Recognizing mayor Grebien’s legacy of development and partnership - by Gaetan Kashala

 

 

As Pawtucket looks toward new leadership following Adam Greenman’s victory in the September 9 Democratic primary, The Pawtucket Foundation extends its appreciation to mayor Donald Grebien for nearly 16 years of service and his lasting contributions to the city’s economic development trajectory. His administration has reimagined Pawtucket’s development landscape, advancing housing, regional connectivity, riverfront revitalization, and the reuse of its historic industrial properties.

Mayor Grebien took office in January 2011 with years of city council experience and a deep commitment to his hometown. Throughout his administration, he brought together developers, employers, community organizations, and government partners to pursue a shared vision for Pawtucket’s future. Housing production has been a significant part of that work. Since 2017, the city has added more than 2,000 housing units, with another 1,200 in the pipeline.

The Downtown Gateway Project represents another major component of his development legacy. The city’s acquisition of the Apex property in 2021 laid the foundation for an ambitious redevelopment effort encompassing approximately 20 acres in the heart of Pawtucket. The city’s RFP sought development partners to reconnect downtown with the riverfront, introduce new housing and commercial uses, and create inviting public spaces. The initiative offers a historic opportunity to transform the urban core and its underused properties into a more active, connected downtown.

Regional connectivity also took a major step forward with the opening of the Pawtucket–Central Falls Transit Center in January 2023. Working alongside local, state, and federal partners, the Grebien administration helped bring this long-planned investment to fruition. Combining MBTA commuter rail service with RIPTA bus connections, the transit center strengthened access to Providence and Boston and provided an important foundation for development around the station.

Tidewater Landing, anchored by Centreville Bank Stadium, stands among the most visible expressions of Pawtucket’s reimagination. The Grebien administration worked with Fortuitous Partners, utility partners, environmental regulators, and other stakeholders to advance the redevelopment of a former industrial property into a regional destination for sports and entertainment. These riverfront initiatives also reflect a broader vision that recognizes the Blackstone River as a defining asset in Pawtucket’s future. Through its partnership with The Pawtucket Foundation and other stakeholders, the administration helped place the river at the center of conversations about redevelopment, public access, mobility, and public investment.

Adaptive reuse has been another important thread in mayor Grebien’s development vision. Places such as Lorraine Mills and The Guild demonstrate how Pawtucket’s industrial heritage can accommodate contemporary businesses, artists, food and beverage enterprises, and gathering spaces. The adoption of the Conant Thread zoning district in 2019 strengthened the framework for historic mill rehabilitation, complementary development, and pedestrian-oriented design near the transit center. That work continues through Pawtucket’s partnership with Central Falls to pursue redevelopment of the former Conant Thread–Coats & Clark Mill Complex. In September 2026, the two cities’ redevelopment agencies received a $4.875 million state award to acquire the 25-acre site and seek a master developer. The concept focuses on an integrated, community centered model of development featuring mixed-use neighborhoods (at least 1,000 homes, 200 for low-income households), alongside commercial uses, public open space, and green infrastructure. While substantial work remains, this investment marks an important step toward realizing the site’s potential.

For The Pawtucket Foundation, these accomplishments also carry a personal dimension. Mayor Grebien has been an engaged and accessible partner in our work to strengthen the city’s economy, improve its public spaces, and connect people with opportunity. We are grateful for his willingness to collaborate and his commitment to advancing Pawtucket.

As the city prepares for its next chapter, we recognize the years of effort behind its progress and the partnerships that will carry that work forward. Thank you, Don, for your service, your partnership, and your dedication to the great city of Pawtucket.

Gaetan Kashala is the executive director of the Pawtucket Foundation, Pawtucket, R.I.