It's no mystery that one of the prime reasons why Providence is hailed as a beautiful city is because our history is preserved. While other urban centers recklessly used the wrecking ball as a tool of renewal, Providence wisely resisted the wholesale demolition of historic structures.
The state has played a substantial part in saving the capital city's history. In the past, when the state made major economic-development decisions, one solution would take care of two problems. In order for Providence Place mall to be built, the state had to relocate the University of Rhode Island campus in Providence.
The iconic Shepard Building, a downtown landmark, empty since 1973, was on the verge of being demolished in 1990. As mayor at that time, I was a strong advocate for the building to stand and to take on the role as the new home of URI's College of Continuing Education. Renovations began in 1994 and URI moved into its new home in January 1996.
The fate of the South Street Power Station, also referred to as Dynamo House, took a turn for the better when the state selected it as the site of the new nursing education center shared by the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College. With Brown University moving most of its administrative offices to the building and a 744-space parking garage, the South Street Power Station once again will play a powerful part in the city's ongoing reuse of historic buildings.
And now the state is talking about creating an Innovation Campus, with Gov. Gina M. Raimondo proposing a $20 million bond question. If voters approve the bond, my suggestion to the state is to use the old Industrial National Bank Building – more commonly referred to as the Superman Building – as the site for the Innovation Campus.
Next month, it will be three years since the Bank of America moved out, leaving this grand Superman Building empty and desolate. It's not advantageous for the city's image to have its tallest building incapable of shining its light, literally and figuratively, on Providence.
What would be advantageous is to breathe new life into the Superman Building, our economy, our promise, our future and our ability to reinvent ourselves as a center of innovation. n
Joseph R. Paolino, Jr. is managing partner of Paolino Properties and former mayor of Providence.