By W. Zachary Malinowski
The Providence Journal
PROVIDENCE — A proposal to move the Department of Corrections parole and probation offices to a new downtown location on Tuesday breezed through the State Properties Committee.
The committee unanimously approved the plan for the Adult Correctional Institutions to transfer its supervision of prisoners on parole or probation from the Urban League headquarters at 246 Prairie Ave. to vacant office space at 40 Fountain St.
The new site, which has more than double the square-footage at the Urban League, had previously been the home of the state General Treasurer’s office. The price for the new office space and parking will more than triple to $132,360.
“Time is of the essence,” said John Ryan, a representative from the state Department of Administration. “We have a space that is ideal for the Department of Corrections. It would take minor modifications. It’s all wired and ready to go.”
The proposal came before the committee because corrections officials were seeking a waiver from the request for proposals process and they wanted to initiate lease negotiations with Emanon Associates, LP, the firm that owns 40 Fountain St.
Ryan said that corrections was on “a month-to-month” lease to rent 2,900 square-feet at the Urban League. They had been a tenant there since June 1, 2008. He said that, in recent months, the Urban League was the only other agency that expressed interest in retaining corrections as a tenant.
Ryan hopes that corrections is in its new space by Feb. 1.