Upcoming
PPS Events
| September 4
Volunteer BBQ
September 18
MEP Exhibit Opening
September 20
Party on Top with Sizzle!
September 23-25
Docent Training
September 29 - November 26
PPS Children's Heritage Education Tours
October 1
The Future of the Past Panel Discussion
October 16
MEP Exhibit Artists' Talk
October 18
MEP Exhibit Closing Reception
October 23-24
Realtor Training
October 29
Business Membership Event
December 5-6
Holiday Festival & Downtown Stroll
January 22, 2009
Annual Meeting
February 7, 2009
Preservation Awards &
Winter Bash | | | | | Observations from the Executive Director: Gridlock
Neighborhood residents and National Grid are having quite a bumpy ride right now, if recent events are any measure of things.
A full-to-overflowing meeting on August 19 at the West Broadway Neighborhood Association (WBNA) headquarters on Westminster Street saw crowds of angry residents confronting red-faced National Grid spokesmen, while local politicos moderated the lively - and at times heated - proceedings.
All this came in response to National Grid's attempts to install exterior gas meters on customers' properties in several neighborhoods in Providence.
To his great credit, Ted Sanderson, our unflappable Executive Director of the Rhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission, shed some much-needed light by explaining a compromise policy pertaining to historic buildings: Properties on the National Register of Historic Places - either through individual listing or because they contribute to a district- could be exempt from the unpopular exterior meters.
But it was clear that this policy did not go far enough for most people in attendance, who emphatically did not want the exterior meters - whether on historic properties or not.
As it was, I asked the National Grid spokesman whether the company knew how many National Register districts there are in Providence, where their boundaries are, or which buildings in them are contributing. More importantly, would the owners of eligible properties only receive the exemption if they were knowledgeable enough to ask for it, or would the company proactively identify such properties? The reply indicated a willingness to work out a procedure, but no specific strategy as yet.
Another speaker spoke ardently about historic buildings - he mentioned a group of elaborate 1880's houses in South Providence - that are not designated in any way. They would not qualify for the exemption.
So I suggested that properties eligible for the National Register also be covered, which is the policy for Federal undertakings under Federal law. I also pointed out that this same law requires agencies proposing such work to identify historic properties in their path and take them into consideration.
Over two hours later, the meeting adjourned - but not before scheduling another one for 7:00 pm, September 23, at WBNA. Clearly, there is more to come on this issue.
George W. Born
Executive Director | Preservation
2008 Most Endangered Properties Photography Exhibit
 PPS's highly acclaimed Most Endangered Properties Photography Exhibit will appear at Butterfield in the historic Burgess Building at 232 Westminster Street in downtown Providence. A collaborative effort between PPS and the Arts and Business Council of Rhode Island, the exhibit is a unique way to present preservation advocacy through fine art. The show features the work Jesse Bouley, Kristin Carlson, Michael Cevoli, Andrew Dernavich, Stephanie Ewens, Adam Hall, Kryzstyna Harber-Caldarone, Scott Lapham, Brian McDonald, Frank Mullin and David Simione.
It will open with a Gallery Night Providence reception on Thursday, September 18, 6:00-9:00 p.m. A closing reception will be held on Saturday, October 18, 6:00-8:00 p.m. New this year is The Future of the Past: A Preservation Panel Discussion on Wednesday, October 1 at 6:00 p.m. and an artists' talk on Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. (Gallery Night Providence). The exhibit may be viewed during store hours, Tuesday through Friday 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., and Sunday 12:00- 5:00 p.m. Download the exhibit postcard. For more information go to www.ppsri.org.
Most Endangered Properties Update: Fieldstone Trolley Shelter
Please join the Blackstone Parks Conservancy on Friday, September 5 at 10:00 a.m. at the Trolley Shelter on Blackstone Boulevard for their groundbreakimg ceremony to kick off the restoration of this most unique property. The group welcomes donations to help with this project. Inquiries and/or donations may be made to Blackstone Parks Conservancy, P. O. Box 603141, Providence RI 02906. Stories and reminiscences of the shelter are also welcome. | Education
2008 PPS Realtor Training, Historic Interiors, Open to Non-Realtors
PPS Realtor Training will take place on Thursday, October 23 and Friday, October 24 with the theme Historic Interiors.
The course is certified for 10 hours of CE credit by the RI Division of Business Regulation Real Estate Division, and is endorsed by the Greater Providence Board of Realtors.
Room is still available, so we are opening registration up to non-realtors. Architects and planners will also find this training beneficial as well as the generalist, historian, and educator. Credits through AIA-RI are available for architects.
To register for the 2008 seminar, please download the registration form.
Students Presenters from VIPS Urban Planning Class
 This summer marks Volunteers In Providence Schools' (VIPS) third year of Learn to Earn, a six-week summer program for Providence's gifted and talented public high school students that uses the City of Providence as a classroom to teach participants about urban planning and development. This is PPS's second year of involvement where our docents have conducted walking tours of the Downtown. On two steamy July mornings, a total of fifty students were informed of the history of Providence's Downtown and guided from Waterplace Park through the Downtown, helping the young scholars visualize how the City has changed over the years.
In addition to the PPS tour, students met with representatives of the Providence Planning Department, architects, developers, etc. This year's focus was on the "Seven Elements of a Great Neighborhood." Students analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the City, learned about green building and initiatives, 21st century architectural skills, and the all-important component of financing a project.
On Wednesday, August 13 at the Central High School Cafetorium, the students presented their research and recommendations for the rehabilitation of buildings around the city. Ideas were as diverse as the buildings. Some of which were, a music studio in the old Price Rite building in Olneyville center, a youth cultural center at Louttit Laundry on Cranston Street, and restoring the Prairie Diner back to its original use as a diner, with the intent of reinvigorating Upper South Providence. Members of the Providence Planning Department provided constructive feedback on the students' presentations. All fifty students received citations from Mayor Cicilline and the City of Providence as well as Governor Carcieri. | Events
Party on Top with Sizzle
Presented by FirstComp
Join us for cocktails, lavish hors d'oeuvres, a lively auction, and a topflight view of WaterFire flames glittering on the river below.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Brown Rudnick, 11th floor penthouse
121 South Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island
Patrons' champagne reception 6:00 p.m.
Main event 7:00 p.m.
Dress: Cocktail attire
Tickets: $125 per person
Patrons' tickets: $250 per person
Ten Host tickets: $2,500
Catering by Guy Abelson Events. Music by Providence Cutting Sessions. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.ppsri.org.
PPS Brings Holiday Festival Downtown
December 5 and 6, 2008
PPS is bringing back the much loved Holiday Festival and moving it Downtown! The weekend-long event will include, a downtown tour of homes, horse-drawn carriage rides, a special tree lighting ceremony, holiday bell ringers and carolers, mulled cider, roasted chestnuts, and other seasonal merriment.
The Festival will be ushered in with a Patrons' Reception at City Hall on Friday, December 5, 6:00-9:00 p.m. On Saturday, December 6, the celebration continues with a tour of downtown homes adorned for the holidays, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. The celebration continues afterwards with a procession through downtown culminating at City Hall for the tree lighting. In partnership with the City of Providence, the annual tree lighting with Mayor Cicilline at City Hall will be held in conjunction with the PPS annual tree lighting on Saturday afternoon.
PPS, in cooperation with the Providence Foundation, Providence/Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Downtown Merchants Association and Shop Downcity, is promoting the Buy Local campaign. Historic Downtown Providence's local merchants will be open for business throughout the day on December 6 to give tour goers an opportunity for some early holiday shopping. Many businesses will have musicians in their stores to entertain the crowds. For more information on local businesses, visit Shop Downcity or Providence Downtown.
Tickets for the Patrons' Reception are $100 (includes a ticket to the Saturday tour, no membership discount). Saturday's tour is $25 in advance ($30 day-of); for PPS members, the tour is $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the tour.
Holiday Festival Partners:
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Volunteer Opportunities
Party on Top with Sizzle Event Volunteers Needed
PPS is looking for volunteers to help at our fall event on Saturday, September 20 at the Brown Rudnick building at 121 South Main Street. The shifts are 5:00-7:30 p.m. or 7:30-10:00 p.m. Please contact Lauren Goldenberg if you are interested in volunteering.
Children's Heritage Education Docents
The Providence Preservation Society is looking for individuals interested in leading walking tours for elementary and middle school students, grades 4-8. Each year, docents lead more than 3,500 students on walking tours of Providence. PPS's award-winning program uses the city's architecture as a textbook from which students learn the history of Providence. No previous experience is necessary; just an interest in history and/or architecture and the desire to work with school children. Upon completing a three-day training seminar provided by PPS, docents are asked to make a one-year commitment to the program. For more information, please contact Kathleen McAreavey, Education Coordinator at the Providence Preservation Society, by emailing kmcareavey@ppsri.org, or by telephone at 401- 831- 7440, ext. 103.
Preservation Awards Intern
Each year PPS acknowledges significant contributions to the preservation and revitalization of Providence's historic resources. Award nominations are made by the public and solicited in the early fall; the awards are presented at an event in Februray. PPS seeks an intern to help with management of this respected preservation awards program.
The ideal candidate will have a BA/BS, some college, or equivalent educational experience; experience working in an office; enthusiasm for historic preservation, historic architecture, and the history of Providence; and excellent writing and communication skills. Duties include: solicitation of nominations, research of properties, correspondence with award nominees, site visits and photography, preparation of press releases, slideshow, and award citations, assisting in design of mailings and brochures, and some event planning. This unpaid internship requires a 10-15 hours/week commitment. The internship will start on or after September 15 and conclude in early February (schedule is flexible to accommodate academic calendar). Graduate students in history, architectural studies or historic preservation are strongly encouraged to apply. Please send a cover letter, writing samples, and resume to info@ppsri.org.
Office Assistant
PPS seeks a volunteer to assist with general office tasks, including but not limited to answering a multi-line phone, greeting visitors, working on special projects, and mailings. Experience with Microsoft Office programs necessary. This opportunity could be as little as 2 hours per week or as many as 10-12. Must be pleasant on the phone and able to handle multiple tasks at once. Please email your interest and availability to info@ppsri.org.
Special Events Intern
PPS seeks an intern for the Fall semester (Sept. - Dec. 2008), who is interested in learning more about marketing, public relations and event planning. PPS hosts several events throughout the year, including its annual Winter Bash, Festival of Historic Houses, Annual Meeting, and various lectures and membership activities. The intern will work directly with Special Events staff on the following tasks: developing and coordinating portions of the events, writing and sending out press releases, assisting with invitation mailings and tracking responses, answering phone/email inquiries related to events, attending event committee meetings (when possible), and assisting staff and committee members with set-up and oversight on the day of the events. Only those students majoring in event planning or preparing for a career in event planning should apply, preferably juniors or seniors, or graduate students. Must have a professional phone manner, strong writing/communications skills, experience with Microsoft Office, and be able to multitask and take on projects with limited supervision. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to info@ppsri.org.
Flatbed scanner
PPS is in need of a color flatbed scanner for archiving our research library. If you or someone you know has a Windows Vista- or XP Pro-compatible color flatbed scanner capable of scanning slides to donate to our organization, please let us know by emailing info@ppsri.org. Thank you!
| Community Notes
Special Fox Point Neighborhood Tour Presented by RI Historical Society
Tour will focus on Irish and Portuguese immigration, Saturday, October 4, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., starts at Reflections Café at 468 Wickenden Street (the corner of Governor and Wickenden Streets). For more information, please contact Barbara Barnes, RIHS Tour Services Manager, 401-273-7507, ext. 62.
Volunteers Needed: A New Park on the South Side
The Friends of Peace and Plenty Community Park, in partnership with CommunityWorks RI (formerly Elmwood Foundation and GENS) and the City of Providence Parks Department, have received a playground building grant from KaBoom! and Home Depot for the creation of a new community park and playground in North Elmwood. By the end of September 11, a new playground and beautiful green space will be created. The new park and playground will be located at the corner of Peace and Updike Streets (behind St. Joseph Hospital). This is the culmination of years of hope and work on the part of many neighbors. Help is needed on Tuesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 11. For more information, please contact Rachel Newman Greene, Community Strategies Manager, 273-2330, x104
Opening Ceremony for RI Freedom Festival
A Thousand Ships: a Ritual of Remembrance Marking the Bicentennial, Waterfire on Saturday, September 27, 6:30 p.m., Waterplace Basin (6:30); Memorial Park (7:30) www.waterfire.org/1000ships
RISD Chace Center Opening
In late September, The RISD Museum will celebrate the opening of the new Chace Center with a series of events culminating with a Grand Opening Celebration on September 27. On that day, the museum will be open 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. with free admission and a schedule of activities including music, performances, gallery talks, videos and art projects. This will also be the opening day of three very special exhibitions: Chihuly at RISD (a special site-specific installation by the famous glass artist and RISD graduate), Studio Glass in Providence: The Chihuly Years (featuring the work of prominent artists who studied with Dale Chihuly) and Building Books: The Art of David Macaulay (an in depth look at Macaulay's artistic process and his body of work). For more information, click here.
Commercial Lease Available in Shakespeare's Head
The Shakespeare's Head Association, owner of 21 Meeting Street where PPS headquarters are located, seeks a commercial tenant for its garden-level office space. The space, approximately 400 square feet, is available immediately. It features a row of windows with a view of the tranquil Shakespeare's Head Garden and plenty of natural light. The space includes two parking spaces. Great location on the slope of College Hill only blocks from downtown Providence. Monthly rent is $800. Interested parties should contact Kristi Agniel at 401-749-5008. | |
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