DEMOLISHED: Cranston Trolley Barn

[ArtInRuins]

National Register by itself offers a little bit of protection... take the Prov Fruit warehouse. It was purchased with STATE money to do the mall offramp. It was National Register. So, as long as it remained in state hands, since it was purchased by the state, they had to protect it. That's why it didnt get demolished in the first place. The state no longer owns it, though, unfortunately, so I dont know what kind of guarantees they have that the Procanatti Group wont pull a Paolino.

It would have been nice if the Trolley Barn was purchased by the state during this whole Rt 10/Amtrack construction. It might still be standing. As near as i can tell, though, the Trolley Barn isnt listed on theNat Reg website. Maybe I just cant find the proper name, but I looked under Narragansett and Trolley. I dunno what other name to go by.

And, further, National Registration doesn't save a building when someone like Mr Paolino is behind the healm. Take the Blue coal towers for example... a demolition permit was "accidentally" issued by some intern in the building department who forgot to check if it was on the Register.

[Liamlunchtray]

So I went and fired off a beotchy email to Paolino. This is what it said:

I just wanted to congratulate you on tearing down the trolley barn.

Between this and your disgusting tactics in tearing down the round Gas

Station in Providence, it really cements your position as Asshole of

the year.

You people should be ashamed of yourselves.

Liam Gray

Providence

To my amazement he actually responded:

Mr..gray, let me begin that I was taken aback by the tone and vulgarity of your message but give you credit for having the guts of signing your name to it.even though I do not owe you an explanation of the sad decision of demoing the trolley barn I am happy to give you the history of my efforts to trying to save it. in 1999 when my company and our out of state partners bought the narraganset brewery I immediately worked to save that building from being knocked down against my partners wishes. I very much care about historic preservation and always loved that building. in 2001 we were able to get American broadband to locate their new headgears there and worked out an agreement to give them rent free for 2 years as part of the deal.one year after we announced the project with gov.almond and mayor O'Leary American broadband went broke and hundreds of thousands of dollars went wasted on architects,engineers and builders.then when mayor laffey was elected we worked on 2 major state tenants to use them as the economic engine to restore the building.1.the new state police headquters.we met with col.pare with mayor laffey to try to convince him to locate there. instead he wanted to build new on Pontiac ave. 2.mayor lafey went with us to meet with gov. cacceri to see if the traffic court could move there since they were funded to relocate.but the courts decided to build new elsewhere in Cranston.3.we then put a proposal in for the registry of motor vehicles when they were looking for 85,000 feet but they only wanted to give a 5 yr. lease which a bank would not accept then they withdrew the proposal and put out a second proposal with only 40,000 feet.4.then the building gets on fire and the building inspector issues a letter of notice that the building is unsafe.so now I am in a dilemma.what to do. as much as I want to save it I do not want a fire fighter or a teenage arsonist getting killed.with my experience as a mayor I know that the building will be a target for arsonist this 4th of July. by the way during the last few years i also worked with buff chase to get the legislature to pass the sate law on historic tax credits for buildings like the trolley barn thinking that maybe someone would buy it.so i think i have tried allot to save it and very disappointed on the outcome.but I know that I have done my best to save it and can sleep well knowing that it will not become a fire hazard in the future. if I have to chose between saving a life or the building I chose life. thank you for your concern and I may not have taken care of your feelings but wanted you to know the facts. Joseph R. Paolino, ,jr. ps.on your statement on the gulf gas station -if you think that ugly building was historic then I think your nuts.[i say this in all do respect]

I'm totally amazed that I got a reply! I still think he is full of crap and a total slumlord, but at least he actually took his time and responded with his side of the story.

Liam

[eltron]

So I went and fired off a beotchy email to Paolino. This is what it said:

I just wanted to congratulate you on tearing down the trolley barn.

Between this and your disgusting tactics in tearing down the round Gas

Station in Providence, it really cements your position as Asshole of

the year.

You people should be ashamed of yourselves.

Liam Gray

Providence

To my amazement he actually responded:

Mr..gray, let me begin that I was taken aback by the tone and vulgarity of your message but give you credit for having the guts of signing your name to it.even though I do not owe you an explanation of the sad decision of demoing  the trolley barn I am happy to give you the history of my efforts to trying to save it. in 1999 when my company and our out of state partners bought the narraganset brewery I immediately worked to save that building from being knocked down against my partners wishes. I very much care about historic preservation and always loved that building. in 2001 we were able to get American broadband to locate their new headgears there and worked out an agreement to give them rent free for 2 years as part of the deal.one  year after we announced the project with gov.almond and mayor O'Leary American broadband went broke and hundreds of thousands of dollars went wasted on architects,engineers and builders.then when mayor laffey was elected we worked on 2 major state tenants to use them as the economic engine to restore the building.1.the new state police headquters.we met with col.pare with mayor laffey to try to convince him to locate there. instead he wanted to build new on Pontiac ave. 2.mayor lafey went with us to meet with gov. cacceri to see if the traffic court could move there since they were funded to relocate.but the courts decided to build new elsewhere in Cranston.3.we then put a proposal in for the registry of motor vehicles when they were looking for 85,000 feet but they only wanted to give a 5 yr. lease which a bank would not accept then they withdrew the proposal and put out a second proposal with only 40,000 feet.4.then the building gets on fire and the building inspector issues a letter of notice that the building is unsafe.so now I am in a dilemma.what to do. as much as I want to save it I do not want a fire fighter or a teenage arsonist getting killed.with my experience as a mayor I know that the building will be a target for arsonist this 4th of July. by the way during the last few years i also worked with buff chase to get the legislature to pass the sate law on historic tax credits for buildings like the trolley barn thinking that maybe someone would buy it.so i think i have tried allot to save it and very disappointed on the outcome.but I know that I have done my best to save it and can sleep well knowing that it will not become a fire hazard in the future. if I have to chose between saving a life or the building I chose life.  thank you for your concern and I may not have taken care of your feelings but wanted you to know the facts. Joseph R. Paolino, ,jr.    ps.on your statement on the gulf gas station -if you think that ugly building was historic then I think your nuts.[i say this in all do respect]

I'm totally amazed that I got a reply! I still think he is full of crap and a total slumlord, but at least he actually took his time and responded with his side of the story.

Liam

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nice exchange!

I agree with you completely...gotta give him credit for responding respectfully, but its really no excuse for the demolition of the Trolley Barn. In addition, I think he still does not understand that much of the problem with the Gulf Station demo was not the BUILDING, but the very underhanded (and borderline illegal) tactics he used in the demolition. Not a terribly upstanding move, regardless of historic value.

BTW, thanks for the offer of the pickup...I have a pickup too...I'll have to find a time to get down there, there sure as hell are enough bricks there now to do something worthwhile.

[Liamlunchtray]

I just replied back to him with this:

Mr Paolino,

I must say that I was very impressed that you actually replied to me

blowing off some steam. Thank you for that. When I look around my

neighborhood I see a huge number of big old mill buildings being

converted to condos, offices, live/work space, etc. Developers are

proving again and again that it is a viable solution for our historic

buildings. Then I take a look at the site of the Brewery. You tore down

the entire thing, and replaced it with a big box strip mall. Not even a

"sensitive" strip mall like Eagle Square, just a collection of ugly

boxes that give nothing back to the community. It is situated in a low

income neighborhood, yet designed for people coming in from the suburbs

in their cars. The one thing you did was save the Trolley Barn. I

figured it was at least something. You outlined what you did to try and

find a tenant, and I do applaud you for at least making an attempt. You

say that you care about Historic Preservation, yet the only thing I see

is a trail of strip malls and surface parking left in your wake. What

kind of a historically conscientious developer actually has a header

for "Urban Parking" on their website? It's preposterous. I understand

your fear of arson. I live in close proximity to the Cranston Street

Armory and have a constant fear of it being torched. There are many

things that can be done about this. First off, why did you not better

secure the Trolley Barn? I have not been inside the building myself but

have seen many pictures and no one seemed to have any difficulty

gaining access. I have never seen a security guard on site and there

did not seem to be proper fencing and boarding on the building either.

Given your track record I really have a hard time believing that you

did everything you could to save the place, and that you don't just

have another Big Box lined up to take the place. I will be looking

forward to see what goes up there. I hope you prove me wrong and do

something that actually improves the neighborhood and doesn't just add

to the acres of blacktop across the street.

As far as the round gas station is concerned, I can't possibly

comprehend that you couldn't see the beauty in that building. I can't

think of a single other good example of mid century modern architecture

in Providence. It was one of my very favorite buildings and I know I

wasn't alone on this one. The way the demolition was handled without

even pulling a permit was underhanded and slimy. This was a building

that could have been a fantastic Restaurant or retail location and a

real architectural jewel for the city. Just because a building is not

100 years old does not mean it isn't important. Instead we are left

with yet another surface parking lot that does no good for anyone but

your pocket book. The people of Providence deserve better than this. I

understand that your main obligation is to further your career, but

please remember the community too. As a man of wealth you have a

responsibility to do so.

Thanks for your time,

Liam Gray

[Liamlunchtray]

Well I must say that I have a lot more respect for Joe Paolino than I did earlier today.

His response:

Liam,who knows we may even become friends over this.what you do not

know is

that we never knocked down the narraganset brewery buildings,that was

done

way

before we bought it. in fact I think the original owners did that back

in

the mid 1990's. in regards to security,we have 18hr.security at the

shopping

center and included in their contract they also patrol the trolley barn

location.look,I do not care how secure a building is if someone wants

to

burn it they will do it.with regard of tearing down buildings I do not

think

you can point to any building except the trolley barn and the gas

station

that I have knocked down.now if you want to be mad at me because my dad

did

in years past then ok you do that but he is my father and I love him.

so,please understand that there is always another side to a story and I

can

only add that I feel bad about the trolley barn and am happy that I

knocked

down the gas station. by the way I ended up winning in court on the

gas

station and the court ruled the city of providence was wrong .the

ordinance

was flawed and the city was wrong legally in trying to stop us.since

then I

have worked with the city of providence in putting together a new

ordinance

that is now legal. have a good weekend and feel free to contact me at

any

time. Joe paolino

[Recchia]

Wow

[ArtInRuins]

Wow indeed. What about all the stuff about taking the city to court over the power of the Downcity Review Committee just because he wanted to take down a few more buildings for parking. I may have a little more respect for his ability to handle a "venting", but i still dont trust that man any further than i can throw him. Man, I'd love to see how far that actually is.

[bloodyrocker]

LIAM! your my hero man. this is great.. and may I say that the possibility of one on one discourse like that is what makes this city and state so f-ing great!

I will never ever forgive him for tearing down that gas station.. I still get pissed off and sad when I walk by it..

-Jason

[CtownMikey]

that guy needs some grammar lessons...in a serious way

[EPBOY]

LIAM!  your my hero man.  this is great.. and may I say that the possibility of one on one discourse like that is what makes this city and state so f-ing great!                                        -Jason

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Stole the words right out of my mouth. We may disagree about the gas station, but you really put my sentiments into words perfectly.

I'm amazed that Mr. Paolino responded so politly and thoughtfuly and I give him credit for that.

[Frankie811]

I'm surprised that Joe responded, but not surprised by his words. After all, we have to remember that he use to be the US Ambassador to Malta and the mayor.

[Liamlunchtray]

LIAM!  your my hero man.  this is great.. and may I say that the possibility of one on one discourse like that is what makes this city and state so f-ing great!

  I will never ever forgive him for tearing down that gas station.. I still get pissed off and sad when I walk by it..

                                                          -Jason

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tanx!!! I was totally psyched by it. I tried to explain to my co-workers. They all just seemed confused. I'm surprised that some people just dont see what was so awesome about that gas station. It would have been great to totally restore all super space age looking and make it a tourist welcome center or something. A big space needle Providence sign or something. I would have been way into that. I always remember my dad taking me to the Circus every year at the civic center when I was a kid. We would always end up getting gas at the round gas station and I just loved it. "Pop! That building is ROUND!!!"

Liam

(Wonders if he could sweet talk Joe into getting the 1900AD granite block from the top of the trolley barn)

[Lone Ranger]

Lest we forget, the state legislature is a jealous god.

[brick]

Lest we forget, the state legislature is a jealous god.

The best thing about this would be if they moved the registry to Providence now. I can't believe, oh wait, of course I can believe, that they are talking about Johnston as an alternative. Frankly i would rather just do a full conversion of the Apex building and leave it there than put one in Johnston.

[MikeR]

Leave it to the General Assembly to screw up something as simple as this.

[Recchia]

The best thing about this would be if they moved the registry to Providence now. I can't believe, oh wait, of course I can believe, that they are talking about Johnston as an alternative. Frankly i would rather just do a full conversion of the Apex building and leave it there than put one in Johnston.

I agree. I'd rather it just stay in the Bucket. I guess the problem is that it's not central for the entire state.

Speaking of this, what the hell is going on with the Registry Building in Pawtucket? Is it fixed yet? What can we do to get a large business in there?

[brick]

I agree. I'd rather it just stay in the Bucket. I guess the problem is that it's not central for the entire state.

Speaking of this, what the hell is going on with the Registry Building in Pawtucket? Is it fixed yet? What can we do to get a large business in there?

the Pawtucket School Department is using it, I'm pretty sure.

[mr2448]

The best thing about this would be if they moved the registry to Providence now. I can't believe, oh wait, of course I can believe, that they are talking about Johnston as an alternative. Frankly i would rather just do a full conversion of the Apex building and leave it there than put one in Johnston.

Anything that keeps Paolino from making bucks off the state is all right with me. The location was terrible. Off an already crowded Route 10 at a one lane exit from north bound only. Coming from I-95 would have meant getting onto an already crowded Cranston street.

A Johnston site. Where would they put it? Where Trump wanted to put his casino off of I-295 and Route 6? No bus line and once again at a crowded interstate intersection.

How about fixing the building across from the State House on Smith Street and making it a centralized location with frequent bus service? Oh, that's where they moved it from.

Mark

[Cotuit]

They can build the main branch on Block Island for all I care. I just want an express branch, open on Saturdays in Providence. If I have to go to the Rhode Island Mall one more time I will kill myself. How about that weird street level spot across from GTECH in the mall that no one can put a successful store in? It can't be successful because it is a dumb location with zero foot traffic. Put a registry branch there and people will find it.

[DaveRPI]

They can build the main branch on Block Island for all I care. I just want an express branch, open on Saturdays in Providence. If I have to go to the Rhode Island Mall one more time I will kill myself. How about that weird street level spot across from GTECH in the mall that no one can put a successful store in? It can't be successful because it is a dumb location with zero foot traffic. Put a registry branch there and people will find it.

true

put all state and city offices in places like this

maybe it will "connect the dots"

and the RI DMV is so so so so dumb for so so so so many years now

[Frankie811]

Purchase of Registry building under way

http://www.projo.com/ri/pawtucket/content/...04.308dc5b.html

[Frankie811]

I agree. I'd rather it just stay in the Bucket. I guess the problem is that it's not central for the entire state.

Speaking of this, what the hell is going on with the Registry Building in Pawtucket? Is it fixed yet? What can we do to get a large business in there?