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April 4, 2008

Cicilline order protects against 'hasty' demolitions

PROVIDENCE -- Mayor David N. Cicilline signed an executive order that puts in force a "demolition delay" policy his office says requires "thoughtful deliberation" before historic buildings become victims of the wrecking ball.

The order, which took effect March 31, adopts recommendations "to protect against the hasty demolition of historic homes and buildings," the mayor's office said today.

The Working Group for the Review of City of Providence Demolition Policy made the recommendations, which include procedures that "require careful deliberation by city officials, boards, and commissions" when someone proposes knocking down locally-designated historic buildings.

The group has started a process that will inventory endangered historic properties in Providence, and is drafting policies to ensure that owners maintain historic properties and avoid “demolition by neglect.”

The announcement comes as an annual statewide historic preservation conference is slated to convene in Providence one week from tomorrow. The conference will mark the 40th anniversary fo the state's Historic Preservation Act and the state commission concerned with such matters.

“As we work to grow our economy and create jobs, this is about protecting and preserving Providence’s unique character,” Cicilline said in the statement.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

The procedures include requiring the city's building official to, in most instances, refer any proposed demolition of a locally-designated historic building to the Historic District Commission or Downcity Design Review Commission. No proposed demolition could take place until after the appropriate review board acts on the proposal.

When a building official finds a building is unsafe, but not in imminent danger of collapse, the official will ask for an emergency meeting of the appropriate review board and take no action until the board has thoroughly reviewed and acted n the proposed demolition. The owners of the property will have to secure the property, with police details if needed, at the owner’s expense, pending the review's outcome.

When the building official finds a building poses a safety hazard, a committee made up of building inspector, fire marshal, planning and development director, structural engineer, and the chairman or designee from the appropriate review boards will convene immediately. The committee will figure out whether the building should be demolished. The building official will order partial or full demolition based on committee consensus.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:33 PM | Permalink

April 4, 2008

Cicilline order protects against 'hasty' demolitions

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