=======

art.009/4/009/3/009/2/009/1

=======

1

     ARTICLE 9

2

RELATING TO LEASES

3

     SECTION 1. This article consists of a Joint Resolution that is submitted pursuant to Rhode

4

Island General Laws § 37-6-2, authorizing various lease agreements for office space and operating

5

space.

6

     SECTION 2. Rhode Island Department of State (148 West River Street, Providence).

7

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of State currently occupies approximately

8

12,152 square feet at 148 West River Street in the City of Providence; and

9

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of State currently holds a lease agreement, in

10

full force and effect, with EGMP 146-148 West River LLC for approximately 12,152 square feet

11

of office and customer service space located at 148 West River Street, in the City of Providence;

12

and

13

     WHEREAS, The existing lease expires on July 31, 2026, and the Rhode Island Department

14

of State wishes to enter into a new lease agreement for a period of ten (10) years; and

15

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island, acting by and through the Department of State

16

attests to the fact that there are no clauses in the lease agreement with EGMP 146-148 West River

17

LLC that would interfere with the Department of State’s lease agreement or use of the facility; and

18

     WHEREAS, The leased premises provide a critical location for the offices of the

19

Department of State from which the agency can fulfill its mission; and

20

     WHEREAS, The annual fixed rent in the agreement in the current fiscal year, ending June

21

30, 2026 is $256,589.52; and

22

     WHEREAS, The annual base rent of the agreement in year one is not to exceed

23

$261,268.00 which will be followed by annual increases of 2.5% in years two (2) through ten (10),

24

with year ten (10) not to exceed $326,287.93; and

25

     WHEREAS, The payment of the annual base rent will be made from funds available to the

26

Department of State for the payments of rental and lease costs based on annual appropriations made

27

by the General Assembly; and

28

     WHEREAS, The State Properties Committee now respectfully requests the approval of the

29

Rhode Island House of Representatives and the Rhode Island Senate for the lease agreement

30

between the Department of State and EGMP 146-148 West River LLC for leased space located at

 

1

148 West River Street, Providence; now therefore be it

2

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island hereby approves

3

the lease agreement, for a term not to exceed ten (10) years and an aggregate base rent not to exceed

4

$2,927,085.15; and it be further

5

     RESOLVED, That this Joint Resolution shall take effect upon passage by the General

6

Assembly; and it be further

7

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State is hereby authorized and directed to transmit duly

8

certified copies of this resolution to the Governor, the Department of State, the Director of

9

Administration, the State Budget Officer, and the Chair of the State Properties Committee.

10

     SECTION 3. Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, (235 Promenade

11

Street, Providence).

12

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management currently

13

occupies 126,184 square feet at 235 Promenade Street in the City of Providence; and

14

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management currently holds

15

a lease agreement in full force and effect, with Foundry Parcel Fifteen Associates, LLC for 126,184

16

square feet of office and customer service space located at 235 Promenade Street, in the City of

17

Providence; and

18

     WHEREAS, The existing lease expires on July 7, 2026, and the Rhode Island Department

19

of Environmental Management wishes to enter into a new lease agreement for a period of ten (10)

20

years; and

21

     WHEREAS, The Department of Administration and Rhode Island Department of

22

Environmental Management received and reviewed proposals for office space that would meet the

23

Department of Environmental Management’s needs; and

24

     WHEREAS, Upon completing an evaluation of the submitted lease proposals, the Rhode

25

Island Department of Environmental Management wishes to enter into a ten-year lease agreement

26

with Foundry Parcel Fifteen Associates, LLC for approximately 115,733 square feet of office space

27

located at 235 Promenade Street in the city of Providence; and

28

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island, acting by and through the Rhode Island

29

Department of Environmental Management attests to the fact that there are no clauses in the lease

30

agreement with Foundry Parcel Fifteen Associates, LLC that would interfere with the Rhode Island

31

Department of Environmental Management’s lease agreement or use of the facility; and

32

     WHEREAS, The leased premises provide a critical location for the offices of the Rhode

33

Island Department of Environmental Management from which the agency can fulfill its mission;

34

and

 

Art9
RELATING TO LEASES
(Page 2 of 7)

1

     WHEREAS, The annual fixed rent in the agreement in the current fiscal year, ending June

2

30, 2026 is $2,586,772; and

3

     WHEREAS, The annual fixed rent of the agreement in each of the first five (5) years of

4

the renewal term will not exceed $2,761,716 and shall not exceed $2,952,675 in each of the

5

remaining years of the renewal term (or in each of years six (6) through ten (10) of the renewal

6

term); and

7

     WHEREAS, The payment of the annual fixed rent will be made from funds available to

8

the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for the payments of rental and lease

9

costs based on annual appropriations made by the General Assembly; and

10

     WHEREAS, The State Properties Committee now respectfully requests the approval of the

11

Rhode Island House of Representatives and the Rhode Island Senate for the lease agreement

12

between the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Foundry Parcel Fifteen

13

Associates, LLC for lease space located at 235 Promenade Street, Providence; now therefore be it

14

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island hereby approves

15

the lease agreement, for a term not to exceed ten (10) years and an aggregate fixed rent not to

16

exceed $28,571,955; and it be further

17

     RESOLVED, That this Joint Resolution shall take effect upon passage by the General

18

Assembly; and it be further

19

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State is hereby authorized and directed to transmit duly

20

certified copies of this resolution to the Governor, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of

21

Environmental Management, the Director of Administration, the State Budget Officer, and the

22

Chair of the State Properties Committee.

23

     SECTION 4. State of Rhode Island Office of the Public Defender (160 Pine Street,

24

Providence).

25

     WHEREAS, The Office of the Public Defender currently occupies approximately 19,777

26

square feet at 160 Pine Street in the City of Providence; and

27

     WHEREAS, The Office of the Public Defender currently holds a lease agreement, in full

28

force and effect, with PK Lamb Properties, Inc. for approximately 19,777 square feet of office

29

space located at 160 Pine Street, in the City of Providence; and

30

     WHEREAS, The existing lease expires on July 31, 2026, and the Office of the Public

31

Defender wishes to renew this lease for an additional five-year term; and

32

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island, acting by and through the Office of the Public

33

Defender attests to the fact that there are no clauses in the lease agreement with PK Lamb

34

Properties, Inc. that would interfere with the Office of the Public Defender’s lease agreement or

 

Art9
RELATING TO LEASES
(Page 3 of 7)

1

use of the facility; and

2

     WHEREAS, The leased premises provide a critical location for the Office of the Public

3

Defender from which the agency can fulfill its mission; and

4

     WHEREAS, The annual fixed rent in the agreement in the current fiscal year, ending June

5

30, 2026 is $393,166.76; and

6

     WHEREAS, The annual fixed rent of the agreement in the five (5) years of the renewal

7

term will not exceed $483,619; and

8

     WHEREAS, The payment of the annual fixed rent will be made from funds available to

9

the Office of the Public Defender for the payments of rental and lease costs based on annual

10

appropriations made by the General Assembly; and

11

     WHEREAS, The State Properties Committee now respectfully requests the approval of the

12

Rhode Island House of Representatives and the Rhode Island Senate for the lease agreement

13

between the Office of the Public Defender and PK Lamb Properties, Inc. for leased space located

14

at 160 Pine Street, Providence; now therefore be it

15

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island hereby approves

16

the lease agreement, for a term not to exceed five (5) years and an aggregate fixed rent not to exceed

17

$2,418,095; and it be further

18

     RESOLVED, That this Joint Resolution shall take effect upon passage by the General

19

Assembly; and it be further

20

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State is hereby authorized and directed to transmit duly

21

certified copies of this resolution to the Governor, the Public Defender, the Director of

22

Administration, the State Budget Officer, and the Chair of the State Properties Committee.

23

     SECTION 5. Rhode Island Department of Human Services (77 Dorrance Street,

24

Providence).

25

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Human Services currently occupies 25,812

26

square feet at 77 Dorrance Street in the City of Providence; and

27

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Human Services currently holds a lease

28

agreement in full force and effect, with 77 Dorrance, LLC for 25,812 square feet of office and

29

customer service space located at 77 Dorrance Street, in the City of Providence; and

30

     WHEREAS, The existing lease expires on August 31, 2026, and the Rhode Island

31

Department of Human Services wishes to enter into a new lease agreement for a period of five

32

years (5) years; and

33

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island, acting by and through the Department of Human

34

Services attests to the fact that there are no clauses in the lease agreement with 77 Dorrance, LLC

 

Art9
RELATING TO LEASES
(Page 4 of 7)

1

that would interfere with the Department of Human Service’s lease agreement or use of the facility;

2

and

3

     WHEREAS, The leased premises provide a critical location for the offices of the

4

Department of Human Services from which the agency can fulfill its mission; and

5

     WHEREAS, The annual fixed rent in the agreement in the current fiscal year, ending June

6

30, 2026 is $412,992; and

7

     WHEREAS, The annual fixed rent of the agreement in the five (5) years of the renewal

8

term will not exceed $500,753; and

9

     WHEREAS, The payment of the annual fixed rent will be made from funds available to

10

the Department of Human Services for the payments of rental and lease costs based on annual

11

appropriations made by the General Assembly; and

12

     WHEREAS, The State Properties Committee now respectfully requests the approval of the

13

Rhode Island House of Representatives and the Rhode Island Senate for the lease agreement

14

between the Department of Human Services and 77 Dorrance, LLC for lease space located at 77

15

Dorrance Street, Providence; now therefore be it

16

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island hereby approves

17

the lease agreement, for a term not to exceed five (5) years and an aggregate fixed rent not to exceed

18

$2,503,765; and it be further

19

     RESOLVED, That this Joint Resolution shall take effect upon passage by the General

20

Assembly; and it be further

21

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State is hereby authorized and directed to transmit duly

22

certified copies of this resolution to the Governor, the Director of the Department of Human

23

Services, the Director of Administration, the State Budget Officer, and the Chair of the State

24

Properties Committee.

25

     SECTION 6. Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner (83 Tower Street, Westerly).

26

     WHEREAS, The Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, by and through its governing

27

council, the Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education, desires to lease approximately

28

2,385 rentable square feet of space at the building located at 83 Tower Street, Westerly, Rhode

29

Island, owned by Tower Street Center, Inc.; and

30

     WHEREAS, To meet the continued demand from employers for a highly trained and

31

skilled workforce that requires an education credential beyond a high school diploma, the Office

32

of the Postsecondary Commissioner requires additional educational space. Currently, the Westerly

33

Education Center is at capacity, offering nine trades to support employees for Electric Boat,

34

programming from higher education institutions, and space for industry partners to provide

 

Art9
RELATING TO LEASES
(Page 5 of 7)

1

incumbent worker training programs; and

2

     WHEREAS, The proposed lease is for additional educational space, and there is no existing

3

lease for the specific premises located at 83 Tower Street, Westerly, Rhode Island; and

4

     WHEREAS, Tower Street Center, Inc. entered into a Ground Lease Agreement with the

5

Town of Westerly, Rhode Island on January 1, 2024, to develop a community center, authorizing

6

the Landlord to sublease all or any portion of the improvements on the Property, develop the terms

7

of such permitted sublease(s), and enforce the terms of such permitted sublease(s), according to the

8

terms set forth in the Ground Lease Agreement; and

9

     WHEREAS, The vision for the Tower Street Community Center is to create a

10

transformative community hub that breaks down barriers to essential services, fosters meaningful

11

connections, and empowers individuals to thrive. The Tower Street Community Center is

12

envisioned as a place where health, education, and recreation intersect to build a stronger, more

13

resilient community; and

14

     WHEREAS, The leased premises provide a critical location for the Office of the

15

Postsecondary Commissioner to expand its operations from which the agency can fulfill its mission;

16

and

17

     WHEREAS, The initial lease term in the lease agreement is for a period of ten (10) years,

18

and the lease agreement includes three (3) optional extensions of ten (10) years each; and

19

     WHEREAS, The Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner received $1,500,000 in

20

federal grant funding through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328),

21

under the Economic Development Initiative Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed

22

Spending program, administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban

23

Development, for prepaid rent toward securing a lease agreement for the Education Center

24

Expansion project at the Tower Street Community Center; and

25

     WHEREAS, The base rent of the lease agreement will consist of a lump-sum prepayment

26

of $1,500,000 and additional annual base rent not to exceed $50,000 per year in each of years one

27

(1) through ten (10), for aggregate base rent not to exceed $2,000,000 during the initial ten-year

28

term. The base rent reflects a percentage of the reasonably anticipated cost of construction for this

29

phase of the project, secures the long-term lease and extension options, and provides the option to

30

expand the leased premises into a subsequent phase of the project at no additional base rent during

31

the initial term or any exercised extension term, as applicable, if the Landlord develops subsequent

32

phases of the project; and

33

     WHEREAS, The payment of additional annual base rent will be made from funds available

34

to the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner for the payment of rental and lease costs based

 

Art9
RELATING TO LEASES
(Page 6 of 7)

1

on annual appropriations made by the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island from the

2

higher education and industry centers restricted receipt account pursuant to 16-59-9.; and

3

     WHEREAS, The lease agreement is subject to approval by the Rhode Island Council on

4

Postsecondary Education and the State Properties Committee, and approval of the Rhode Island

5

House of Representatives and the Rhode Island Senate is requested for the lease agreement between

6

the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, by and through its governing council, the Rhode

7

Island Council on Postsecondary Education, and Tower Street Center, Inc. for leased space located

8

at 83 Tower Street, Westerly, Rhode Island; now therefore be it

9

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island hereby approves

10

the lease agreement for an initial term not to exceed ten (10) years, with three (3) optional

11

extensions of ten (10) years each, and authorizes the lease agreement to include an option to expand

12

the leased premises into a subsequent phase of the project at no additional base rent during the

13

initial term or any exercised extension term, as applicable, if the Landlord develops subsequent

14

phases of the project, provided that aggregate base rent during the initial term shall not exceed

15

$2,000,000; provided, however, that General Assembly approval granted hereby is subject to and

16

conditioned upon approval by the Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education and the State

17

Properties Committee; and it be further

18

     RESOLVED, That this Joint Resolution shall take effect upon passage by the General

19

Assembly; and it be further

20

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State is hereby authorized and directed to transmit duly

21

certified copies of this resolution to the Governor, the Rhode Island Commissioner of

22

Postsecondary Education, the Director of Administration, the State Budget Officer, and the Chair

23

of the State Properties Committee.

24

     SECTION 7. This article shall take effect upon passage.

 

Art9
RELATING TO LEASES
(Page 7 of 7)