FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
West Broadway Neighborhood Association, 1560 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02909
Contact: Kari Lang at 401-301-3821, 401-831-9344 or kari@wbna.org.

Historic building still threatened in spite of legal wins
Significant school building wins all legal battles yet languishes from owner neglect
Providence, Rhode Island – August 22, 2010 – In yet another legal win for the historic Grove Street School, the State Building Code Standards Committee Board of Appeal recently voted 13 to 3 to uphold a Providence Building Official’s decision requiring owners Michael Tarro and other members of the Tarro family to immediately stabilize and secure the building.

On a cold Saturday morning in February of 2007, Mayor David N. Cicilline and Federal Hill residents acted to stop the wrecking ball hired by the Tarro family that was to illegally demolish the historic property. Since that time the City of Providence has remained committed to preserving the school throughout a lengthy legal process, and hired independent attorney Deming Sherman to pursue a case against the owners, due to the fact that partial owner Michael Tarro is employed by the City of Providence as an assistant solicitor.

In the three and a half years since the building was partially demolished, the owners have appealed each court battle the city has won. These appeals include a Superior Court trial, an appeal to the Supreme Court, and two administrative appeals, with resulting decisions that legally prevent further demolition of the school.

As this historically significant building wins in court, however, it remains vulnerable to damage from weather and vandals due to owner neglect. Broken windows, holes in the roof, and an immense opening where the partial demolition occurred before residents and the City intervened have community members concerned and disheartened. The site is also now trash-strewn, overgrown with weeds, and covered in graffiti.

“This situation is ridiculous. If you or I were to keep our homes this way, the City would heavily fine us and move to take our property, yet this intentional blight is allowed to continue,” said Kathy Pearce, a resident who lives near the school. “Neighbors want to see the historic Grove Street School preserved and reused. From a neighborhood safety perspective, it is dangerous that the building has not yet been secured.”

Relief may soon come to the former school, as the City has indicated that it will board the building and secure it from intrusion and the weather, and will put a lien on the property to cover the cost of the stabilization work. The City also pledged to cite all violations that exist on the property.

As for securing the Grove Street School’s future, several studies conducted over the past two years determine that the school is structurally sound and salvageable for re-use. In addition, an interested buyer has been identified who is willing to purchase the school with the intent for neighborhood-sensitive use.

Engineer and architect Wil Yoder of Providence conducted a structural review and concluded that the school building is in sound condition except for its southeast corner, where the previous demolition attempt compromised the exterior wall of the structure. A re-use study by Charles Hagenah Architects, Inc., of Waltham, MA, includes a detailed plan and feasibility review for renovation of the Grove Street School as condominiums with green, energy efficient features.

“In a city where preservation is highly valued, the historic Grove Street School is the unfortunate poster child for demolition-by-neglect. This situation highlights a blatant disregard for the laws that we all live by in the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island,” said Kari Lang, Executive Director of the West Broadway Neighborhood Association. “As Mayor Cicilline said when he came to the scene of the demolition back in 2007 ‘This isn’t the Wild, Wild West.’ I hope during this election season, the City of Providence, our elected officials and the candidates will work to save this building in the name of legality as well as neighborhood preservation.”

To preservationists and community members, the Grove Street Elementary School symbolizes a defining era of immigration in Providence’s Federal Hill. It is the last remaining of five grammar schools built to serve the rapidly increasing immigrant population of Federal Hill in 1900. Advocates argue that the property embodies a critical piece of the neighborhood’s heritage, and should be saved to benefit the community through its re-use as a cultural center such as a museum, or for social services or housing.

The building was decommissioned by the Providence Public School Department in 1980. While the site was left unused for over 30 years, its recognition as an important historic property increased. It is included as a contributing historic property in the Broadway-Armory National Register Historic District, the Industrial and Commercial Buildings District, and the Providence Preservation Society’s Endangered Properties list.

Established in 1983, the West Broadway Neighborhood Association organizes neighbors and businesses on the West Side of Providence to preserve and promote their diverse, historic, urban community as a safe, vibrant and sustainable place to live, work, and play. For more information about the WBNA, please visit www.wbna.org or call 401.831.9344.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Broadway Neighborhood Association (WBNA)

Kari Lang (WBNA), 401-301-3821, 401-831-9344 or kari@wbna.org

Yet Another Legal Win for the Historic Grove Street School

Significant school building wins in court every time, yet languishes from owner neglect

Providence, Rhode Island – August 21, 2010

On Thursday, August 12, the State Building Code Standards Committee Board of Appeal upheld a City of Providence Building Board of Review decision that sustained the City of Providence Building Official’s order that the owners of the Grove Street School must immediately stabilize and secure the historic school building.  By a vote of 13 to 3, the board deemed the July 20, 2009 order by Providence Building Official Kerry Anderson necessary for public safety.

In the more than three years since the historic building—owned by members of the Tarro family—was illegally partially demolished on the morning of Saturday, February 3, 2007, there have been a Superior Court trial, an appeal to the Supreme Court, and two administrative appeals, with the decisions rendered in that successfully prevented further demolition of the School.  After the partial demolition occurred in February 2007, the City hired attorney Deming Sherman to pursue a case against the owners, due to the fact that partial owner Michael Tarro is employed by the City of Providence as an assistant solicitor.  Michael Tarro is also running for the State Representative seat vacated by House Finance Commitee Chairman Steven M. Costantino.

Unfortunately, as the School wins in court, it remains open to the weather and vandals with broken windows, holes in the roof, and an immense opening where the demolition occurred.  It also is covered in graffiti, and the site itself is trash-strewn, and overgrown with weeds.  Neighbor Kathy Pearce said, “This situation is ridiculous, if you or I were to keep our homes this way, the City would heavily fine us and move to take our property, yet this situation is allowed to continue.”  She continued, “Neighbors want to see the historic Grove Street School preserved and reused.  From a neighborhood safety perspective, it is dangerous that the building is allowed to be kept open.”

Relief may soon come to the School, as the City has indicated that it will board the building and secure it from intrusion and the weather, and will put a lien on the property to cover the cost of the stabilization work.  The City also pledged to write up all the violations that exist on the property.

As for the long-term solution for the School, a reuse study has been completed, and there is an interested buyer who is willing to purchase the School, and put it to good, neighborhood-sensitive use.

The Grove Street Elementary School is the last remaining grammar school which symbolizes a defining era of immigration in Providence’s Federal Hill.  It was one of five grammar schools built to serve the rapidly increasing immigrant population of Federal Hill in 1900. Residents and preservation advocates argue that the Grove Street School embodies a critical piece of the neighborhood’s heritage, and should be saved to benefit the community through its re-use as a cultural center such as a museum, or for social services or housing.

Executive Director of the WBNA, Kari Lang exclaimed, “In a city where preservation is claimed to be highly valued, the historic Grove Street School is the poster child for demolition by neglect and for following the law.  This situation highlights a blatant disregard for the laws that we all live by in the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island. As Mayor Cicilline said when he came to the scene of the demolition back in 2007 ‘This isn’t the Wild, Wild West.’  I hope during this election season, the City of Providence, our elected officials, and even the candidates, will take on this case and save our school in the name of legality, as well as neighborhood preservation.”

Anne Tait, one of the neighborhood leaders of the effort to preserve the historic site said, “The Federal Hill neighborhood has seen many waves of immigration; the school should be used to celebrate our past, and our cultural heritage. We applaud the efforts of Mayor Cicilline, and are hopeful that this important building will have a second chance to serve the community.”

Several studies conducted over the past two years determined that the school is structurally sound and salvageable for re-use. One study by Charles Hagenah Architects, Inc., of Waltham, MA, includes a detailed plan and feasibility review for renovation of the Grove Street School as condominiums with green, energy efficient features such as solar panels.  Engineer and architect Wil Yoder of Providence conducted a structural review and concluded that the school building is in good and sound condition except for its southeast corner, where the previous demolition attempt compromised the exterior wall of the structure.

The building was decommissioned by the Providence Public School Department in 1980. While the site was left unused for over 30 years, its recognition as an important historic property increased. It is included as a contributing historic property in the Broadway-Armory National Register Historic District, the Industrial and Commercial Buildings District, and the Providence Preservation Society’s Endangered Properties list.

Established in 1983, the West Broadway Neighborhood Association organizes neighbors and businesses on the West Side of Providence to preserve and promote their diverse, historic, urban community as a safe, vibrant and sustainable place to live, work, and play.  For more information about the WBNA, please visit www.wbna.org or call 401.831.9344.

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WBNA Enews 8.12.2010 (Special Edition)

We hope all of you have had an enjoyable summer thus far.  Our West Side Thursday’s concert series was a huge success. “Thank You” to The Rolling Bones, Santa Mamba, Miss Wensday & the New Medicinals, Louisiana Hayride and the Department of Art, Culture, & Tourism for helping make the 2010 concert series a success.

Please don’t forget to stop by the FARMER’s MARKET for some fresh produce grown locally every Thursday from 3:00PM – 7:00PM, now through October.

IMPORTANT upcoming Neighborhood Events:

SAVE THE DATE: WBNA hosts LOCAL CITY & STATE CANDIDATES NIGHT at the WBNA on  Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 5:30pm. City council candidates from  Wards 13 & 15 and State Representative candidates from Districts 9 & 14 have been invited. Meet & mingle with candidates from 5:30pm-6:00pm. Program begins promptly at 6:00pm. More details to follow.

SAVE THE DATE: MAYORAL DEBATE, Thursday, Sept. 9 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Providence Public Library, 150 Empire Street.  The Providence Preservation Society and the Providence Revolving Fund will host a mayoral debate. Candidates will discuss preservation issues critical to Providence's economic vitality, sense of place, and continued neighborhood development. If you have preservation-related questions you would like the candidates to address, please e-mail them to Kathleen Philp, Preservation & Advocacy Coordinator, at kphilp@ppsri.org.

SAVE THE DATE: Dexter Park Clean-Up on Saturday, September 25 at the Dexter Training Ground Park. The WBNA Friends of Dexter Training Ground will host a clean-up of the park that will include picking up trash, and painting benches and trash cans. More details to follow.

NOTE: A presentation will be made and feedback and involvement will be sought from NEIGHBORS as we begin to plan for rebuilding the playground for our children

WBNA thanks the Parks Department for working with us to replace six trees that had died in the park this summer and for bringing more trash barrels to the park.

SeeClick Fix: Check out this website http://www.seeclickfix.com/providence Got a complaint in your neighborhood? West Side neighbors have this to be a very useful tool to helping solve some

Non-emergency issues. Click this link http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/seeclickfix-plus/id348529764?mt=8 if you have an iPhone to download the application. If you have a Twitter account  go here http://twitter.com/seeclickfix.   NOTE: Always call 9-1-1- for Emergencies.

“THANK YOU” to Senator Harold Metts for securing a $1000 legislative grant for the WBNA to help us continue our work providing programs, events, and advocacy to the West Side.

Other Area Events:

India Point Park Music Series. – on August 12^th, 19^th and 26 from 5:00pm-10:00pm. This event is part of the “Celebrate Providence!” Neighborhood Performing Arts Series and is presented and sponsored by the City of Providence, David N. Cicilline, Mayor, the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, the Parks Department and Friends of India Point Park.

Learn to Play Bocce Ball: The Nocabulabet (original name for Federal Hill) Bocce League threatens to go on WITHOUT Deboccery, the most infamous, boldest, tastiest team in the league!  Ok, we’ve never been THAT good, but we’re good enough. The Capo, is seeking new members.  Things to know:

1. Bocce is reliable fun
2. Federal Hill, Wednesday nights beginning 8/25, 8 weeks, 6:45pm-9:30pm-ish
3. We are 16 teams of 6 players each, each team needs 4 players per game (and 2 alternates who can take the night off if they want)
4. Each team pays $50 (divided by 6 players) for the season which goes toward equipment and our season-end party, this equates to about $1 per player per game
5. Practice is cheating (you don’t have to be any good)

Hoping you can join us, and please forward to friends who might be interested.