$ Economic Development $

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Economic Development

• Goal Contribute to encourage residents of the
  town of Coventry to keep commercial, industrial,
  and office development in our community
  attractive with less visual pollution. Promote
  and encourage high quality, low polluting
  commercial, industrial, and office development

To approach this goal we plan to
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Idea 1

• Encourage buildings, recreational, and commercial
  areas to come in the future in the town of
  Coventry to be attractive, safe, and unique.
• To accomplish this the town shouldnt let land
  go to waste when it can be re-used for a new
  store. Constructing a new lot for the new store
  will lead to loss of natural forests and open
  space. More lots cut down and more roads to them
  will cost taxpayer money that is not necessary.

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Idea 2

• Minimize the space used for one commercial area
  to half the size of the original. For example,
  instead of having one big Walmart there should be
  two smaller buildings One in Western Coventry
  and one in Eastern Coventry. This way residents
  from Western Coventry dont have to drive all the
  way to Eastern Coventry to shop at Walmart.
• When residents have to drive everywhere it costs
  money for gas and pollutes the air. If the stores
  and citizens daily necessities are close by they
  can walk and ride bikes rather than driving. This
  will cut down on traffic.

Kmart and Almacs deserted plaza.
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General Business District in Western Coventry
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Map of Western Coventry
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General Business District in Eastern Coventry
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Idea 3

• Our community should be unique and different from
  other towns. We want to be able to tell the
  difference from our town from another town.
• An example of this would be remodeling fast food
  restaurants so theyre unique and fit in with our
  community. We could start by making them historic
  like some mills we have in Coventry.

Nathaniel Greene House
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Idea 4

• We plan to preserve the Anthony and Washington
  St. Mill into a large business like G-tech or
  Amgen. Large businesses or industrial plants pay
  some of Coventrys taxes, because they can afford
  to do so. Also, this will bring jobs to our town
  with less commuting time.

G-Tech in West Greenwich
Anthony Mill Washington St.
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Idea 5

• Develop more commercial areas in Western Coventry
  on Flat River Rd. This way residents that live
  way out in Western Coventry dont have to always
  drive to get their daily necessities.
• The more people have to drive, the more gas money
  they waste and the more they pollute the air.
  This will hurt the environment and our natural
  resources.

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Idea 6

• In Coventry there are some empty, ugly, and
  deserted buildings, like the old Kmart and Almacs
  plaza.
• We think that they should be renovated into a
  recreational playground for all residents to
  enjoy.
• OR a new store or restaurant could be developed
  without having to pay for a new building or the
  space it takes up.
• Places like the old Kmart plaza need to be
  renovated before new space is used. Our zoning
  laws need to implement this idea.

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Our Estimate

• We think that by creating a commercial area in
  Western Coventry, preserving the Anthony Mill,
  and fixing up the old deserted Kmart lot, our
  town will save tax dollars and be a better
  community.
• To raise money to start this process, fundraisers
  could be held at schools and businesses
• Carnivals around our community could be held
• Or even donations from large businesses

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Reasons Why the Change Should be Made

• Large businesses can afford to pay a larger
  proportion of Coventrys taxes
• Residents in Western Coventry dont have to drive
  to Eastern Coventry for their daily necessities
• The Kmart lot can be preserved into a
  recreational area to fairly suit everybodys
  wants and needs

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Coventry would be a better community if our plan
was implemented because

• There would be less traffic in eastern Coventry
  if commercial areas where added on Flat River
  Road.
• Coventry would be more attractive and safe if
  Smart Growth is applied to our community. Old
  deserted and ugly buildings would be preserved,
  there would be sidewalks for pedestrians to walk,
  or ride bikes to there daily necessities.
• Our plan will develop a community with less
  Visual Pollution.
• Smart Growth is a plan encouraging a better
  community overall and saving the town lots of tax
  money
• Large businesses can pay a larger proportion of
  the towns taxes. If the property tax continues
  at the same rate it has been sense 1999. Then the
  cost of owning a property in 2005 would be around
  34 million dollars. handouts in economic
  development packet
• Some of that tax money goes to our town which
  will lower the taxes the residents pay and
  provide more services that are needed. For
  example, we could have more school supplies for
  our classes, like laptop computers!

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Street and Highway Characteristics

• Tiogue Avenue has an average daily traffic volume
  of 12,200-22,700.
• Flat River Rd. has an average daily traffic
  volume of 6,350-13,500.
• This tells us that Tiogue Avenue is almost twice
  as busy as Flat River Rd.
• If there were more commercial areas on Flat River
  Rd. like Tiogue Avenue then there will be less
  traffic. Residents from western Coventry wouldnt
  have to drive on Tiogue Avenue as much because
  their daily necessities would be within walking
  distance.

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Map of Tioque Avenue traffic volume
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Flat River Road traffic volume
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Thank you for watching and considering our ideas!!

• By Haylee M.,
• Cody N.,
• Alexis B.,
• and Eddie K.

Remember that you are the future of Coventry. Our
community depends on you!!