The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Rhode Island district office and the City of Warwick Monday joined in announcing the hiring of a firm to oversee the demolition of buildings at the former Rocky Point Amusement Park.
The SBA – which has overseen the property since February 2000 as the court-appointed receiver since 2000 for Moneta Capital Corp. – had petitioned the U.S. District Court seeking permission to remove buildings on the former midway for safety reasons.
The agency had filed the petition at the request of city officials, who after several fires at the property had contacted the SBA in October, asking that certain buildings be demolished.
The court granted the SBA’s petition Jan. 24, ordering that the receiver demolish those structures designated by the city building inspector.
Now, the SBA has retained Fuss & O’Neill (www.fando.com) – a full-service engineering firm based in Manchester, Conn. – to handle the environmental remediation and demolition.
Update – City and SBA officials spoke about the contract and the future of the property at a news conference Tuesday, March 27, in Warwick:
“The SBA and the City of Warwick have been working cooperatively in an effort to assure that public safety meets city standards at the Rocky Point property,” Mark S. Hayward, director of the agency’s Rhode Island District Office, said in a statement. “With the removal of these buildings, the agency is moving a step closer to an acceptable use for this valuable property.”
“The buildings and other structures at Rocky Point have been a concern for some time,” said Mayor Scott Avedisian. “We appreciate the SBA’s willingness to work with the city to address thses concerns and to have the buildings removed as quickly as possible. This is a very positive development.”
Fuss & O’Neill is to begin removing hazardous material from the company after receiving final approval from the R.I. Department of Health, they said.
