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In the last six years, the Newport waterfront has seen the addition of multiple hotels. Last week the Planning Board approved the hotel project on Bellevue across from the Tennis Hall of Fame.
The Waites Wharf Project on lower Thames - near O'Briens is the largest development on the Newport waterfront and as testified in the past will also require construction access from the harbor as the one way Thames Street access is too narrow. In addition to the two 50+ foot high hotel structures totaling over 100,00 square feet, the applicant has added two 50+ foot high multi-family 4 story dwelling units with 7 units each in his revised 2025 proposal. The room count has decreased over the years, but the total square footage of the two hotel and banquet buildings has not.
There is less than 1% retail, minimal green space with 210 parking spaces in the current plan. The five lots at Waites Wharf are being combined for this proposed building project. The property is zoned as waterfront mixed use.
This is the link to the plans for the project posted to the City's website: https://cityofnewport.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=891
One may also see the letters submitted by the public relating to the May 15th Planning Board Meeting.
A project of this magnitude impacts everyone who visits the Newport waterfront and who pay taxes to maintain our roads and service infrastructure.
If you have an opinion about this proposal and the related impacts, you may wish to email a letter or note to Hayden McDermott in the Planning Department at hmcdermott@cityofnewport.com by end of day this Friday, May 30th.
The Planning Board Meeting will take place at City Hall on Monday, June 2 at 6:30 pm.