BankNewport slated for fall, larger developments down the pipeline

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A new BankNewport location across the street from Town Hall in Johnston is slated for completion in the fall, Mayor Joseph Polisena said during an interview last week.

Polisena said the space had been vacant for some time, and he is pleased with the architectural designs for the building. The process has been in motion for five months, and Polisena said he has held several conversations with BankNewport CEO and President Sandra J. Pattie in the interim.

“I think it’s great that they’re coming … it’s going to be in the center of the town and it’s going to be a full-service bank, from what I understand, because I was concerned it was just going to be one of those drive-thru banks, but it’s going to be a full-service, which is nice,” the mayor said. “It’s convenient for the people. I’m sure they’ll hire a few people, so it’ll be nice.”

Polisena said the front wall of the bank will read, “Welcome to the town of Johnston,” adding to his excitement.

“So it’s going to be really nice, and once again, people come to the center of our town and that was always an eyesore,” he said. “It was a vacant building for years. Now, finally, it’s going to com to fruition as far as developing that site.”

Polisena said he doesn’t have an exact figure regarding the number of vacant buildings across town, but he doesn’t believe there are many. He said rumors have circulated about potential development at the former BJ’s Wholesale building, but the town is “just kind of keeping our fingers crossed.”

A more significant, unknown project that Polisena has been teasing for some time is still alive, from what he understands. He has been mum on details, but said the town is still working to get it done. It would be located on Route 6.

“Hopefully, that will happen,” he said. “That’s going to be a huge, huge asset to the town and for the state, too.”

Polisena offered a bit more information on a rehabilitation hospital that is looking to come to town. He referenced the potential development during Town Council meetings earlier this year as he encouraged amending Johnston’s off-street parking ordinance to make it more business-friendly.

“I met with the principals of the company and they’re very, very, very interested in Johnston,” he said. “They’re looking, obviously, in Johnston. I think they’ve located a spot. They have to apply to the Department of Health. They’re very frank. I asked them, ‘Do you think you'll get any pushback from the hospitals, because it’s competition?’ They said, ‘Absolutely not.’”

Polisena, who did not mention the company by name, said they would look to hire between 160 and 170 part-time and full-time employees. He said he will send a letter to the state “when the time comes,” noting his and the Town Council’s support of the development.

“So it’ll be really an asset to the town,” he said. “Being a registered nurse and with my medical background, I think it’s great for the town. Plus, I think it’s great for the people who live in the town and people who live in the area. It’s going to be a rehab hospital and we’re hoping that it goes through, but they’re in the early stages of applying to the state and so forth.”

Polisena said once the company hears from state health officials, the process will begin to move forward more steadily.

“They’ve located the spot, and I think they’ve got an agreement with a landowner,” he said. “So it’ll be nice.”

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