Project Development/Construction

Ferrucci Russo P.C. has had vast project development experience in Rhode Island. Not only have we represented local clients in the public and private sector in numerous highly publicized projects, we have drafted innovative legislation that impacts the economic development of our region.

In our construction practice, we have negotiated construction contracts, joint venture agreements, and development agreements for project delivery including construction management, fast track, and guaranteed maximum price.

In energy and utility matters, we are experienced in siting proceedings for major energy facilities. We have also represented large industrial electricity customers in negotiating competitive electricity rates and have litigated complex disputes regarding load response programs.

Recent examples include:

• We were involved in the $260 million re-creation of Twin River, the largest gaming and entertainment facility in Rhode Island. Over several years, our firm worked closely with Twin River to secure permitting and approvals including those for 24-hour operations and virtual gaming.
  
  
• We represented a quasi-public state corporation in a utility and infrastructure development for a 310-acre industrial park in Johnston, Rhode Island, which included the permitting of a power plant, a $33.7 million tax treaty with the Town of Johnston, a $20 million initiative entered into with the City of Cranston to provide treated effluent to be used for industrial cooling at the park, the permitting and construction of a highway interchange from the site to Route 295, and the relocation of significant utilities, including the communications tower, underground fiber links, and other electronics for future redevelopment.
  
  
• As special counsel to the City of East Providence, we reached a settlement agreement favorable to the City in its major utility relocation efforts as part of the redevelopment of the East Providence Waterfront Special Development District.
  
  
• We were engaged by the Cities of Providence and East Providence to contest an LNG marine terminal that would have had an adverse impact on the waterfront development plans for those cities. We were successful in a full proceeding in front on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and ultimately thwarted the project.
  
  
• We were lead counsel in the permitting and developing of the $70M Masonic Temple hotel project. The project involved the use of historic tax credits to redevelop an underutilized structure, that was abandoned in the 1920s, into a luxury hotel. The initiative involved complicated, lease-purchase agreements with the State of Rhode Island, declaring sections of the Veterans Memorial Auditorium as a condominium, and the successful negotiation and implementation of a major urban streetscape improvement project with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.
  
  
• We were lead counsel in negotiating the expansion of one of Rhode Island's largest manufacturers at the Quonset Point Industrial Park, including successfully negotiating the major road abatement and real estate acquisition issues.
  
  
• We were lead counsel in securing the property tax treaty for the GTECH World Headquarters in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, affording the company a 20-year tax stabilization and exemption treaty and paving the way for its relocation to the City of Providence.
  
  
• We were lead counsel to the State of Rhode Island in renegotiating the energy rates for the United States Navy in advance of the base relocation and realignment studies by the United States government. We achieved energy discounts that resulted in a favorable economic climate for the Navy to maintain operations in Newport.