Providence City Council moves to shut down problematic city building

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — A Providence City Council committee has voted to close a dilapidated building used for city business.

The building at 3460 Ernest St. houses the station where residents bring their cars to have vehicle identification numbers verified. Public Safety and the Sewer Department also store vehicles there.

A City Council committee voted Wednesday to shut down the building.

"We shouldn’t have our people working there, or asking the public to come," said Ward 8 Councilman James Taylor.

When asked if the Elorza administration’s five-year capital improvement plan would be adequate to address the problem, he said: "We can’t wait five years. I didn’t want to wait 14 days. I wanted them out yesterday."

The council suggested the building be closed in 14 days. The mayor’s office said its legal team is reviewing whether it has to comply. But council members said the conditions -- which include leaky roofs, rotted ceiling beams, and large cracks in the wall -- are not tolerable.

"We need to act immediately to make the work environment safe warm and dry for our employees," said Ward 6 Councilman Michael Correia.

Ward 4 Councilman Nicholas Narducci agreed.

"It’s a hazard. I’m sure if OSHA was called in, they’d shut the building down," he said.

The councilors said the city has other buildings it could use right away.

The city’s response to questions is that it has a five-year capital improvement plan and that the building is on a priority list.