EDC Members to Visit Shannock Mill Project

By Cynthia Drummond for BRVCA
March 19th 2024

RICHMOND – Members of the Economic Development Commission will visit Shannock Mill on April 6 to meet with developer Jeffrey Marlowe and learn more about the project.

This is a new initiative for the commission, and a possible reflection of the changes in its membership following the resignations of most of the members last December. The only original members still serving are Peter Burton, the group’s Chair, and commission clerk, David Woodmansee. Those who resigned, former Chair Bryan LeBeau, Vice Chair B. Joseph Reddish, and members Louise Dinsmore and Joan Kent, cited a lack of support from the Town Council as their reason for leaving.

Burton, who is also a member of the Planning Board, is enthusiastic about his new role as commission Chair, and there are two new members, Fire Chief and former Public Works Director, Scott Barber, and James Brear.

Burton said he had heard about Marlowe’s project and wanted to learn more about it.

“He’s done a wonderful job,” he said. “He’s done the heavy lifting with remediation of that property and he has the vision, and he’s sticking with it, despite all the significant roadblocks. I want to meet this guy. I want to see what he’s doing. This is fantastic. This stuff checks all the boxes of what we want in this town.”

Marlowe, who bought the mill buildings in 2020, has received three grants from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to remediate contamination at the site. He is still removing oil-contaminated soil from the former industrial site, while planning a mixed - use development, with small businesses and 14 housing units, four of which will be affordable.

Marlowe said he was “pleasantly surprised” to hear from Burton and looked forward to showing visitors around.

“It’s an opportunity for both the EDC and the Shannock Mill project to work together on economic development in Richmond,” he said. “We benefit from having any EDC cooperation, partnering on the project and two, it’s maybe something that we can both get a little more exposure from.”

Burton said he hoped there would be a way the town to support the project.

“Mr. Marlowe has kept going despite repeated roadblocks, and I’d like the town to be a partner with him and stick with it, also,” he said.

While Burton said it was important to continue to encourage new businesses to come to Richmond, he also believed that the commission should broaden its scope.

“… It would be a mistake to imply that this focus is one solely directed towards lowering property tax rates,” he said. “This is important for sure, but highlighting existing and up-and-coming businesses is every bit as important. They are the true backbone of the community. By publicizing what Richmond already has, perhaps the EDC can make Richmond look more attractive to current and future businesses alike. This will do more than a slogan stating that ‘Richmond is open for business.’ We need to show it, not just say it.”

Commission members will be meeting Marlowe at 9 a.m. at the site of one of the future small businesses, a restaurant, at 1660 Shannock Road. The public is also welcome to join the tour.