FW: PPS April E-Newsletter

In This Issue Preservation Education Events Membership Community Notes Quick Links Become a Member PPS Website Preservation Nation Upcoming PPS Events April 22 Business Members Event June 4 Festival of Historic Houses Patrons' Party June 5 31st Festival of Historic Houses Support our work! Support PPS by mailing us your Eastside Marketplace receipts! A percentage of each dollar goes to support PPS programs. To learn more, e-mail PPS. April 2010 News Disaster Response Information from the National Trust for Historic Preservation In light of the historic flooding that has affected countless houses and institutions throughout New England, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has sent out reminders to preservation organizations throughout the region that their website offers a wealth of information on disaster recovery. Click here for this useful resource. Preservation Subcommittee Formed to Review Demolition Policy   Demolition of the Fruit and Produce Market. At the PPS Annual Meeting in January 2008, Mayor David N. Cicilline announced the formation of the Mayor's Working Group on Historic Preservation. This followed the demolition of the Fruit and Produce Market. The Working Group was charged with reviewing the city's demolition policies and their impact on Providence's historic resources and developing recommendations to help better protect historic buildings in the city. The group considered potential policy changes to help prevent demolition by neglect and to impose stronger penalties for illegal demolition.   PPS has formed a Demolition Policy Subcommittee to advocate for the implementation of these recommendations and to explore further options for the preservation, restoration or rehabilitation of historic properties as alternatives to immediate demolition. Providence School Facilities Report Update In February, Superintendent Brady recommended the closing of Oliver Hazard Perry Middle School, Feinstein High School, and the Asa Messer Annex. The Superintendent recommended the reopening of West Broadway Elementary on Bainbridge Street. He has also requested further research into the concept of neighborhood schools and the issue of where students are bused from to inform further recommendations. At a School Board meeting on March 8, the Board voted to begin the process of looking into the proposed closures of Oliver Hazard Perry Middle School and Feinstein High School.   On March 29, the School Board held a public meeting at Feinstein High School to address the proposed closing of Feinstein. The School Board has scheduled a public meeting on Monday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Silver Lake Community Center to discuss the proposed closing of Oliver Hazard Perry Middle School. The School Board has thirty days from the public meetings to render a decision about the schools.   City Order to Stabilize Building Upheld: Grove Street Elementary School February 3 marked the third anniversary of the illegal partial demolition of Grove Street School. As the ongoing battle to save this historic school building continues, the Providence Building Board of Review considered the owners' appeal of the city's order to stabilize the building at its meeting on March 11, 2010. At the meeting, the Building Board of Review voted unanimously to uphold the city's November 2009 order and directed the owners to stabilize the building within a 30-day period. Stabilization will prevent further damage beyond that caused by the building's exposure to the elements during the past three years. Help Save "Save America's Treasures!" Important funding for preservation remains in jeopardy. The federal budget proposed by the White House would eliminate two key preservation programs: Save America's Treasures and Preserve America. During March, Rhode Island Representatives Patrick Kennedy and James Langevin joined those legislators committed to restoring federal funding for these programs. PPS thanks them for their support. To find out what you can do, click here.  Local examples of past projects benefiting from the Save America's Treasures program are, clockwise from the top, the Providence Athenaeum, the Rhode Island Historical Society Library, and the Providence Performing Arts Center. Education March Lecture Discusses 20th-Century Buildings in Providence Professor Evans discusses Capital Center. On Wednesday, March 17, R. Tripp Evans, Ph. D., Associate Professor at Wheaton College, presented another riveting lecture on behalf of PPS to an audience of PPS members and supporters.  This time he presented an overview of twentieth-century architecture in Providence in the auditorium of the newly constructed Providence Career and Technical Academy (PCTA), the former Hanley Technical High School.  More than sixty people came to hear Professor Evans present "Place/Displace: Providence and the Twentieth Century" in this already iconic structure.  This lecture focused on the lesser-known and underappreciated eras of the twentieth century: the International Style of the early twentieth century and the Modern movement, which gained popularity after World War II.  There is growing concern within the historic preservation community that significant buildings, landscapes, and sites of these periods will be lost before their true value is fully recognized. Future programming will delve deeper into this topic.  Program Probes Deeper into Recent Architecture of Providence Program attendee Phoebe Blake listens attentively to Ira Rakatansky's presentation. On March 18 and 19, PPS hosted a forum exploring the historical significance of buildings of the recent past. Held in the Old Brick Schoolhouse (1769), one of the oldest buildings in Providence, 20th Century Buildings of Providence provided an opportunity for the 26 attendees, including realtors and architects, to hear more about the little-known Modern Movement in the city and to interact with the expert speakers. Mack Woodward, Principal Architectural Historian at the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, gave the keynote lecture, placing the listener in the 20th century; Jason Martin, Preservation Planner, City of Providence Historic District Commission discussed the HDC's philosophy regarding buildings of the recent past; Ned Connors, Preservation Consultant, discussed the survey of the recent past he is conducting on behalf of the City of Providence and PPS through the RIHPHC; and Ira Rakatansky, EAIA, and photographer John Caserta discussed the upcoming book about Ira, Ira Rakatansky: As Modern As Tomorrow, edited by John Caserta and Lynette Widder. Speakers also included former PPS Director of Preservation Services Sara Emmenecker, a Master's candidate in the Public Humanities Program at Brown University, who shared her process in creating a guide to Downtown Providence Buildings of the Recent Past; Roberta Randall, Historic Preservation Specialist/Historical Architect at RIHPHC explaining the Federal Historic Tax Credit and other grant programs for owners of historic homes; and Christine Malecki West, AIA, Principal, Kite Architects, winner of the City of Providence 2008 Sustainable Housing Design Competition, who led attendees into the 21st century and Green Design with a lecture and a site visit to Providence's first LEED Platinum house. PPS thanks all of the speakers for giving so generously of their time and intellect.  We look forward to offering programming of similar depth and quality in the future. Children's Heritage Education Tours Open for Booking Bookings are now being accepted for our Spring 2010 Children's Heritage Education Tours, which are led from Monday through Friday at 10:00 a.m., Monday, April 5 through Friday, June 11. The tours offered this spring are: ~ College Hill Tour, 1636-1775 - Roger Williams and the Settlement of Colonial Providence focuses on grade four. ~ Downtown Tour, c. 1800 - Present - The Rise of the West Side focuses on grades six through twelve.  ~ "Avi" Tour - Something Upstairs, 1800 - A Literary Journey to the Past focuses on grades five through seven.  ~ H.P. Lovecraft as Preservationist, 1920s Benefit Street focuses on grades ten through twelve.  ~ "Avi" Tour - The Man Who Was Poe, Mid-1800s Providence focuses on grades five through seven.  ~ The Crest of College Hill:  A Late 19th Century Victorian Journey focuses on the third grade.  Please spread the word at your children's and grandchildren's schools. Teachers may contact Education Coordinator Kathleen McAreavey at kmcareavey@ppsri.org or (401) 831-7440, ext. 103. Events Spring Business Membership Event Join the Providence Preservation Society Business Members on April 22 for a gathering and presentation by Scott Wolf, Executive Director of Grow Smart Rhode Island, titled "Historic Rehabilitation & Urban Revitalization: Key Tools for Sustainable Economic Growth in Rhode Island." For more information about the event, click here. Festival of Historic Houses June 4 and 5 PPS will present its 31st Annual Festival of Historic Houses on June 4 and 5. The festivities will begin with a Patrons' Party, featuring the cocktails and songs of the Cole Porter era. This de-lightful, de-licious, de-lovely divertissement will take place on June 4 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at a beautiful East Side house of that period. Food will be provided by Plantation Catering.   On June 5, PPS will present its traditional house tour, featuring distinctive houses in the historic Wayland neighborhood, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Information will be posted on our website as it becomes available. Membership Photo: Brian McDonald We often hear questions from members about their membership status. PPS memberships renew annually based on the month that you joined or last renewed. If you are unsure of your membership status, Development Coordinator Lauren Goldenberg will be happy to confirm. Click here to become a member, renew your membership, or learn more about membership. Community Notes 25th Annual Rhode Island Statewide Historic Preservation Conference Saturday, April 24, 2010 Little Compton and Tiverton   The 25th Annual Rhode Island Statewide Historic Preservation Conference presents "Preservation Is Local" in Little Compton and Tiverton on Saturday, April 24.  Robert McBride, Founding Director of Rockingham Arts and Museum Project (RAMP) and Vermont Advisor for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will deliver the keynote address.   The 2010 conference will showcase projects funded by RIHPHC's Preservation is Local Grant program as well as other initiatives from around the state. Field trips will explore the varied landscapes and diverse architecture of the Sakonnet Peninsula.   Registration is $40. For more information about the conference, organized by the RIHPHC, please visit www.preservation.ri.gov/conference, or contact Conference Coordinator Janet Balletto at (401)732-1009 or janetballetto@cox.net. Take Advantage of Providence Public Library April Programs! Central branch of the Providence Public Library in downtown Family Learning Sundays are the second Sunday of every month through May. More details here. Celebrate National Poetry Month with an open mic and readings throughout April. Click here for more details. Enjoy two film series, one on food and the other on math, during April. Food on the Move: America's Traveling Tastes Culinary Arts Museum Johnson and Wales University, Harborside Campus 315 Harborside Boulevard, Providence Food on the Move: America's Traveling Tastes is a collaboration between the Johnson & Wales Culinary Arts Museum and the public humanities program at Brown University. The exhibit explores the history of eating while traveling on different modes of transportation and the fascinating stories behind the meals. Who prepares the food we eat? What does eating mean in different cultures and how is it adapted to the American context? What does our food on the move say about American culture? The exhibit opens on Friday, April 16; more information is available here. Green RISD 2010: Nature Culture and Innovation Bayard Ewing Building Gallery 231 South Main Street RISE (RISD Initiative of Sustainability and Environment) presents a group exhibition showing how different departments across the RISD campus have explored the themes related to sustainability. Green RISD 2010: Nature Culture and Innovation will open on Thursday, April 8, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served. This exhibition is co-curated by PPS work-study intern Michelle Cheng, an MA candidate in Arts Education. Help Clean Up Roger Williams Park 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence Saturday, April 17, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. April 17 - 24 is Serving Rhode Island Week, coordinated by the Volunteer Center of Rhode Island and coinciding with Earth Day (Thursday, April 22) and Arbor Day (Friday, April 23). And what better way to serve our state and engage with its precious green spaces than by helping to clean Roger Williams Park! For more information or to sign up, click here. West Side Groups Work with School Department to Help Shape Neighborhood Schools The Providence School Department and several community organizations in Federal Hill and the West End have joined forces to actively engage the community and its stakeholders in the process of creating a task force to help support neighborhood schools.  The community organizations include the West Broadway Neighborhood Association (WBNA), the West Side Public Education Coalition (WSPEC), and a group of parents with pre-school age children called New Moms and Dads for Schools (NoMaDS).  A series of meetings featuring school tours and discussions to engage neighbors in shaping the direction of their public schools was launched last Saturday, March 27.  It included a tour of West Broadway Elementary School and Asa Messer Elementary School.  Four more meetings are planned; anyone interested in this process may attend. For more information and updates, visit www.wbna.org. Tuesday, April 6 7:00 - 8:30 pm - WBNA General Meeting on Education WBNA headquarters, 1560 Westminster Street Tuesday, May 4 6:30 - 7:15 pm - Tour Bridgham Middle School 1655 Westminster Street 7:30 - 9:00 pm - Learn about K-8 & 6-8 schools from Providence School Department and guests Bridgham Middle School, 1655 Westminster Street Saturday, May 8 9:00 - 9:45 am - Tour Carl G. Lauro Elementary School 99 Kenyon Street 10:00 am - noon - Discuss middle school options Carl G. Lauro Elementary School            Monday, May 24 7:00 - 8:30 pm - Final Meeting to present findings to neighborhood WBNA headquarters, 1560 Westminster Street 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.