EDITORIAL - Brown's second campus

Brown University's decision to expand dramatically beyond its current campus spells good news for Providence. But the institution's plan to buy seven buildings from Belvoir Properties in the city's Jewelry District, across the Providence River from College Hill, would do more than reduce the pressure of institutional expansion on its historic and mostly residential neighborhood, admirable as that may be.

To be sure, the sale, if it takes place as planned early next year, would remove property from municipal tax rolls. But the properties would become a dynamic new research-and-development nexus whose value to the city could far outstrip the taxes now paid by those properties.

Under its existing payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with the City of Providence, the properties would pay a tax bill that diminishes in three stages over 15 years. That timeline would begin not on the date of the sale but only after a significant majority of each building's square footage is transformed to academic purposes. Brown says it will honor existing commercial leases, and even extend some. In short, property-tax revenue should fall in sync with the rise of property-tax revenue created by development spun off by entrepreneurial research.

It's important to note that redeveloping this will take years; meanwhile, the Brown does not want to scare away current tenants in the district.

As with Providence Place mall and other such municipal tax investments, the city should end up with more money over time. So should the state, in added sales- and income-tax revenue from economic development spawned by the Brown expansion, which will leverage the neighborhood's big hospital complex and Brown Medical School. (Perhaps in the fullness of time some University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy operations can go into this neighborhood too. It's all related work.)

Let's face it. Rhode Island's effort to lure high-technology firms with high-paying jobs has not fully met expectations. Brown's decision to create a new life-sciences research center will boost southeastern New England's economic prospects, possibly well in advance of the new campus's physical existence. Technology and other firms that will benefit from Brown's project will be drawn to the Jewelry District. So will various stores and restaurants to serve those who live and work there.

The university recently dedicated a new life-sciences building after a stiff battle with neighbors on College Hill. Such avoidable battles sap Brown's energy, and the community's affection for Brown. In hindsight, its construction in the Jewelry District instead might have been advisable.

Just as Brown's desire primarily to consolidate rather than expand its imprint on College Hill will improve life there, the density that Brown will foster in the still underused Jewelry District will improve life there.

The Jewelry District also bears a considerable historical identity. While some of the buildings to be acquired, especially the Davol Rubber Plant (Davol Square), are on the National Register of Historic Places and thus protected, others of lesser significance might be replaced. Commendably, Brown says it intends that any new construction would fit into the district's architectural character.

Such a goal, combined with less local conflict over expansion on College Hill, should let Brown redirect valuable institutional resources from fighting the neighbors to teaching students and creating new technologies.

And not least, we congratulate James Winoker. His ship has come in. The owner of Belvoir Properties stands to reel in up to $50 million. The stewardship of old buildings can be a thankless task, but diligence, cordiality and patience eventually pay off.