Interior of the Drill Hall, Cranston Street Armory
The State of Rhode Island recently announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of re-use options for the Cranston Street Armory that will include and reflect a stakeholder and community engagement process. The deadline for proposals is March 17, 2017.
There will be a "non-mandatory pre-bid conference and walk-through" tomorrow/Friday, March 3, at 10am. While this tour is a part of the RFP, you do not have to be a bidder to participate! Use the entrance in the West Tower on Parade Street.
This visioning and planning process will include community charrettes and research on the successful re-use of other large or similar historic buildings, and will result in recommendations for creative and sustainable re-use of the building that preserves the historic and iconic nature of the structure.
The estimated start date for this planning and community engagement process is this summer, and the project will take a year to complete.
WBNA has been meeting for over a year with the state's Cranston Street Armory Steering Committee as well as elected officials in its efforts to get the Armory open and utilized both in the short term for temporary uses and with a focus on a permanent and appropriate re-use for our magnificent west side castle.
Want to be more involved? Please join our WBNA Armory Advocacy Committee which will meet on the first Wednesday of every month starting April 5. Contact us for more information.