Newport RI Landlord Cuts Tenants’ Rent in Half for April

Owners Katie and Peter Kelly were worried about their finances with having to close their doors but still pay full rent.

“We got an email the day after [Gov. Gina Raimondo] announced things were to shut down from the Bowen’s Wharf Company, from Bart, saying we’re going to cut the rent in half for you guys for the month of April. I think I broke out in tears,” said Katie Kelly. “That was a really big gesture on his count, and it meant a lot to us because April is the first glimmer of hope after the winter months,” added Peter.

By cutting rent in half is a loss of more than $50,000 for the Bowen’s Wharf Company.

“We’re all in it together,” said Dunbar. “I thought the people needed a sort of physiological boost. It’s really important for them to be in business when we come out of this, be able to pay the rent and be ready to go.”

Katie is the one who reached out to NBC 10 News about the generosity. Dunbar was caught off guard.

“I just thought it was going to be a good thing to do. I was really struck by the tenants and the response I got from them,” said Dunbar. “I didn’t do this for publicity or any sort of thing, it’s really just how we’ve tried to run Bowen’s Wharf.”

“I really wish there were more people like Bart in the world he did the right thing,” said Katie. “After we got the email about the rent deduction someone responded back: ‘Bowen’s Wharf is the anchor of Newport and our landlord is the heart of Bowen’s Wharf’ and I believe that.”

Dunbar said if restrictions continue into May, he’ll most likely cut rent in half again.

He said he had to postpone the annual Oyster Festival in May but plans to hopefully reschedule this summer.