Please note, in the below article, the spokeperson for the RIDEM, Mr. Healey, gave reporter Kate Nagle misinformation that is totally incorrect in the hope to create a loophole to argue Procaccianti had a right to be awarded the parking lot lease. The RFP that was crafted by Procaccianti and the RIDEM was for the entire 5 acre parcel. In the article he told the reporter the RFP was for just on of the lots on the 5 acre parcel. Last year, the heat was on Procaccianti as the Town of Narragansett, and Representatives Teresa Tanzi and Carol Hagan McEntee argued Procaccianti needed to come up with a viable development for Galilee as the lease was set to expire. The RIDEM agreed. After Procaccianti came up with primarily a parking lot after its first two renditions for a viable plan for Galilee, the RIDEM put out an RFP with Procaccianti for the entire 5 acre parcel of land in Galilee. Yes, all 3 lots. Mr. Healey, noted to reporter Kate Nagle that the RFP was only for one of the lots (250) where the Lighthouse Inn is located. Why would the RFP be for the entire 5 acre parcel if it was written in the prior lease Procaccianti will be guarenteed a parking lot regardless of how neglectful and harmful Procaccianti was by abandoning the former Lighthouse Inn and creating the worse eyesore ever on State Leased Land ???? In is unconsionable the spokesperson for the RIDEM to note the RFP was only for one of the lots and not the entire 5 acre parcel. This is just another example of the shananigans and lies the RIDEM is using to coverup its nefarious dealings with Procaccianti Developers. In addition to the false information given to the reporter, Greg Schultz incorrectly stated the following: DEM has indicated that it will soon be submitting to the State Properties Committee proposed documents revising its current lease with PRI X, LLC for the Lighthouse Inn and two adjacent parcels,” Gregory Shultz with the RI Attorney General’s office told GoLocal. “ The truth is that the lease expired last September, and Director Gray granted PRI X a 6 month extension. The 6 month extension expired, so now PRI X is working the parking lot without a lease unless the RIDEM has granted PRI X a renewal of its prior lease without disclosing that to the public. If that is the case, it is another example of insider dealing by a corrupt governmental agency. Sadly, the RIDEM did not even put out to bid the 19-year parking lot lease it wants the State Properties Committee to grant Procaccianti Developers. The Town of Narragansett was blindsided. In the article it notes that it is difficult to get a true figure of revenue obtained from a street level parking lot as it is not regulated with any type of monitoring device. Hence, it sets a street level parking lot up for unaccountable income that will not even be taxed and it will be given to Procaccianti Developers who has 10 Billion in investable assets.
Here is the link to the Go Local Prov Article On the RIDEM Land Lease