RI Energy Demolishes Riverfront Building in Providence

RI Energy Demolishes Riverfront Building in Providence

RI Energy is demolishing one of two brick structures along the Providence River downtown. According to tax records, the existing property at 144 Dyer Street was built in 1900 as a warehouse.

 

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GoLocal reached out to Rhode Island Energy for comment, but it did not receive a response prior to publication.

 

According to Providence tax records, the two buildings and the land are assessed at $6 million.

 

A Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management sign on the property states that the property is being investigated.

 

 

 

The other building on the site, according to workers at the location, is not being demolished.  It has a rich history.

 

Alexander Duncan Warehouse

 

As Art in Ruins writes:

This historic structure along the historic waterfront was preserved and reinforced by Narragansett Electric in 2003. One of the only remaining quay warehouses built in the 19th century, this building is an important reminder of Providence’s beginnings as a main seaport.

From the cadastral maps, one can understand why the building was set at an angle from the street. A main railroad line ran down Dyer Street and into Eddy Street, with spurs that curved off into these warehouses. The angle was also useful on the wharf side where boats could pull in and upload their cargo. Between 1899 and 1937, a small triangular addition was added to the front to make the north side align with the street edge.

This structure is what is left of what was once a dense waterfront full of warehouse structures and docks. In 2003, the roof was removed temporarily to allow a crane to remove asbestos and old transformers. The brick walls on the sides were buckling from the lack of long lost structures on either side. The existing roof was too heavy for the now unsupported walls. The entire roof was removed and replaced with a lighter steel one.

As part of the clean up, the broken windows were removed along the street edge and filled in with plywood and then painted. The building certainly looks better but it is a shame that it can’t be more actively used by commercial or retail. It was rumored to be part of the plan because Narragansett Electric uses the rear substation building more than this one, but no public use has come to pass.