Greater City Providence
George C. Arnold Building (aka The Narrow Building), photo by Jef Nickerson
The Providence City Council is set to give Mayor Angel Taveras the green light to seize a landmark downtown building that’s been decaying for years.
The council’s Ordinance Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to allow the Providence Redevelopment Agency to take over the George C. Arnold Building on Washington Street – potentially by eminent domain, a legal option that’s been rarely used in Providence in recent years.
The full council will vote Thursday on the measure, which would allow the agency to acquire the narrow, three-story structure by purchasing it or exercising its power of eminent domain.
Read the whole article to see Former Mayor Paolino still harping on how it should be torn down and how “they” shoulda let him build a parking garage there years ago.
Jef Nickerson
If a parking garage were appropriate, and it may not be, at least the first few hours of parking should be free to try to bring back retail patrons, businesses, and others to the Downcity. Like the many smart, free municipal garages in Beverly Hills (where people can pay for parking). But how much potential vibrancy remains in this now confused and limping institutional, residential, business, and retail Downcity landscape is anyone’s guess. As usual, short-term gimmickry will likely prevail over longer-term, creative planning. Development rights to the one who promises the largest political campaign contribution. End result — yet another high-rate parking lot. Yay!
It’d be a shame to tear the building down. Retail mix in there would be nice. Let’s see where the city goes with this.
Another building I wonder what is going to happen to is the one near the Dunk. It’s the 70’s mod looking facility. Been empty for years.
Paolinos, Lambardis, Caprios… all that is wrong with this city.