The Rhode Island Airport Corporation joined two community forums hosted by the New Shoreham Town Council on July 7 and July 12. Though it had originally planned only one forum, due to a mix-up with the Zoom password that resulted in many townsfolk being unable to join the meeting, the town council quickly addeda second session so everyone could attend. The purpose of the forums was to gather citizen comments about RIAC’s request for proposals regarding Block Island Airport property development as part of its General Aviation Strategic Business Plan.Back in June, the Town Council met with RIAC to receive an update on RIAC’s proposed changes to the Block Island Airport in order to increase its revenue. It is RIAC’s position that the five general aviation airports in the state are too heavily subsidized by T.F. Green Airport, and it seeks to make the smaller airports moreself-sustainable.
The proposals to increase revenue include instituting parking fees and leasing airport land for commercial development. RIAC has engaged Cushman and Wakefield, Hayes and Sherry to represent its real estate interests and they in turn have created an advertising brochure requesting proposals and suggesting uses for potential tenants on four designated
