Brown University Walks Back Plans For Performing Arts Center

In a win for historic preservationists, Brown University is changing its plans for a new performing arts center. The proposal for a new building drew the ire of some community members in the city.

That’s because the plan involved razing or moving a total of five historic buildings on Providence’s East Side, a neighborhood dotted with well-preserved houses dating back centuries. The proposal drew criticism from the Providence Preservation Society, which has worked to protect historic buildings in the city since the 1950s.

Brown University’s new proposal keeps the performing arts center on the East Side, which the school says will better serve undergraduates. But the new plan involves the relocation of just one historic structure, the Sharpe House, built in 1873.

In a statement, university officials said that they recognize the concerns of preservationists, and are "dedicated to being a good community partner."

The new plan goes before the City Plan Commission next month.

http://ripr.org/post/brown-university-walks-back-plans-performing-arts-center#stream/0