FW: PPS July E-Newsletter

In This Issue Preservation Education Events Employment Volunteer Opportunities Community Notes Quick Links Become a Member PPS Website Preservation Nation Upcoming PPS Events October 23-24 Fall Symposium October 24 Gold Dome Gala December 5 Holiday Festival   July 2009 News Preservation Historic Schools Recommended for Replacement May Be Spared Providence Public Schools Superintendent Tom Brady has commissioned a review of the 2006 DeJong Facilities Master Plan for the Providence Public Schools, which recommended a nearly $800 million overhaul of all public school buildings. Regarding the study, which favored new construction over preservation, Brady told The Providence Journal that "the reliance on new construction left me cold." To read the full article, click here. Nathan Bishop Middle School Rehabilitation The school, included on PPS's 2007 Most Endangered Properties list, had been recommended for rehabilitation by the DeJong Facilities Master Plan, but many parents and neighbors demanded a new, state-of-the-art school. Following meetings with the disparate stakeholders and persuasive reuse plans from Ai3 Architects, the decision was made to reuse the building and transform it into a 21st century learning environment. Now, over two years later, the project is approaching completion. The school will reopen this fall as a testament to the success of rehabilitating Providence's historic public school buildings. Brown Chooses Preservation over New Construction for Two Buildings Brown University has announced that it is abandoning the planned construction of two new buildings in favor of historic preservation. The proposed Mind Brain Behavior Building, which was to be built on the site of 127, 129, and 135 Angell Street (2008 PPS Most Endangered Properties List), will be housed in the renovated Metcalf Research and Chemistry Buildings on the corner of Thayer and Waterman Streets. Brown had also planned to build a new medical education building in the Jewelry District; instead, the University will renovate 222 Richmond Street, a former jewelry factory. It will house Brown's medical school along with neighborhood retail. PPS applauds Brown's decision to preserve these distinctive buildings! Long Awaited Grocery Store Opens Downtown At last, downtown Providence has a grocery store! On Thursday, June 18, Gourmet Heaven opened in the historic Fletcher Building (ca. 1893) at 173 Weybosset Street. The Fletcher Building, originally two stories, was built upwards as the city grew and was fitted with storefronts in the mid-20th century. For more information, click here. Education Fall Symposium: The American Renaissance and Providence's Golden Age This fall, PPS will re-launch its adult educational programs by taking a look at the American Renaissance (1876-1914) in Providence with a two-day symposium featuring experts' lectures and site visits. The symposium coincides with our 2009 fall event, The Gold Dome Gala, to be held under the gilded dome of the Old Stone Bank, one of Providence's most iconic commercial buildings of the period. This topic will be further explored through a series of lectures in 2010. Please mark your calendars for October 23-24 and check www.ppsri.org for updates. Mark Your Calendar: PPS Children's Heritage Education Docent Training September 22-24 PPS is looking for individuals interested in leading walking tours for elementary and middle school students, grades 4-8. Each year, docents lead over 3500 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 2.5 day training provided by PPS, docents are asked to make a one-year commitment to the program.  For more information please contact Kathleen McAreavey, Education Coordinator, by e-mail at kmcareavey@ppsri.org or telephone at 401-831-7440, ext. 103. Events Festival of Historic Houses 30th Anniversary - A Grand Celebration PPS celebrated the 30th Anniversary of its signature event in style with a special garden party kick-off sponsored by Tiffany & Co. on May 29, a June 6 tour in the majestic Stimson Avenue area, and a June 7 tour in the eclectic Broadway-Armory Historic District. For more on the Tiffany Garden Party, click here; for more on the tours, click here. Sponsored by: Dominion Energy, Pella Windows and Doors, Bank Rhode Island, Fireman's Fund, Starkweather and Shepley Insurance Brokerage, Anonymous, Dimeo Construction Company, Narragansett Bay Insurance Company, New England Home, and WPRI-TV. Employment Preservation & Advocacy Coordinator Position Full time contract position at PPS available immediately. Click here for full description. Send application materials to jobs@ppsri.org.   Volunteer Opportunities General Office/Clerical Assistant PPS seeks a volunteer to assist with general office/clerical tasks, including but not limited to answering a multi-line phone, greeting visitors, working on special projects, mailings, and attending and assisting with various major events. Experience with Microsoft Office programs necessary. Help needed Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.  Must be pleasant on the phone and able to handle multiple tasks at once. Please email your interest and availability to info@ppsri.org. Community Notes PPS Graffiti Statement Included in "Art from the Streets" Exhibit   Appearing at the URI Feinstein Providence Campus July 1 - August 20, "Art from the Streets" features homeless artists' work about their life in Rhode Island. In response to the inclusion of imagery of graffiti, a position statement from PPS has been included; click here to read it. July 3 To Be Declared George M. Cohan Day in Providence! Click here for a full schedule of events, which includes an unveiling of a statue of Cohan and a tour of Fox Point, where Cohan was born. "Landscape of Industry: An Industrial History of the Blackstone Valley" Book Release Party Tuesday, July 7, 10:00 a.m. Alternatives at the Whitin Mill, 50 Douglas Rd. Whitinsville, MA Click here for more information. Events at Roger Williams National Memorial Junior Ranger Day, July 11, 2:00-4:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/rowi, e-mail sparkle_bryant@nps.gov, or call 401-521-7266. First Amendment Night, July 16, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Visit the Roger Williams Memorial website or e-mail john_mcniff@nps.gov for more information. Marcel Breuer: Design and Architecture Through July 20 at the RISD Museum of Art Click here for more information on this expansive exhibit. The mission of the Providence Preservation Society (PPS) is to improve the quality of life in the city of Providence through historic preservation and the enhancement of the built environment. PPS is a nonprofit membership organization, exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and is recognized as a charitable organization.