So it goes – the business as usual attitude, which has dominated Providence for the past 50 years has proven once again to be so entrenched that even a public RFP process can be corrupted to benefit the wealthy and connected. In this case the winner is - The Carpionato Family.
The Providence Fruit and Produce Warehouse Company Building (now scheduled for demolition) was sold to the highest bidder in a State run RFP process in 2005. Included in the original RFP was the requirement that the building be placed in a preservation easement, protecting it from demolition. But oops – State officials kind-of left that part out of the final legal documents.
The Providence Fruit and Produce Warehouse was constructed in 1929 and served as warehouse, market and transfer station for produce and goods arriving on train for distribution across the region. The State demolished a large section of the building to make way for an ever-important highway off-ramp to serve the Providence Place Mall. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 2005.
Providence has seen the revitalization of buildings in worse condition – leading the public to believe that The Carpionato Family never intended to build their version of the Quincy Market. If you read the comments in the blog-world, it is pretty clear nobody ever expected this building to be saved. Funny how expectations become reality.
View a recent Providence Journal Article here
Visit Art In Ruins for another take on the drama
Image Source: Art In Ruins
1 response so far ↓
1 secretdoor // Jan 17, 2008 at 11:51 pm
… this has been the dark undercurrent of my past week in worcester and providence. the disappearance of this building is so deeply sad to me that I can not even become outraged or indignant (which has been my reaction in past situations…) it just seems like Providence is completely stuck in its way of doing things and will never realize the need to change, much less ever take a step to make an actual change. so, so sad. I am comforted by projects, action, and the chances we have to build things new and better… but every old building demolished is lost history, and a lost opportunity — and makes me more and more ambivalent about providence’s future…
- jean
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