PPS seeks ‘endangered’ buildings

PROVIDENCE – The Providence Preservation Society is seeking assistance in creating its latest Most Endangered Properties List.
The annual list, started in 1995, seeks to identify historic structures threatened by development. The society says it hopes the list serves as a catalyst for sustainable development by sparking conversation and finding solutions that ensure preservation.
However, inclusion on the list does not always lead to successful preservation. The previously listed Grove Street School was partially demolished in 2007, and the Providence National Bank façade appears on track to be torn down to make way for a parking lot. The Grove Street school was added to register in 2002. The Providence National Bank was added in 2009.
The society has seen some successes. The General Ambrose Burnside House, at 314 Benefit St., was listed on the 2009 Most Endangered Properties List. During the summer of 2009, extensive work was undertaken to restore the property to its late 19th-century splendor. The Captain Joseph Tillinghast House at 403 South Main St., also listed in 2009, is in the process of being stabilized and restored to its colonial past.
Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 24. The society plans to release the final list in May during National Preservation Month.
Nominations may be made to Kathleen Styger, preservation and advocacy coordinator, who can be reached at (401) 831-7440 or kstyger@ppsri.org. Nomination forms can also be downloaded from the society’s Web site at www.ppsri.org.