This is a full blown red alert from the WBNA.  Please see below.

Neighbors,
Please help protect our beloved Armory.  For most of its history it has been known as the “castle for the people” and gubernatorial inaugural balls, high school track meets, car and poultry shows were held in the magnificent drill hall, yet now it looks like the State intends to make it a giant storage facility.  The Cranston Street Armory is a state owned building which means you own a piece of it and have a right to voice your concern.

The Situation
The WBNA recently became aware that yards and yards of chain link fencing has been permanently screwed into the original wood floor of the drill hall of the Cranston Street Armory.  We hear that the State Board of Elections will be storing their voting machines behind this fencing.  We also hear the State intends to pack the parking lot full of vehicles.  This fencing installation is of serious impact to the building and goes against all the neighborhood has been doing to advocate for the occupation and reuse of this nationally significant building since it was vacated by the RI National Guard in 1997. 

The Solution
We welcome the use of the Armory towers for state offices for human occupation and are pleased that the State Fire Marshal is making the Armory their home because people in the building will protect it for the future.  The drill hall would do very well returning to its original use of serving the public of Rhode Island.  The WBNA previously worked with the Department of Administration and found that if the towers of the Armory were occupied by state offices, it would save the state $2.5 million in office leases; however, using a building of this historic, architectural and national significance as a storage facility is inappropriate and not in the best interests of the state.

Neighborhood Goals for the Building
The WBNA will be asking our elected officials and the Department of Administration for the following:
Allocate $2.2 Million in state funds for the Armory in 2010 and each year thereafter until renovations are complete so that state offices can begin moving in, saving money for the long term
Return a public use to the drill hall of the Armory so the public can return to its “castle for the people”
Prohibit the use of the drill hall and towers or parking lot as a storage facility.  There are likely buildings at The Pastore Center in Cranston that better meet the storage needs of the state.
Require that all repair work and potential new users be first reviewed by the Rhode Island Historical and Heritage Commission, the overseer of our state’s historic treasures.

What you can do
Call or email the following people and ask for their help in making the following goals happen:

Senator Paul Jabour 751-3300  sen-jabour@rilin.state.ri.us
Representative Steven Costantino 521-1313  rep-costantino@rilin.state.ri.us
Representative Anastasia Williams 272-8135  staciaaw80@hotmail.com
Ted Sanderson, Executive Director, RIHPC 222-2678  tsanderson@preservation.ri.gov
Gary Sasse, RI Department of Administration, 222-2000 (he is in charge of state properties)
Ron Reynaud, RI Department of Administration, 222-2000
Ask other Rhode Islanders to call and make the same request
cc:  WBNA on your emails

Thank you for standing up for our neighborhood and our castle!
Kari, WBNA

Here is a link to a couple of videos recently taken.

Video 1...Click Here

Video 2...Click Here

Here are some disturbing pics as well.

WBNA Goblin and Gremlin Party/Parade was a great time!

On Saturday the WBNA organized the annual Goblins and Gremlins Party & Parade. It was another smash hit and a great time. There was a beer garden, pet costume contest, Trebuchet (Pumpkin Launcher), and a Parade with Big Nazo!

It was hard to get a headcount but by my estimation there were between 250-300 people having a blast. I'm already looking forward to next year's event!

There are a couple pics above but way more (click here) thanks to Elaine!

I also have a video (thanks to Andy Kyte) of the pumpkin launcher. (Click here) for that video.

Last Friday the Steel Yard had their 4th Annual Halloween Iron Pour. This was my first time attending and it was a fantastic time. I do not know what the attendance expectations were but i think they were exceeded since the entire place was packed and people even had to stand in the back just to get a peek.  Nothing like a packed house!

Anyways, i was able to record a few clips of the event since anything i would write would not do it justice.  Above is a cool pic i snapped and I also took a video.  Of course I can't figure out how to post it here so i have included a link to youtube.

Video Link...click here

Check out the video and be sure to attend the next iron pour. For $7 you won't find a better time!

Steel Yard (http://thesteelyard.org/)

West Side Tree Planting!

A couple of weeks ago the West Side had a huge street tree planting!  In the Armory we planted over 40 trees in some areas that desperately needed them.   To name a few>>>>Hudson, Chapin, Messer, Willow, Ellery, Marvin, etc…I’m looking at you.

We had a ton of volunteers (the mayor even came out to support us) and Hudson Deli pitched in with a meeting spot and beverages too.   The WBNA was kind enough to lend some shovels, and gloves as well.

The Knight Street crew also had a planting and from what I understand have planted over 100 trees in that concentrated corridor in the past couple years.

A special thanks to Jackson, Joe, the Knight Street folk, and the PNPP for everything!  Let’s keep the trees coming.

If you’re on a block that needs trees why not apply.  Get some neighbors to sign the application and keep the greening of our community happening.

If you want to learn more come to the General Meeting at the WBNA on Tuesday, November 3^rd @ 7PM sharp.  You can also learn more from the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program (www.pnpp.org)