Evaluation & Conclusions

Some feel that the whole complexion of the Field's Point area (which once felt totally abandoned) has changed thanks to the project. While this may be the case, the Save the Bay Center exists somewhat in isolations and connections to the surrounding neighborhoods and Campus could still use improvements. There is also room for improvement in the functionality of the building's stormwater management system. The Bay facing sections of the roof are equipped with conventional gutters and downspouts and Save the Bay is working on a plan to address this.

While no formal post-occupancy survey have been done to, the Save the Bay Center can be considered at success. The project has achieved the goals set out for it due to the site choice and remediation, the innovations, and the activities and educational programming. It is impressive and inspiring that a non profit without any development experience was able to take on such a challenging project. These challenges included: negotiating a complex state and federal permitting process, addressing long-term pollution liability issues, securing the necessary capital and long-term financing, and facing technical and engineering challenges associated with a coastal brownfields site. The Center has been recognized as one of the nation's top brownfield redevelopment projects, receiving an EPA Phoenix Award for excellence. The remediation and return of brownfields to productive use can eliminate environmental and healths risks, as well as reclaim public enjoyment of the few natural resources left in urbanized communities.

Save the Bay's success has inspired Johnson & Wales University to clean up a neighboring brownfield site for student housing. There also several other brownfield sites in the Metro Bay region planned as part of the redevelopment of the upper Bay. Providence was once a city in decline, but today new development and building restoration is booming in the downtown. The Save the Bay Center is supportive of a larger revitalization effort in Rhode Island 's capital city and serves as a model for what should happen along the Providence waterfront.