West Broadway Elementary School Task Force Presents Findings to the Providence School Board

Task Force Recommends Returning Students to a Renovated West Broadway Elementary

Providence, RI - On Monday, April 28th, members of the West Broadway Elementary School Task Force presented the Task Force's findings to the Providence School Board.  West Broadway Neighborhood Association Executive Director Kari Lang, William Kite Architect Christine Malecki West, and parent and resident Bryan Principe advocated for returning the community's elementary students back to a renovated West Broadway Elementary.

The West Broadway Elementary School Task Force was commissioned by the Providence School Department and tasked with providing recommendations for the future location, facility design, and grade configuration of the West Broadway Elementary School, located on Providence's West Side at 29 Bainbridge Avenue.  The school was closed for the 2007-2008 school year, and its students transplanted to the Del Sesto School building nearly two miles away, due to building fire code violations.  Historically the Providence School Department implements the recommendations made by community task forces of this type.  In late 2006, a community task force commissioned to decide the fate of the East Side's Nathan Bishop Middle School recommended a major renovation; the Providence School Board promptly approved that plan.   

The Task Force evaluated four facility options for the school, including a newly constructed building at an estimated cost of nearly $20 million not including site acquisition and an $18 million renovation proposed by consultant Dave Finney of DesignPartnership of Cambridge.  In addition, the grade configuration subcommittee weighed the pros and cons of a Pre-K through 5 or K-8 grade configuration.  Several community design charrettes were held to gather input from parents and residents.  Ultimately, the group concluded that maintaining a K-5 grade configuration for the time being would allow students to be returned to the community the quickest, and that the "Finney Renovation" would most cost-effectively transform the school into a 21st century learning environment and preserve the historic building as a community school.      

"The best part about our recommendations is that they are flexible, as long as our children are returned to their historic community school building as quickly as possible" commented West Broadway parent and resident Bryan Principe.  "While we support the full $18 million renovation, we'll settle for now for a less ambitious renovation if it means our kids can attend school in a safe, 21st century learning environment where parents and children alike can walk to school and be once again active in their neighborhood school community."  

State Senator Paul Jabour, whose district includes the West Broadway Elementary School community, is willing to introduce legislation to finance the recommended renovation.  "Time is of the essence due to the fact that the legislative year is ending in late June," said Senator Jabour.  "The City needs to make a decision and the School Board needs to act immediately to get this funding request in on-time," he added.   

"Returning the students back to the community and preserving the historic West Broadway Elementary school building have always been priority one, and the good news is this is the cheapest option," said Task Force member Kari Lang.  "The task force sincerely hopes the Providence School Board respects the wishes of the community and all the parents and residents involved in this process and restores West Broadway as a vibrant community school."      

There is STILL TIME to get on the Yard Sale Map OR to donate to the WBNA sale.  ACT Now!!!!

 

Neighborhood-Wide Yard Sale

May 17, 2008

8:30am

 

Sign Me UP!  Households participate by contributing $10 to WBNA to 'get on the Map' and then 

keep the proceeds from their individual sales in front of their homes.

WBNA will create, print and distribute a map showing all the individual yard sales and will

 advertise the sale in the Providence Journal.

 

Payment can be mailed or dropped off at WBNA (be sure to include your   address).

Donations of items (in good condition) as well as baked goods and plants for the

WBNA's sale can be dropped off at the WBNA Headquarters, 1560 Westminster Street,

WBNA is open Monday - Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm or by appointment (proceeds to

benefit WBNA). 

 

 Rid your home of clutter, have fun with neighbors and support WBNA!

 

 For Details:  call 831-9344 or 

http://mail.wbna.org/src/compose.php?send_to=wbna%40wbna.org

 

 Kari Nel Lang, Executive Director

West Broadway Neighborhood Association

1560 Westminster Street

Providence, RI 02909

www.wbna.org 

 

Phone: 401-831-9344

Fax: 401-831-0388

Email: http://mail.wbna.org/src/compose.php?send_to=Kari%40wbna.org

Hello WBNAers,
Below is the latest on the Grove Street School from WBNA CDC Chair Anne Tait and lawyer extraordinaire, Deming Sherman. Please spread the word and help us save the Grove Street School!
Kari, WBNA

Dear Friends,

This was sent today (May 5, 2008) from Deming Sherman regarding the court issues and purchase of Grove St school. There needs to be a buyer offering a bid with serious intentions soon. This may be a problematic development effort but the rewards are deeply important to Federal Hill as well as the preservation of many other neglected and abused buildings in the city.

Your help, insight, forwarding onto others are all important. But most importantly, we need someone who is willing to take the risk and can work toward success here.

Anne Tait (see below)

May 5, 2008

To all: We had a mediation session this morning with the Supreme Court (retired Chief Justice Weisberger). There is going to be an interim order entered that allows us 30 days to seek a buyer for Grove Street School (and an additional 15 days if someone is seriously interested). The Tarros are prepared to sell the property (no set price, although it is appraised at $225,000, but likely can be purchased for less) since it can't be demolished at least at this point. So here is an opportunity to get preservation folks to come forward! I can arrange for inspection and will give out structural reports and ther information. We need a creative solution here, because I fear that sooner or later, the building will be demolished if we can't find a solution.
Deming

Deming E. Sherman
Partner
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP
2800 Financial Plaza
Providence, RI 02903
401.276.6443
FX: 401.276.6611

Thanks to all of you who called the Mayor and Councilman Lombardi about the prohibition of outdoor seating on Broadway.  I have heard that they both have received MANY calls.  Your activism will let them know our community values our local businesses, and supports outdoor seating at Broadway restaurants as a wonderful and vibrant part of our community.  Councilman Lombardi sent an update on the situation which I pass on to you.

THANKING YOU FOR YOUR ACTION!
Kari, WBNA
 
Councilman Lombardi held a meeting with business owners and city representatives in early April with regard to the issue of outdoor seating and usage of sidewalk space for restaurants and other businesses on Broadway. In response to the issues that were raised, Councilman Lombardi asked that a zoning amendment be prepared to remedy the current restrictions that prohibit use of sidewalk on Broadway (considered an extension of business premises). He will be introducing the ordinance and ushering the zoning amendment through the approval process, which will hopefully be able to be expedited. In the meantime, Councilman Lombardi is exploring other options with the department of inspection and standards and the administration to determine if there is a temporary waiver or some other measure to ensure that businesses on Broadway do not suffer further from the current limitations. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the councilman at the City Council office, 521-7477 (his office number was inadvertently given in a separate email; this is the preferred number at which to reach him).

Won't you pass the word to help to bring organic food shopping and green living to Westminster Street?

The WBNA is seeking your help in finding buyers for the residential units in our SWELL (Shop, Work, Eat, Live LOCAL) building at 1577 Westminster Street. The outstanding building designed by Kite Architects will house the Urban Greens Food Cooperative Grocery on the first floor with four bright, airy energy efficient, affordable apartments above.

This will be a signature green building with extra insulation, a light reflecting roof, a water tower to collect rainwater and many other features to cut pollution, save energy and cut daily living costs.

Its location in the West Side Arts District on the bus line, a short ride to Downtown Providence offers many advantages. The attached flyer outlines some more details that will make these apartments wonderful places to live.

We have raised over $1.5 million in grants, loans and in-kind donations. All permits are in place. Our contractor is ready to begin building.

All we need now is your help to find buyers to sign up to take two of the units when we open this fall. We hope that you will pass the word on this outstanding opportunity! 

Click here for MORE details!

If you attended National Neighborhood Day this year we'd like you to help them by filling out this survey. Thank you!

National Neighborhood Day (NND) is making connections and changing lives - please help NND tell that story to funders of the effort.  The link below is to a 3-4 minute survey that will help NND tell its story and raise funding to reach into more neighborhoods and help more families and children across America.  Please take a brief few moments to help if you have participated in any NND gatherings.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=fDgSzuBF_2f2tac4JTKwAeIA_3d_3d   

http://www.neighborhoodday.org/

Thanks from National Neighborhood Day!