to half the size Minimize the space used for one commercial area to half the size of the original. For example, instead of having one big Walmart of the original. For example, instead of having one big Walmart there should be two smaller buildings: One in Western Coventry there should be two smaller buildings: One in Western Coventry and one in Eastern Coventry. This way residents from Western and one in Eastern Coventry. This way residents from Western Coventry don’t have to drive all the way to Eastern Coventry to Coventry don’t have to drive all the way to Eastern Coventry to shop at Walmart.shop at Walmart.

• When residents have to drive everywhere it costs money for gas When residents have to drive everywhere it costs money for gas and pollutes the air. If the stores and citizens’ daily necessities are and pollutes the air. If the stores and citizens’ daily necessities are close by they can walk and ride bikes rather than driving. This will close by they can walk and ride bikes rather than driving. This will cut down on traffic.cut down on traffic.

Kmart and Almacs deserted plaza.

General Business District in General Business District in Western CoventryWestern Coventry

Map of Western CoventryMap of Western Coventry

General Business District in General Business District in Eastern CoventryEastern Coventry

Idea 3Idea 3

• Our community should be unique and different from other towns. Our community should be unique and different from other towns. We want to be able to tell the difference from our town from We want to be able to tell the difference from our town from another town.another town.

• An example of this would be remodeling fast food restaurants so An example of this would be remodeling fast food restaurants so they’re unique and fit in with our community. We could start by they’re unique and fit in with our community. We could start by making them historic like some mills we have in Coventry.making them historic like some mills we have in Coventry.

Nathaniel Greene House

Idea 4Idea 4

• We plan to preserve the Anthony and Washington St. Mill We plan to preserve the Anthony and Washington St. Mill into a large business like G-tech or Amgen. Large into a large business like G-tech or Amgen. Large businesses or industrial plants pay some of Coventry’s businesses or industrial plants pay some of Coventry’s taxes, because they can afford to do so. Also, this will bring taxes, because they can afford to do so. Also, this will bring jobs to our town with less commuting time.jobs to our town with less commuting time.

Anthony Mill Washington St.

G-Tech in West Greenwich

Idea 5Idea 5

• Develop more commercial areas in Western Coventry on Flat River Develop more commercial areas in Western Coventry on Flat River Rd. This way residents that live way out in Western Coventry don’t Rd. This way residents that live way out in Western Coventry don’t have to always drive to get their daily necessities.have to always drive to get their daily necessities.

• The more people have to drive, the more gas money they waste The more people have to drive, the more gas money they waste and the more they pollute the air. This will hurt the environment and the more they pollute the air. This will hurt the environment and our natural resources.and our natural resources.

Idea 6Idea 6

• In Coventry there are some empty, ugly, and deserted buildings, In Coventry there are some empty, ugly, and deserted buildings, like the old Kmart and Almacs plaza.like the old Kmart and Almacs plaza.

• We think that they should be renovated into a recreational We think that they should be renovated into a recreational playground for all residents to enjoy.playground for all residents to enjoy.

• OR a new store or restaurant could be developed without having OR a new store or restaurant could be developed without having to pay for a new building or the space it takes up.to pay for a new building or the space it takes up.

• Places like the old Kmart plaza need to be renovated before new Places like the old Kmart plaza need to be renovated before new space is used. Our zoning laws need to implement this idea.space is used. Our zoning laws need to implement this idea.

Our EstimateOur Estimate

• We think that by creating a commercial area in Western Coventry, We think that by creating a commercial area in Western Coventry, preserving the Anthony Mill, and fixing up the old deserted Kmart preserving the Anthony Mill, and fixing up the old deserted Kmart lot, our town will save tax dollars and be a better community.lot, our town will save tax dollars and be a better community.

• To raise money to start this process, fundraisers could be held at To raise money to start this process, fundraisers could be held at schools and businessesschools and businesses

• Carnivals around our community could be held Carnivals around our community could be held

• Or even donations from large businessesOr even donations from large businesses

Reasons Why the Change Reasons Why the Change Should be MadeShould be Made

• Large businesses can afford Large businesses can afford to pay a larger proportion of to pay a larger proportion of Coventry’s taxesCoventry’s taxes

• Residents in Western Residents in Western Coventry don’t have to drive Coventry don’t have to drive to Eastern Coventry for their to Eastern Coventry for their daily necessitiesdaily necessities

• The Kmart lot can be The Kmart lot can be preserved into a recreational preserved into a recreational area to fairly suit everybody’s area to fairly suit everybody’s wants and needswants and needs

Coventry would be a better community if our plan Coventry would be a better community if our plan was implemented because…was implemented because…

• There would be less traffic in eastern Coventry if commercial areas There would be less traffic in eastern Coventry if commercial areas where added on Flat Riverwhere added on Flat River Road.Road.

• Coventry would be more attractive and safe if Smart Growth is Coventry would be more attractive and safe if Smart Growth is applied to our community. Old deserted and ugly buildings would applied to our community. Old deserted and ugly buildings would be preserved, there would be sidewalks for pedestrians to walk, be preserved, there would be sidewalks for pedestrians to walk, or ride bikes to there daily necessities.or ride bikes to there daily necessities.

• Our plan will develop a community with less Visual Pollution.Our plan will develop a community with less Visual Pollution.• Smart Growth is a plan encouraging a better community overall Smart Growth is a plan encouraging a better community overall

and saving the town lots of tax moneyand saving the town lots of tax money• Large businesses can pay a larger proportion of the town’s taxes. Large businesses can pay a larger proportion of the town’s taxes.

If the property tax continues at the same rate it has been sense If the property tax continues at the same rate it has been sense 1999. Then the cost of owning a property in 2005 would be around 1999. Then the cost of owning a property in 2005 would be around 34 million dollars. {handouts in economic development packet} 34 million dollars. {handouts in economic development packet}

• Some of that tax money goes to our town which will lower the Some of that tax money goes to our town which will lower the taxes the residents pay and provide more services that are taxes the residents pay and provide more services that are needed. For example, we could have more school supplies for our needed. For example, we could have more school supplies for our classes, like laptop computers!classes, like laptop computers!

““Street and Highway Street and Highway Characteristics” Characteristics” • Tiogue Avenue has an average daily traffic Tiogue Avenue has an average daily traffic

volume of 12,200-22,700.volume of 12,200-22,700.• Flat River Rd. has an average daily traffic volume Flat River Rd. has an average daily traffic volume

of 6,350-13,500.of 6,350-13,500.• This tells us that Tiogue Avenue is almost twice This tells us that Tiogue Avenue is almost twice

as busy as Flat River Rd. as busy as Flat River Rd. • If there were more commercial areas on Flat River If there were more commercial areas on Flat River

Rd. like Tiogue Avenue then there will be less Rd. like Tiogue Avenue then there will be less traffic. Residents from western Coventry wouldn’t traffic. Residents from western Coventry wouldn’t have to drive on Tiogue Avenue as much because have to drive on Tiogue Avenue as much because their daily necessities would be within walking their daily necessities would be within walking distance.distance.

Map of Tioque Avenue Map of Tioque Avenue traffic volumetraffic volume

Flat River Road traffic Flat River Road traffic volumevolume

By: Haylee M.,By: Haylee M.,

Cody N.,Cody N.,

Alexis B.,Alexis B.,

and Eddie K.and Eddie K.

Thank you for watching and considering our ideas!!

Remember that you are the future of Coventry. Our community depends on you!!