Officialdom needs to be engaged

The news says it all: “The city’s tallest building has lost nearly half its value over the past three years, according to the re-evaluation prepared for Providence.”

Since being vacated by its last tenant, Bank of America Corp., in 2013, the only activity at the iconic Art Deco, 26-story Industrial Trust Building, aka the Superman Building, has been temporary fixes to keep it from collapsing, literally in some cases.

Much as Providence must act with urgency to dodge fiscal Armaggeddon, the city must become involved in making this building viable again.

The issue isn’t simply public money, although much like rehabilitated mills across the state, this old building needs some public involvement.

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The issue is more a lack of political will, engagement and creativity. Does it all have to be done at once? What are the full office and residential needs for downtown?

Redevelopment will be led by the private sector. But the city’s political leadership must provide the spark to the process. •

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