Buildings, including a bus hub, would be built on land including some of the Capitol's lawn and trees

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Grass and trees surrounding the Rhode Island State House would be replaced by a series of new buildings, at least one featuring a bus hub, in the latest plans for Capitol-area development released by state transportation officials.

For the second time this year, the state is seeking a private development partner to design, build and maintain the project, which would be funded at least in part by a $35-million state bond approved by voters in 2014. The latest solicitation, issued June 23, asks potential partners to outline their qualifications and vision for the project by July 31.

It comes after an initial request released earlier this year was considered unworkable and abandoned. The list of possible development areas in the initial request, which did not include any part of the State House grounds, was rejected by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority as incompatible with bus traffic.

The new solicitation zeroes in on the northwestern corner of Station Park and the eastern edge of the State House lawn, which would be made available for development by moving Gaspee Street closer to the Capitol, to about the location of a current footpath.

In June, DOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. pointed out that the original McKim, Meade & White design for the State House grounds did not include the eastern edge and the change would make the area symmetrical.

In addition to vegetation, the eastern edge of the State House lawn includes a boiler house, which pumps steam heat into the Capitol building, and a recently expanded parking lot for lawmakers.

The request for qualifications says the developer would be responsible for road work and may be asked to replace the parking lot and boiler house elsewhere.

Whichever developer is selected to build the project will fill in many of the details, such as whether it will include apartments, hotel rooms, parking garage spaces, shops, offices or some combination of those uses.

The bus hub, which the DOT requires be built before the private development, needs to have a "15-20 berth bus terminal" with a "fully integrated retail corridor" and a direct connection to the Providence Train Station, according to the request for qualifications.

It will "create a smart and enduring bus facility that from a design perspective complements the historically significant Rhode Island State House and surrounding Capital Center, but stands out with an aesthetically attractive design that alters the traditional perception of a bus terminal."

Building on such high-profile green space is likely to attract major push-back.

The request for qualifications mentions that the project is subject to approval of the Capital Center Commission and board chairman. Deming Sherman on Tuesday said the commission would need to change its regulations to allow construction on open space. Such changes would require the endorsement of the State Historical Preservation Commission and possibly multiple federal transportation agencies, he said.

"It's a matter of considerable concern," Sherman told members of the Capital Center Commission's design panel at a meeting Tuesday.

Former Capital Center Commission Chairman Leslie Gardner called the push to build on the State House lawn "a little bizarre."

"When the rivers were moved, there was a hue and cry of what would be at risk, would it be compatible with historic structures, particularly the State House," Gardner said at the meeting.

— panderson@providencejournal.com

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On Twitter: @PatrickAnderso_