West Davisville: A key component of Quonset’s success - by Steven King

Quonset Business Park is one of the premiere business parks in New England and one of the largest in the Northeast.  Spanning over 3,200 acres, Quonset features eight unique districts that support 11,000 jobs at over 200 companies. 

Many people are familiar with Quonset’s Gateway District, which is along Post Rd. (U.S.-1) and provides a welcoming and attractive entrance to the Park. Most are also familiar with the Port of Davisville which is consistently ranked as a Top 10 auto importer in North America. But fewer people are familiar with the more industrial areas that exist deeper within Quonset. Nestled in the western most district of the Park, the West Davisville district is one of our industrial centers and is a key component of Quonset’s success. 

West Davisville provides opportunities for a wide range of industrial activities related to office, manufacturing facilities, and warehouse/distribution operations. Quonset’s military legacy is evidenced in this area as many tenants occupy warehouses left behind by the U.S. Navy Seabees.  Other tenants have built facilities to meet their unique needs, like BB&S Treated Lumber of New England, which provides treated lumber products for the entire region.  The West Davisville district is also home to dozens of small businesses.

Located right off the Rte. 403 interchange, West Davisville benefits from Quonset’s direct highway access and centralized location. West Davisville is also adjacent to the main Amtrak rail yard, enabling tenants to easily access Quonset’s intra-park railroad operated by Seaview Transportation. In addition to accessibility, tenants in this area of the Park benefit from Quonset’s world class infrastructure.

West Davisville is also a major contributor to Quonset’s commitment to clean energy. The most powerful solar rooftop array in New England can be found in the West Davisville section of the park. The project produces approximately three million kWh per year, enough to power over 500 homes annually. The Quonset Development Corp. (QDC) is currently in the process of installing an additional 200,000 s/f rooftop solar array in West Davisville to supply energy for all of the Park’s public utilities. Once complete, our various green energy projects will produce approximately two million kWh of additional power, enough energy to meet the full needs of the QDC.

Over a mile inland from Narragansett Bay, West Davisville is an important part of the momentum here at Quonset. Since the QDC was created in 2005 there have been 4,800 new jobs added and $598 million in private investment at Quonset. Those numbers are likely to keep rising as our current companies continue to grow and as new tenants choose Quonset. Quonset Business Park is well-positioned to continue its role as Rhode Island’s leading engine of job creation and economic growth.

Steven King, PE, is the managing director of the Quonset Development Corp., North Kingstown, R.I.