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Boston Globe
7 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Could old Acelas be a providential opportunity?
After all, the 'FirstGen' Acelas can clearly handle the route, having served it for more than 20 years. Could Rhode Island or Massachusetts buy the soon-to-be-retired trainsets, slap some purple paint on them, and start a Providence-to-Boston shuttle? I emailed Amtrak's spokesperson, Jason Abrams, about the fate of the old Acelas. Here's what he said: 'Amtrak will decommission the FirstGen Acela trainsets per our current fleet decommissioning process, which includes disposing of the trainsets safely per all applicable regulations and allows for private organizations to acquire.' Advertisement As a great Rhode Islander once put it, that seems to mean Go ahead, tell me how dumb an idea it is seems so sensible for both states. Advertisement More, faster commuter rail service would help workers and businesses in Boston if Providence, with its lower-cost housing, was more accessible. And it would boost Rhode Island's economy to connect it with the economic engine of Boston. Amtrak trains do provide that speedy service now, but the timetable isn't very convenient for someone who wants to live in Providence and commute to Boston. Tickets are also often much more expensive than the T's $12.25 one-way fare. For instance, when I checked on Friday, the cheapest seat on Amtrak's 8:41 a.m. departure — the only one that gets you to South Station before 10 a.m. — was $53. And if you want to get to Boston before 9 a.m. on Amtrak, forget it — your only choice leaves Providence at 12:26 a.m. The downside of express commuter rail trains is that if they replace current Providence Line departures, the result would be fewer trains for commuters in suburban Massachusetts local stops. Trains that used to stop in Attleboro and Mansfield would speed through them instead. Adding new express departures on top of the existing schedule would solve that problem, but run into a different one — South Station's So Providence commuters probably shouldn't hold their breath. But hey, in another 20 years or so, when the new Acelas are nearing retirement… This is an excerpt from , a Globe Opinion newsletter about the future of transportation in the region. Sign up to . Advertisement Alan Wirzbicki is Globe deputy editor for editorials. He can be reached at
USA Today
08-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla inks multi-year contract extension
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla always says that, as an NBA coach, you never know when your last day with an organization might be. It apparently won't be soon for him though, as the C's announced a multi-year contract extension for the New England native on Friday morning. The 37-year-old has come a long way since his days as an assistant with the Maine Red Claws, leading the Celtics to three straight playoff berths and even a title in 2024. Mazzulla loves having the opportunity to manage his hometown team, and he said as much in his first official statement since the deal was announced, via Celtics PR. "This is truly a blessing," he commented. "I would not be here without my faith, my wife, and my children. We are thankful for the partnership with our ownership groups, Brad (Stevens') mentorship, and the support of our staff. Most importantly, I am grateful for the players I have been able to coach the past three seasons. I look forward to competing for the Celtics and the city of Boston." Celtics President of Basketball Operations mirrored Mazzulla's gratitude, saying he's ecstatic to retain the Rhode Islander on his staff. "We are very excited that Joe has agreed to extend with the Celtics," Stevens declared. "He understands the job and has a passion for the Celtics that is only rivaled by our most die-hard fans. He's worked hard and accomplished amazing things in his first three years as a head coach." The upcoming 2025-26 season may be Mazzulla's greatest challenge. Celtics star Jayson Tatum is sidelined indefinitely with an Achilles injury and multiple starters from prior years, including guard Jrue Holiday and center Kristaps Porzingis, are gone. In the minds of Mazzulla and Stevens, that doesn't change the Celtics' commitment to excellence and vying for championships in the coming years.
Boston Globe
04-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Meet the soon-to-be owner of one of Providence's oldest brewpubs
The Food Club sat down with Angel Winpenny, the owner of The Patio on Broadway in Providence and The Patio on Main in East Greenwich, which has been closed for months. She, along with her husband and other family partners, will soon Here's what she had to say about her plans for the brewpub. Q: There are a lot of restaurants up for sale around Rhode Island. Why were you interested in acquiring Trinity Brewhouse? Advertisement Winpenny: As a local Rhode Islander, I actually grew up going to Trinity. I've attended many events at the convention center and the place that we would always go before or after an event was Trinity. There was always a community feel, history, and character to the place. My brother and I would always get their wings and grab a drink before going somewhere. When I saw they were up for sale, I didn't just see it as an expansion. I felt like this building, a place that had a lot of soul and stood out in the middle of downtown, was a beautiful opportunity for me to preserve what people loved. How much did Trinity cost? Advertisement I really can't disclose that. We're also still in the process of closing on the sale. We expect to close toward the end of the month. What are your immediate plans for Trinity? We are planning some renovations, but it's not going to be a complete transformation. We love the art that they have, so there are some beautiful pieces we can't wait to showcase. At the Patio on Broadway, we rotate out some of our art from local artists every three months. That's been a special piece of the restaurant to us, so we'd like to do that at Trinity to really showcase some of the local talent. Trinity Brewhouse is one of Providence's oldest brewpubs. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff What will the renovations look like? Minor updates. What they have in there right now is so unique and historical, so we want to work with what they have while giving our own personal touch. We want to give the bartenders more space, and likely replace the floors. There are certain things that need to be modernized. We'll likely reopen sometime in September. What's your background? My husband owned a parking business before COVID. I worked at Sonia's in Cranston for many years, making the sandwiches there. How will you handle the continuity of Trinity's beer production — any new partnerships with brewers or changes to recipes? We're going to keep the head brewer, What happened to The Patio on Main in East Greenwich? It closed, and then reopened, and then closed again. Google says it's permanently closed and it's no longer listed on your website. Has it permanently closed? Advertisement When we opened The Patio on Main, we realized it was such a tight space. We needed a plan B, which was a bigger space. The Patio on Broadway has been so successful because of the space, our customers have followed us to Providence, and we have tourists from out of state that come visit. For East Greenwich, I'm unsure of our plans right now. Will it reopen? I'm truly being honest when I say it's to be determined. We don't really know because we're so busy with Providence and then Trinity fell into place, which requires a lot more of our attention. What are you planning for the menu at Trinity? We want to continue that kind of comfort food, but with some elevated sandwiches like the ones we served in East Greenwich that I never put on the menu at The Patio on Broadway. For example: We had our 'Odeum,' which was fried chicken, coleslaw, tomato, gouda cheese, pickled onions, and a garlic aioli on a brioche bun. So you're putting any menu items from The Patio on Broadway onto Trinity's menu? It's going to be it's own place. I haven't really thought about what we would take from Broadway, but people do love our chicken and waffles. So we'll see. Alexa Gagosz can be reached at
Boston Globe
23-06-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Why I'm leaving Rhode Island
Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up These highly sought after professionals can live anywhere they please. Why would they bother moving to a place like Rhode Island, where the only transit option is a bus that comes twice an hour during the day, and doesn't run at all when you want to attend a networking event, fundraiser, or just a fun night out with friends? Related : Advertisement While local politicians focus on tax incentives, many top companies are more focused on access to a highly specialized workforce. And those workers are attracted to places where they can afford good homes and get around easily. If Advertisement If Providence's Innovation District is to be the next Kendall Square, we need to put the $45 million a year in corporate tax subsidies — which we're not even breaking even on — to better use saving and growing RIPTA. Without investing it in mass transit, I can tell you right now, the companies will never come. Rhode Island never had a chance at That's why despite my roots in this state, like many before me, I'm leaving for greener pastures in Philadelphia, where I bought a home for a fraction of the price that it would cost here in Rhode Island, while comfortably ditching my car. Pennsylvania Governor John Shapiro is Advertisement When advocating for transit, an often forgotten part of the picture is housing. While rowhomes (i.e. townhomes) are the predominant housing in Philadelphia, developers are prevented from building them in most of Rhode Island because of exclusionary zoning rules that prevent people with lower-income from moving to more well-resourced neighborhoods. These rules, including massive minimum lot sizes, have led to Thankfully, and housing reform, prosperity will not come. Importantly, Philadelphia's proliferation of rowhomes is only possible because driving a car is a choice, not a requirement to have a full life in the city. Without the strength of SEPTA, many more residents would be required to buy and store a car in areas with limited street parking and zero off-street parking spots. I sincerely hope that will change, as the Related : Advertisement If the state is to prove itself as a place worth investing in and keeping people like me in it, transit and housing are the first places to look. Cameron LaFreniere is a volunteer with the Providence Streets Coalition and a fourth-generation Rhode Islander.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Real estate pushback to the 'Taylor Swift tax' begins. Will the charge hit everyday cottages?
Star entertainer Taylor Swift would owe Rhode Island around $136,000 in new taxes on her Watch Hill mansion if a new charge to high-end vacation homes proposed in the House version of the state budget passes. And Rhode Island real estate professionals, who successfully defeated a similar tax plan a decade ago, are mobilizing to kill the tax hike again and argue that even if Swift can afford it, she and others in her position shouldn't have to pay. "We're screaming from the top of Jerimoth Hill. ... Do not hurt our housing market right here more than you are," Chris Whitten, president of the Rhode Island Association of Realtors, told The Providence Journal in a June 12 phone interview. "Because who knows what the slippery slope leads to? Let's heal. How about we heal our housing crisis we have here in Rhode Island, which is the worst in the nation by many of the stats that we see." The "Taylor Swift tax," if it passes, would apply to second (or third or fourth) homes with assessed values of more than $1 million, and its proceeds would fund the state's low-income tax credits that help finance affordable housing developments. How much it will raise is murky. Because the tax wouldn't go into effect until July 2026, House budget writers did not have to estimate its financial impact on the 12 months starting this July 1. But real estate brokers and agents, who are even more ticked off about a proposed 61% increase in the conveyance tax on home sales, say soaring property values means the tax on expensive properties will hit more than just pop stars. "Think about that family that has had this Narragansett Beach house in their family for four generations, and the family collectively uses it various weeks throughout the summer, and in the winter it just stays vacant," Whitten said. "They're going to be whacked with this." The Taylor Swift tax, officially called the "non-owner-occupied tax," applies to all residential properties assessed at more than $1 million that do not serve as a primary dwelling. To qualify as a primary residence, an owner has to live there more than half the year, or 183 days. The non-owner-occupied tax rate of $2.50 cents per $500 of value only applies to assessed value above $1 million, so even homes worth exactly $1 million would pay nothing. Properties that are rented − either in traditional long-term leases or short-term through online platforms − would be exempt from the tax as long as, again, they are occupied at least 183 days a year. Beyond the revenue benefit of the tax, House supporters of it point out the potential added benefit of creating an incentive for property owners to make more productive use of their luxury pads. Swift could avoid the tax if, instead of spending a few summer weekends here, she becomes a bona fide 183-day-per-year Rhode Islander. Alternatively, she could rent out the 1904-built, seven-bed, nine-bath estate during the cold winter months. Either option would likely pump some welcome economic activity into Watch Hill during the offseason when the enclave can resemble a ghost town. "You'll have to ask her," House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said June 12 when asked if he hoped the tax would encourage Swift to move here full time. "I welcome any and all people who spend more time around Rhode Island. It's a beautiful state, and I love it dearly." Since then-Gov. Gina Raimondo first proposed a tax on luxury vacation "cottages" shortly after her inauguration in 2015, the politics around investment properties, out-of-state buyers and waterfront homes that sit vacant most of the year had not reached the boiling point where it is now. In the last decade, local governments have passed all kinds of ordinances restricting short-term rentals and lawmakers have considered numerous measures to encourage full-time owner-occupants but have largely maintained the status quo. A preamble to the new tax in the budget rails against absentee property owners, calls owning a property you don't live in a "privilege" and suggests that more moves to push homes into year-round occupancy could be ahead. "Non-owner occupied properties sometimes place a greater demand on essential state, city or town services such as police and fire protection than do occupied properties comparably assessed," the budget article says. "The residents of non-owner occupied properties are not vested with a motive to maintain such properties." And, it goes on, "some properties are deliberately left vacant by their owners in the hope that real estate values will increase, thereby enabling the owners to sell these properties at a substantial profit without making any of the necessary repairs or improvements to the property." Is some of that criticism of the high-end market fair? Whitten: "It's tough when people try to paint a broad picture, and it's a much more intricate situation. Just like landlord tenants, everybody's fighting at the State House, but we as Realtors are in the middle on that. We see both sides." The tax rate in Raimondo's 2015 Taylor Swift tax proposal was half that of the current plan, at $2.50 per every $1,000 of value instead of $2.50 per $500 of value. It was estimated to generate $11.8 million in new revenue, but was not included in the House budget that year. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Real estate pushback to RI's proposed 'Taylor Swift tax' begins
