(rshsdepot) Pawtucket Times

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From today's Pawtucket Times.
 
Bernie Wagenblast 
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Depot project hits another bump 


By: Douglas Hadden  
Flexing newly discovered clout, a cultural heritage commission has written to 
 Amtrak saying it wants to exercise its legal right to review development 
plans  affecting the former Pawtucket-Central Falls train depot property on Broad 
 Street.  
In basing its claim, the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National  
Heritage Corridor Commission, established in 1986 by an Act of Congress when  
Chafee was a senator from Rhode Island, said its direct review powers over  
Amtrak were specifically laid out in the legislation.  
The Corridor Commission, which oversees cultural heritage activities along  
the nearly 50-mile stretch of the Blackstone Valley from Pawtucket to 
Worcester,  has weighed in on development-related issues before, including the 
rebuilding of  the Albion Street bridge in Cumberland to retain its historic character 
and  helping to stop construction of a trash transfer station operation in  
Massachusetts.  
But this is the first time the Corridor Commission has sought entry on an  
issue involving Amtrak, said Robert Billington, immediate past president of the  
commission and a member of its executive committee. Billington, who also 
heads  the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, said the chief aim besides 
fulfilling the  Corridor panel`s responsibilities is to buy some time while 
alternatives to  avoid any demolition of the depot are sought.  
``It gives us a little time,`` Billington said. ``I`m hoping it gives  
Pawtucket,`` where several officials including Mayor James E. Doyle have opposed  
any demolition, ``some time. Buying some time is I think essential at this  
point.`` Doyle and historic preservationists have opposed any demolition and  
pushed to seize the property by eminent domain, but that authorization was  rejecte
d twice in the last two years by narrow votes of the City Council.  
Billington said it was research by Richard Davis, executive director of the  
business-backed Pawtucket Foundation, that unearthed the Corridor powers in its  
original legislation, powers of which it had been unaware. Like Doyle, the  private, 
nonprofit foundation has opposed any demolition, and pushed to have  Pawtucket 
seize the property by eminent domain and redevelop the depot,  including as a 
possible T stop.  
SMPO Properties/Warwick RICS LLC, which bought the property in August 2005  
from owner Jean Vitali of Pawtucket, also says it wants a T stop but that it 
had  been unable to interest CVS or any other potential tenant in occupying a  
renovated depot building. Warwick RICS late last year finalized terms of a  
long-term lease with CVS. Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau has generally sided  
with the developers, led by Oscar ``Ike`` Seelbinder, saying the CVS will 
bring  his city $100,000 a year in new tax revenues and that a commuter rail stop 
would  most likely be sited 800 feet north of the depot building anyway 
because of  railroad track curves.  
In a letter Jan. 11, Louise Redding, Corridor Commission chairman, wrote  
Amtrak president and CEO Alexander Kummant that it had ``recently come to the  
attention`` of the commission that it had the ``right to review certain plans  
relating to the demolition of a portion`` of the train site. The letter noted  
Amtrak last month asserted its own right to review the development plans of  
Warwick RICS under the 1972 deed where Amtrak sold the property, to A&B  
Partnership, which included Vitali`s late husband, Albert Vitali Sr.  
``In exercising its authority to review and approve the proposed demolition  
of the train station, Amtrak is supporting an activity that directly affects 
the  Corridor. Accordingly, such action triggers Amtrak`s obligations`` under 
the law  that created the Corridor Commission, Redding stated.  
Redding said Amtrak was ``obligated`` under that law ``to consult...  
cooperate and coordinate`` with the commission, and allow it ``to make the  necessary 
determination of whether or not the proposed demolition will have an  adverse 
affect [sic] on the Corridor.``  
Redding asked Amtrak to ``refrain from taking any action to approve either  
explicitly or implicitly the proposed demolition of the train station until 
such  time as Amtrak has complied with its statutory obligation to consult with 
the  Corridor Commission,`` and it reviews any effects that demolition of the 
depot  might have on the Corridor. The CVS is to be built entirely on the 
Central Falls  portion of the site, with some parking on the Pawtucket side. 
Warwick RICS began  a partial demolition last month but was halted by a temporary 
restraining order  obtained by Pawtucket, leading to a 30-day moratorium that 
expired Tuesday.  
But the developer along with officials in both cities as well as CVS continue 
 to work on a compromise that in part would involve the narrowing of that 
side of  Broad Street and the adjacent sidewalk, as well as taking down at least 
part of  the northwest wing of the 90-year-old Beaux Arts depot complex, to 
gain parking  needed for the CVS. In that scenario, the 14,000 square foot main 
depot building  and its 40-foot ceiling would remain intact, although cars 
could park directly  in front of the main entrance and the building would need an 
alternate entry.  Previously, the developer sought to peal back the front 18 
feet of the building.  
``It doesn`t seem like much of a compromise. I don`t think we get anything.  
To be honest, I think the city (of Pawtucket) loses big time,`` Billington 
said.  ``I think we`re going to end up with a cookie cutter building stuffed into 
a  lot. If we get commuter rail, the CVS will be stuffed in there with the T 
stop  in the background.`` Billington said what has also been lacking 
throughout the  process is any kind of review of the type of structure CVS wants to 
put up, to  see whether a more appropriately historic design could be done.  
``I think CVS is the right corporation, they`re here (based in Woonsocket),  
they have all the ability to make this thing work. The cities have a right to  
get the best. No one is saying, CVS stay out.``  
The Corridor Commission, Billington said, in the course of its review may  
hold a hearing on the issue.  
Redding in her letter called on Amtrak to provide copies of the documentation 
 it had received or requested from the developer, also including any 
documents  related to the depot demolition.  
Redding said the commission was ``hopeful`` Amtrak would comply with the  
request. ``However, to the extent that Amtrak fails to comply with its  
obligations, the Corridor Commission will have no option other than to institute  an 
action in Federal District Court to compel Amtrak to undertake its statutory  
obligation of consultation and cooperation,`` Redding stated.  
Billington said that as of Tuesday, Amtrak had yet to reply to the letter. 

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End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #1484
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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org