It's a sad day in Providence.  One of my favorite buildings, the Arcade, has closed and is awaiting a new tenant.  The owner, Granoff Associates, is planning on renovating the building to suit the needs of it's new tenant.  It will probably be a single tenant and could be either a store or offices.  Either way, it's the end of an era.

     You may be reading this and think it's no big deal.  After all, the Arcade is going to reopen eventually, right?  Well, it's supposed to, but I'm not counting on it, at least not soon.  It seems that Granoff Associates is very good at closing buildings and knocking them down, but they aren't very good at improving the city.  If you want proof, just take a look at the gaping hole in the financial district beside the Arcade.  They would never be allowed to tear down the Arcade, but I worry about the security and maintenance of a vacant building.  I also wonder if they would be willing to compromise the historic character of the building if the right tenant comes along.

     I will be watching the future of the Arcade closely, and I hope Providence officials are doing the same.  Lately, developers have done quite a bit of damage to the Providence's historic fabric.  Let's hope this is not allowed to continue.


http://newsblog.projo.com/2008/12/arcade-closed-o.html#428027