PAWTUCKET CITY COUNCIL
AD HOC CITY HALL BUILDING REVIEW COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 24, 2024
A meeting of the City Council’s Ad Hoc City Hall Building Review Committee was held Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 5:34 p.m., in the City Council Office, Room 303, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Present – Councilor Araujo, Chair; Councilor Moran; Ryan Holt, Chief of Staff; Jason Pettinato, Senior Planner (replacing Camerin Bennett); Chris Crawley, Acting Public Works Director; Barbara Zdravesky and Kevin Miniati.
Absent – Councilor Rubio; and Kevin Barry.
Councilor Araujo presided.
Also present were Paul Trudeau, Director of Preservation, Preserve RI; Jeffrey Emidy, Executive Director/State Historic Preservation Officer, RI Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission; and Virginia Hesse, Staff Architect, RI Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission.
The Committee conducted a public input period.
The first speaker at public input was Pamela Hughes, 10 Exchange Court #301, Pawtucket.
Ms. Hughes read a prepared statement, which was attached and made part of the record.
The next speaker at public input was Mary Healey, 85 Armistice Blvd., Pawtucket.
Ms. Healey advocated for preserving the tower and exploring all avenues for maintaining the building. She noted that the city has lost several historic buildings including the Read Ott mansion on Walcott Street.
The next speaker at public input was Rep. Jennifer Stewart, 41 Patt Street, Pawtucket.
Rep. Stewart advocated for keeping the building and restoring the tower. She believes that the tower is an icon, which connects Pawtucket to the new deal; a connection which should not be lost. She was concerned about the cost of tearing down the tower. She noted that the building is centrally located. She was concerned about the hole that would be left if the tower is torn down. She questioned the cost to repair the hole.
The next speaker at public input was Councilor Clovis Gregor, 118 Trenton Street, Pawtucket.
Councilor Gregor stated that city hall is a significant landmark. He believes that the location of city hall is perfect. He believes that city hall moving would kill the tower. He opposed tearing it down or selling the building to a private entity because city hall belongs to the people.
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October 24, 2024
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Councilor Gregor stated that a feasibility study is needed on the building.
He presented a handout, which is attached and made part of the record.
Chairman Araujo announced that the committee received written public input from Lisa Beade, 33 Marbury Avenue, Pawtucket.
There are no other speakers.
The reading of the records of the June 25, 2024 Ad Hoc City Hall Building Review Committee meeting was dispensed with and the records were APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.
The committee took up the following:
Presentations from and discussions with Preserve Rhode Island and RI Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission (RIHPHC).
Mr. Holt stated that the committee is looking at this project from all angles. No decisions will be made tonight. This is a deliberative process.
Ms. Zdravesky asked about the cost of materials and if there is room for compromise on the materials used on the repair of the building. She also asked about the impact of losing the building.
Mr. Trudeau stated that Preserve RI can be a resource to help find funding. He would like to see the building preserved, but realized it is a complicated issue. He noted that the National Trust for Historic Preservation has planning grants.
Mr. Emidy stated that RIHPHC would regulate what happens to the building. He stated that it’s important to cast the net wide when contemplating what to do. The committee should speak to people from outside Rhode Island.
He stated that RIHPHC can help find funding and provide advice. He noted that Save America’s Treasures (SAT) Grants are available, which are open to properties with national significance. The committee should speak to the Congressional delegation for support.
Ms. Hesse noted that it took two years to get an SAT grant for their building.
She stated that she has reviewed city hall for over 35 years. Transitional masonry construction was used to build the building. She noted that there are problems with this process. It can be treated. She stated that there are no experts for this in Rhode Island, but there are some in the northeast. A technical assessment is needed to fix the building.
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October 24, 2024
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She stated that the International Masonry Institute agreed to look at studies that have been done on the building at no cost. She also recommended speaking to conservation specialists.
Ms. Zdravesky believes that not having the building here would be a big morale loss for the city. The committee needs to commit to fixing the building before seeking funds.
Councilor Araujo stated that they need to know the cost.
Mr. Holt stated that the information from this meeting is very helpful for making a decision. He will look into the Masonry Institute.
Mr. Miniati noted that originally the committee spoke about fixing the tower. Now they are speaking about fixing the entire building.
Councilor Araujo stated that they need to fix the entire building to ensure people in the building are safe.
Mr. Miniati agreed.
Ms. Zdravesky noted that tearing down the building would be entirely taxpayer funded. It may not be to fix the building.
The next meeting will be at the call of the Chair.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:21 p.m.
Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk
Pawtucket City Council