What Is the Future of the Cranston St. Armory After Years of Studies and Indecision
Monday, March 27, 2023
In a few weeks, the state will end the use of the Cranston Street Armory as a warming center for the homeless.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe nearly 165,000 square feet historic structure will yet again be placed in limbo—a perpetual state of analysis, plans, and consultants.
According to Rhode Island Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor's office, it expects the usage of the structure for the homeless to conclude by the end of April.
The National Guard has not held training exercises at the structure since the 1990s. Since the National Guard left the building, it has had little usage.
There have been many studies and proposals.
Movies like Outside Providence, Underdog, and Hocus Pocus 2 have used the property for production and backdrops.
In 1999, the Los Angeles Times wrote about the production of Outside Providence that teamed the Farrelly Brothers with local director Michael Corrente.
"Corrente filmed on location in Providence and Pawtucket, where he enjoys the pull associated with popularity. Providence Mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci Jr., who can cite the Farrellys’ latest box-office grosses, helped arrange for the enormous Cranston Street Armory to be used as a sound stage and production office," wrote the LA Times.
There was lots of discussion of transforming the Armory into a hub for movie production, but none of those plans materialized.
Designated Nationally as One of the "10 Most Endangered Historic Buildings in the United States"
In 1999, the Armory was listed as one of the 10 most endangered historic buildings in the United States.
Department of Administration Executive Director Ronald N. Renaud described the building as follows: "Portions of the building exterior remain in dangerous condition. A large masonry balcony has fallen off the building to the sidewalk below, and additional masonry pieces continue to fall with the possibility that a passing pedestrian will be injured.”
Chafee Plan to Centralize State Offices
In 2010, then-gubernatorial candidate Lincoln Chafee promised to revitalize the Armory and place state offices in the massive edifice.
As GoLocal reported, “As governor, Chafee said he would complete the renovation of the state-owned, 165,000-square-foot Cranston Street Armory and move three state agencies to the space. He said he would also review all 33 leases the state currently holds."
“Currently, our citizens’ access to government services is challenged by geographically inconvenient locations, which often lack adequate parking and access to public transit and are dispersed in such a way as to often needlessly require multiple trips,” Chafee stated.
“In light of this, it is all the more disturbing that we are ignoring our own assets and paying a king’s ransom in rent to private-sector landlords. It’s time to change this practice and replace it with sound, cost-effective management of our taxpayer dollars,” said Chafee.
After he was elected, Chafee never moved forward with his promise with the Armory, although he did move some state offices to the Pastore Complex in Cranston.
2016 Study - Spend $100 Million on Armory
A study conducted by The Peregrine Group contracted by the State of Rhode Island found that the redevelopment of the property was expensive and, in the end, would create an asset with little economic value.
“Due to its unique configuration, its current condition, and current market rents, the rehab costs are massive compared to potential revenue,” the Peregrine Group document finds. “As a result, a developer (or the State) would need to spend upwards of $100 million to create assets worth $20 to $25 million.”
The cost of the study was $180,000.
Troops assemble at the Dexter Training Ground on July 25, 1917. PHOTO Providence Journal PUBLIC DOMAIN
Pomp and Circumstance
In 2015, former Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza held his inauguration at the castle-like structure, but other than that, the massive yellow brick building has been a reminder of governmental inaction.
Elorza was not the first to hold his inauguration at the structure. Both Governor John and Lincoln Chafee held their inaugurations in the Armory.
Over the past four gubernatorial administrations, there has been a nearly endless series of studies, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the state has spent millions to “maintain” the building. Since the National Guard left the structure, the state has spent an estimated $30 million to heat and conduct basic upkeep.
Another community initiative was conducted in 2020. Public events were conducted to collect community input.
Video by Atomic Clock, Community Assessment, Boston Firm Utile, 2020
McKee -- Evaluating the Contract
Scout Ltd, a Philadelphia-based development, was awarded a contract to redevelop the property into office, maker space, and community usage. The firm says it is "urban developers and designers delivering engaging projects in underutilized spaces."
But that has been held up by COVID, usage as a heating center, and now by an evaluation by the McKee administration.
“The Armory is a unique property that has a lot of potential to benefit the community and the state. Scout Ltd was awarded the contract to develop a plan for the building. We are currently conducting our due diligence in evaluating the plan and confirming financial estimates. We expect this process to be complete in May,” said Laura Hart, Chief of Public Affairs RI Department of Administration in the McKee Administration in a statement to GoLocal on March 22.
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