Providence City Council overrides mayor’s veto, allowing Hope Point Tower to move forward

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Providence City Council overrode Mayor Jorge Elorza’s veto of a zoning change Thursday, allowing a 46-story luxury apartment tower proposed to be built downtown.

The building, called Hope Point Tower, would surpass local height limits.

The project was allowed to move forward due in part to a vote from Ward 11 City Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, giving the council the 10 votes it needed to override the veto.

“Hope Point (The Fane Tower) will be an exciting and successful project within the Innovation/Knowledge District, where entrepreneurs, innovators, makers and the movers of today and tomorrow will want to work, live and play,” The Fane Organization said in a statement after the decision was announced.

Mayor Elorza also put out a statement expressing disapproval and disappointment.

“I am saddened that Councilwoman Harris flipped her vote to side with the developer. Every responsible expert has indicated that this project is not financially viable and will fail under its own weight. It’s disappointing that our City Council ignored these warning signs and caved to continued political pressure, instead of siding with our residents,” Elorza said.

The mayor also felt the project did not represent the interests of the city.

“As a city, we will not bend to the wishes of multi-millionaires who seek to change the rules for their own benefit, who seek to take advantage of every subsidy and benefit they can grab and yet who fail to consider the interests of the local community,” Elorza continued.

The $300 million project now has approval from city counselors to move forward.

© WLNE/ABC 6 2018