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DESTROYED: Providence Fruit & Produce Warehouse

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JJK5 Hamlet

JJK5

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that looks like a poster they had at the providence tomorrow kickoff event last june or july at the casino in RWP.

i do like the idea of the rendering... although i don't know how that'll work with big box. if that has a bunch of smaller shops and stuff, it could be nice.

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  • 10 months later...
ArtInRuins Whistle-Stop

ArtInRuins

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Ah... the pattern of Historic Abandonment. I think it goes like so:

  1. Acquire a building that was once used for industry, preferably an obsolete one. These buildings have been known to be situated close to water and shipping lanes, so will have great views which you can exploit later.

  2. Don't worry if the building was on the National Register, or protected by the State. Don't listen to the people who may have great ideas to redevelop the project. You don't want all that hassle and all those "conversations".

  3. Sit on it. For a long time. It would help if it was already derelict when you bought it because the previous owner was losing money as their industry was becoming obsolete.

  4. Let graffiti accumulate. Hipsters will love it, but they don't vote. The neighborhood will soon forget about the activity that went on there and the buildings own "glory days". It will start to look horrible, and they will start to complain about it.

  5. Keep sitting on it. It would help if you complained about the cost of potential renovations while you did so.

  6. Let security around the perimeter go lax. Teenagers will get in, wreck the place, and maybe start a fire or two. If you are lucky, that will take care of it. If not, it becomes a hazard and a public nuisance.

  7. Finally, after years of neglect, declare the place not worth saving, and suggest to the City that they let you demolish it. The city will go along because the neighbors have been complaining, and since you hold the checkbook, they will be too scared to demand anything more from you.

  8. (Optional) Build a parking lot while you "wait for the market to become ripe"

  9. Build something there that won't last for as long as the building you just let go to waste, but instead will remain shiny and new for about five. Sell it to an out-of-town conglomerate once you've made your money, and let them worry about the upkeep.

  10. Rinse. Repeat.

Examples: Cranston Street Trolley Barn, Police and Fire Station at La Salle Square, Circular Gulf station at the corner of Broadway and Atwells, Grove Street School... to be fair, there are some that buck the trend, like the Promenade, which was empty for years and years and years. But that is pretty rare.

If this building goes, pretty much the whole National Register Providence Provisions Warehouse Historic District will be gone. Only a few of the smaller structures will be left. More info and photos of the District here.

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foxpointer Whistle-Stop

foxpointer

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Projo reports this AM that Carpionato has filed for and gained approval for an emergency demolition permit. Same trick as with the police HQ.

RIHPHC and PPS are mustering the opposition, including legal challenges.

Asbestos abatement being done now; that's what the activity has been.

Can't provide the link but there is an amazing quote from noted preservationist Joe Paolino in the article.

Amazing to think that one of the outcomes of the post-Station fire era would be to make it easier to knock down historic buildings in the name of public safety.

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Frankie811 City

Frankie811

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Projo reports this AM that Carpionato has filed for and gained approval for an emergency demolition permit. Same trick as with the police HQ.

RIHPHC and PPS are mustering the opposition, including legal challenges.

Asbestos abatement being done now; that's what the activity has been.

Can't provide the link but there is an amazing quote from noted preservationist Joe Paolino in the article.

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