Makeover Coming for Historic Arcade
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
One of downtown Providence’s landmark properties is set to re-open, GoLocalProv has learned.
City officials have confirmed that the Arcade, which has been closed since 2008, will soon undergo changes that will include retailers moving back in to occupy the first floor and the upper levels being converted to living accommodations.
It remains unclear whether Evan Granoff, the owner of the property, hopes to create apartments or a dormitory for students at one of the local colleges. A spokesperson for Granoff did not return a request for comment.
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Granoff and his family have long been criticized by locals for failing to keep business in the historic building, but one former tenant said he is happy to see the family make good on promises it made to the city.
“Not only tourists miss it, but the people that work downtown miss it a lot,” Don Boehner, owner of the Copacetic jewelry story said. “To have it open again will be incredible for people to meet again and to have a connected downtown again.”
Rumors of new occupants for the building have been circulating for over a year, but city Inspections and Standards director Jeffrey Lykins told GoLocalProv that plans are now moving forward. Boeher said the news will be a boon for downtown.
“Just to have it open will be a big deal,” he said. “No one is sure how living accommodations will work, but if it works, it works. It’s absolutely good news for the business community. The Arcade would be major benefit to downtown.”
Questions Remain
Still, other local property owners have expressed concerns with the plans, arguing that the city should focus on all of downtown as opposed to one historic property. Robert I. Burke, founder of the Independence Trail, said there are still plenty of questions about what will happen with the Arcade.
“All we've heard is rumors and rumors and more rumors for year,” Burke said. “The city has to look very carefully at whatever goes in the Arcade to be certain that it’s going to be a success. Closing the Arcade twice is not going to benefit the district in any way.”
Burke said a guarantee needs to be made that any revitalization efforts made are not just an effort to redeem tax credits. He said the city needs to offer solutions for the entire downtown district.
“Instead of trying to solve the problems of the Arcade, it would be better the bring everyone together to come up with a comprehensive solution for the entire district,” Burke said.
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