Superman building

The Bottom Line: What's Next for the Superman Building?

Dave Fallon — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:11:00 +0000

Providence Business News Editor Mark Murphy joins Rhode Island Public Radio's Dave Fallon for a weekly business segment we're calling "The Bottom Line." Each Friday it looks at business news and themes that affect local business and the public.

This week Dave and Mark talk with Grow Smart Rhode Island executive director Scott Wolf. They discuss proposals for the Superman Building, the costs of such development, urban residential living and trends in downtown office buildings.

When to Listen

You can hear The Bottom Line each Friday at 5:50pm.

TGIF: 14 Things to Know About Rhode Island Politics + Media

Ian Donnis — Fri, 03 May 2013 20:22:45 +0000

May rolls in with history being made in Rhode Island. Welcome back to my weekly column. As always, your thoughts and tips are welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org. Let's head in:

Can RI keep Superman Building from going dark?

Scott MacKay — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:45:50 +0000

Providence already has too many underused office buildings. RI political analyst Scott MacKay on what can be done to prevent the Superman building from going dark.

Maybe you were driving home from a night Celtics, Bruins or Red Sox game. Or perhaps you visited friends in Boston or were returning from summer vacation on a lake in Vermont or New Hampshire.

Driving down Route 95, at the crest of a hill near the Attleboros, you see the blue beacon beckoning you home from atop the Industrial Trust Building in Providence, known universally in Rhode Island as the Superman Building.

Political Roundtable: What's Next for the Superman Building?

Ian Donnis — Fri, 03 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Roger Williams University Law School professor Jorge Elorza, a housing court judge in Providence and prospective mayoral candidate, joins the Roundtable this week. We talk about what's next for the Superman Building, growing interest in the 2012 race for treasurer, and debate over investing the state pension fund in hedge funds.

Fox Foe Mark Binder Announces New Challenge to the Speaker

Ian Donnis — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:24:02 +0000

We're 18 months out from the November 2014 election, but that's not stopping Mark Binder from announcing on Thursday another legislative challenge to House Speaker Gordon Fox.

Via news release:

Beacon Atop Superman Building Won't Go Out

Flo Jonic — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:23:06 +0000

The beacon light atop the tallest building in Rhode Island will remain on for the time being. But the owner of the so-called “Superman Building” says that could change if state leaders don’t approve a $39 million package of tax credits. State leaders are decidedly lukewarm to the idea.

Superman Building Owner Pursues State Aid

Ian Donnis — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:08:59 +0000

The owner of the vacant Superman Building in downtown Providence wants to use $39 million in state money to convert it into for residential apartments. It remains unclear whether the General Assembly is willing to support that kind of spending.

The Superman Building has been sitting empty ever since Bank of America left in early April. The property’s owner, High Rock Development of Massachusetts, wants to convert the art deco building into 278 rental apartments.

Speaker Fox Pours Cold Water on Superman Building Owner's Quest for 39M in State Help

Ian Donnis — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:45:04 +0000

HR&A Advisors of New York is out with its economic-impact report on the now-vacant Superman Building, which was prepared for Cornish Associates.

Political Roundtable: Cicilline on DC Gridlock, Immigration Reform, Gordon Fox + More

Ian Donnis — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Congressman David Cicilline joins the Roundtable this week to discuss hyper-partisanship in Congress, the outlook for an immigration overhaul, his encouraging of House Speaker Gordon Fox to run for mayor of Providence, and other topics.

TGIF: 14 Things to Know About Rhode Island Politics + Media

Ian Donnis — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:18:33 +0000

Welcome back to my weekly column. Spring is starting to pop, and there's never a shortage of news hereabouts, so let's get to it. As always, your thoughts and tips are welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org.