PROVIDENCE – The Columbus Theatre at 270 Broadway, a venue used by many community groups in the Providence area, will remain closed while the owner “vigorously” pursues repairs to correct alleged code violations that resulted in the city’s Aug. 25 decision to shut it down.
“We are vigorously working to get the theater open as soon as possible,” said Jeffrey A. Mega, an attorney with the Providence firm of Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP, which is representing owner Jon Berberian.
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Mega said he is awaiting a final report from the fire marshal’s office and, until he receives it next week, he cannot say for certain how much it will cost to repair the problems nor when the 83-year-old theater will be able to open. Berberian, who referred the Providence Business News to his attorney, has been quoted in other recent media reports as saying it would cost about $100,000 for repairs to the sprinkler system alone.
According to Sheila Barrett, director of the city department of inspection and standards, the city closed the theater due to “multiple” electrical and mechanical violations and “serious” structural violations. She noted the city had cited the theater in July for an exterior code violation because “bricks were falling off” the building outside.
Among the violations that Barrett said the city found were uncovered electrical junctions inside and outside, damaged wires, excessive use of extension cords, inadequate emergency lighting and flammables stored near heating sources. “The worst violation,” she said, was that “several” emergency exits had been barricaded, apparently for security reasons.
Before the theater can reopen, Barrett said, city permits are required for such work as structural and electrical improvements, and the work when complete will be checked by the appropriate city inspectors as well as the city fire department. The city was notified of the apparent violations by the fire department in response to a complaint from a patron of the theater, she said. “The owner has been cooperative,” she added.
The Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) has its offices in the theater and uses the Columbus for many screenings during its annual festival, held in early August.
George T. Marshall, executive director of RIIFF, said this morning that his offices remain open and two businesses on the ground level, a cell phone store and barber shop, also are open. However, film screenings or performances in the theater portion of the building have been suspended. “A ton of community groups” use the Columbus, Marshall said, because it is a relatively inexpensive venue to rent.
Safety comes first, but let’s not forget that we are in a terrible recession. We must hope that the bureaucracy is responsive and moves with alacrity when/if good faith efforts are made to rectify the problems. Too often there seems to be a willful rush to stifle business by over zealous enforcement of petty or minor infractions. We seem to work hard in Rhode Island to thwart and/or inhibit business.
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