In a major step forward for one of Newport’s most high-profile waterfront projects, the city’s Planning Board unanimously approved a plan Monday night to transform Waites Wharf into a vibrant mixed-use development featuring a hotel, restaurant, wedding venue, and multifamily housing.
The redevelopment proposal, led by property owner Thomas Abruzese, includes demolishing existing structures on the site to make way for an 89-room hotel, two residential buildings with a total of 14 units, and two additional buildings that will house a wedding space, retail, and restaurant space. All parking for the project will be provided on site. Marina operations at the wharf will continue as usual.
The board’s unanimous decision clears a major hurdle, leaving only minor city permitting steps to be handled administratively by staff and the Technical Review Committee. No additional hearings before the Planning or Zoning Boards will be necessary.
The proposal must still receive approval from the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), but Monday’s vote represents a key milestone for a project that has been years in the making.
If all goes according to plan, construction could begin in the near future, bringing new energy, amenities, and housing to one of Newport’s most iconic stretches of waterfront.
This project will breathe new life into the waterfront while preserving its historic role in our city’s maritime economy.
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