An eyesore and constant reminder that the airport doesn’t pay Warwick property taxes, the former Atwood Grille on Post Road, will be coming down and quite possibly the property will be returned to the tax rolls under an agreement approved last Wednesday by the Rhode Island Airport Corporation board of directors

RIAC entered into an agreement with The Procaccianti Group, owners of the Comfort Inn, that gives the Cranston-based company a one-year option to buy what was formerly the Atwood Grille for $1,635,000, the amount RIAC paid in 2008 to acquire the site. In addition, RIAC is giving Procaccianti the right to build a walkway from the hotel to Garage A. The hotel access agreement carries a $35,000 fee that will increase over a 5-year period and is limited to authorized hotel customers. “Parking customers and others will not be allowed access through the connection and will continue to use a shuttle bus to the airport’s commercial curb,” reads the agreement.

According to the agreement the $35,000 fee is, “is based on the highest annual flat fee option for hotel access to the airport.”

Whether or not Procaccianti exercises the option to purchase, under the terms of the agreement it is obligated to demolish the Atwood Grille building at on 1910 Post Road. Procaccianti will receive a credit equal to the approved cost of this work to be applied to the access fee associated with Hotel Access Permit Agreement.

Asked why RIAC acquired the property in 2008, interim president and CEO Peter Frazier said yesterday the land abutted airport property and at the time RIAC was considering a new delivery drive.

Ralph V. Izzi Jr., Vice President of Public Affairs for Procaccianti, said in an email, “Given the project is still in its early stages we are still exploring a variety of uses for the parcel. As with all our projects we seek to identify and develop the highest and best use for the property. If and when plans evolve we will most certainly follow all of the proper procedures to ensure all interested parties including the general public are properly and fully informed.”