The Giant’s House is coming down and another Warwick landmark will live in memory only.
In the past year, two other Warwick icons have disappeared from the landscape – the Apponaug Mill water …
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The Giant’s House is coming down and another Warwick landmark will live in memory only.
In the past year, two other Warwick icons have disappeared from the landscape – the Apponaug Mill water tower that was pulled down to make room for the Apponaug Circulator with its system of roundabouts designed to expedite village traffic, and the Elizabeth Mill dating from the late 1800s, a symbol of the city’s rich industrial lineage. That site, now leveled and cleared, awaits a new life as the home for an office and retail building in the heart of Warwick City Centre.
And the Giant’s House?
Well, most people know it as the geodesic dome, or simply the “dome” on Airport Road. To Warwick Principal Planner Richard Crenca, it will always be the Giant’s House.
Crenca said his father reminded him and his siblings “that’s the Giant’s House” whenever they drove by it. And as for the trucks once stored under it, his father would say, “those are his roller skates, and we were young enough that we fell for it.”
Under agreements with the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, the city, and with City Council approval, the dome will come down as part of Enterprise Ren-A- Car’s plan to combine the 5.4-acre RIAC parcel with another 2.7-acre parcel owned by Marley Realty LLC for a car storage and maintenance operation. For the plan to work, the council will need to approve the abandonment of a portion of Hallene Road that separates the two lots. The plan has already gained the endorsement with conditions of the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Review.
Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi, who represented Enterprise before the planning and zoning boards, sees the development as a step to returning unused airport land to the tax rolls.
“This is a win-win for the city,” he said. He pointed out that the site would be beautified. He adds that since the public won’t use the operation, it won’t generate much traffic.
Chris Moran, operational manager at Enterprise, expects the project to be up and operational by next spring. “We’re excited about it,” he said describing the operation as a regional facility serving Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts.
The dome, built in 1962, and other buildings on the site served as the center of airport maintenance operations with the storage of plows and other airport vehicles until the current maintenance garage opened in 2008 on the east end of the field.
Mayor Scott Avedisian said last week he talked of relocating the dome with David Picozzi, public works director, for storage of municipal vehicles, but after review that was deemed impractical. The late Eugene Castellucci, of the architectural firm Castellucci Galli Corporation, designed the structure that is about 40 feet tall and 140 feet in diameter. It was the first geodesic dome in the state.
In the opinion of city planners, the Enterprise operation will enhance the appearance of the area as it will be screened by shrubbery, augmenting airport operations and putting the property on the city tax rolls. The operation would relocate Enterprise, Alamo Car Rental and National Car Rental administrative offices that are currently in Cranston. More than $6 million in improvements to the two properties is planned.
Avedisian said the proposal has been discussed over the past year and a half involving scores of meetings with RIAC CEO and President Kelly Fredericks. Fredericks, who is leaving Rhode Island next month to assume a similar role at the Ontario International Airport in California, said in a recent interview RIAC is looking to put additional land it doesn’t need for airport operations back on the tax roll.
Peter Frazier, RIAC senior vice president and counsel, explained in an interview Friday that Enterprise would have a five-year lease on the site with options to renew it at five-year intervals for a total of 30 years. He said the $260,000-a-year lease payments wouldn’t kick in until the project is operational, which he estimated would be in April 2017. Enterprise would also lease the Marley property, Shekarchi said.
Frazier said the operation would not affect the Interlink, which serves as the hub for airport car rentals. Enterprise would continue to have a rental office and cars there and share in the cost of Interlink operations, he said.
Apart from the tax benefit to the city, Frazier points out that the Airport Road development “keeps” the company in the state. No rentals would be made at the site. Access would be from the signalized entrance on Airport Road. There would be no access from Evergreen Avenue.
This is not the only piece of property Frazier, who is interim RIAC president and CEO, hopes to put on the tax rolls. RIAC owns additional off-airport property on Airport Road, Post Road, and Main Avenue that could be commercially developed.
It’s what the authority may purchase that concerns Avedisian.
Frazier confirmed RIAC is considering exercising its option to buy LAZ Fly Airport Parking on Post Road, formerly Preflight Airport Parking, for $3.2 million. That 6.4-acre property is assessed at $4.2 million. Taxes are $130,098 this year.
The purpose of the acquisition, explained Frazier, would be to “absorb” the parking business with the intent of “re-marketing” the site.
Avedisian is hopeful of finding a buyer looking to develop the property, thereby eliminating the risk of having it come off the tax rolls and sit idle for years as RIAC looks for a buyer.
Frazier thinks that makes good sense.
“If this is coming, let’s work together now,” he said.
7 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
mthompsondc
Dang...next thing you know, Almacs, Ann & Hope and Rocky Point will be gone...
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 Report this
BruceW
Sad to see it go. My Dad worked there in the 60's as a mechanic who worked on the plows and other equipment. I remember him showing me around inside. Still have the state patch he wore on his wore on his overalls.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 Report this
Art_Yatsko
I'm surprised that Enterprise doesn't plan to do their check in/check out, car return all under the dome and out of the weather. It's too bad. I'm going to miss it. Now who gets all the aluminum?
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 Report this
Justanidiot
The aluminum goes to the school buildings supervisor. I am sure that a good use can be found for it.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 Report this
InTheW
I wonder if having a sitting state rep argue the case gives a little more influence to the decision in favor of the Enterprise group.
Thursday, February 25, 2016 Report this
Thecaptain
More speculation on the part of Avedisian. He is "hopeful" that the little spec of land given back by RIAC to the city will be developed in the future. In the meantime, RIAC confiscates land and tax dollars, leases the land and big business wins again. Great job council!
Friday, February 26, 2016 Report this
Thecaptain
More speculation on the part of Avedisian. He is "hopeful" that the little spec of land given back by RIAC to the city will be developed in the future. In the meantime, RIAC confiscates land and tax dollars, leases the land and big business wins again. Great job council!
Friday, February 26, 2016 Report this