By JOHN HOWELL Like a cat, Buttonwoods School is going to have another life. Buttonwoods School? It's been known by other names, including the Buttonwoods Senior Center and, most recently, the Buttonwoods Community Center on West Shore Road at the
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Like a cat, Buttonwoods School is going to have another life.
Buttonwoods School?
It’s been known by other names, including the Buttonwoods Senior Center and, most recently, the Buttonwoods Community Center on West Shore Road at the intersection of Buttonwoods Avenue and across the street from Work Out World and Ocean State Job Lot.
But hard times fell on the center. The roof leaked. There was mold and mildew. The building needed electrical and heating and air conditioning upgrades. To the dismay of some senior card clubs that meet regularly at the center and to the inconvenience of Westbay Community Action that leased space and ran programs from the center, former Mayor Scott Avedisian deemed it impractical to keep the center open. He planned to sell the property.
But Ward 7 Councilman Steve McAllister wanted to save the center, and the rest of the City Council agreed. Now his persistence, a quirk of fate and the commitment of Mayor Joseph Solomon are about to pay off.
Fate – or should we say the weather – played a role when an Arctic blast hit the state a year ago. City workers returned from the 2018 New Year’s holiday to discover a pipe had burst in the second floor Planning Department office of the City Hall Annex, sending a cascade into the assessor’s office. The damage was far more extensive and Avedisian acted to close the Annex, relocating the offices to the former Greene School on Draper Avenue. The former elementary school is hardly a conveniently located city office, nor is its classrooms conducive to offices.
Buttonwoods Center is a different story. It’s a short drive from City Hall, more centrally located and with spaces designed as offices. And there’s parking.
One of the first things Solomon did when he stepped into the role as mayor was to commit to saving Buttonwoods. Then Furey Roofing came forward to fix the flat rubber that is in between the peaks of the former school and its addition at no cost to the city. Department of Public Works and city building maintenance crews have taken on the job of interior renovations, including removal of carpeting, moldy wall boards and ceiling tiles. They are also addressing electrical wiring, building codes and converting some spaces into multiple offices.
A committee comprising the mayor, Councilman Ed Ladouceur, McAllister, DPW acting director Mathew Solitro and Joseph Blake of municipal buildings and maintenance have been meeting weekly “to stay on top of it,” said McAllister. In an effort to avoid delays and ensure things are done correctly from the start, McAllister said the state fire marshal did a walkthrough last week.
McAllister is likewise excited that Citizens Bank has contributed office partisans and furniture for the renovated center. While not new, McAllister said the furniture looks like it’s straight out of the box.
“It’s new to us,” he said.
“They’re doing a really good job,” Ladouceur said of city workers.
He said the focus is to maximize use of the building space while ensuring that city workers have comfortable office spaces and that the public has a pleasant experience. The building department would be the first office upon entering the center. To one side would be a building directory and station for a “greeter.” The greeter, similar to what is now done at the Pilgrim Senior Center, would be a volunteer.
Ladouceur said having a place that makes people happy to come to work is a priority. At this point the plan calls for all the offices previously located in the annex to relocate from Greene, with the exception of personnel.
Solomon said Friday conversion of the center – an area would be retained for public use and return of the senior card clubs – into municipal offices pending resolution on a permanent annex makes so much more sense than spending the money to bring Greene up to code. He pointed out when a new annex is operational, the office space at Buttonwoods could be leased.
As for the annex, Solomon has talked about bringing suit against the Rhode Island Interlocal Risk Management Trust, as he believes insurance should cover far more than the $300,000 reportedly being offered to settle the claim. Solomon calls the annex behind City Hall “toast” and says it should be razed.
McAllister is hopeful that the move to Buttonwoods can start by the end of this month. He’s been in contact with senior groups to let them know that it won’t be too long before they can play cards at Buttonwoods again.
19 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Cat2222
A huge thank you to Furey Roofing for doing the work at no cost to the city and for Citizens Bank for donating furniture. The Department of Public Works is doing a great job renovating the building. It is great to see the building repurposed and opening up again. It is always good to see a positive story about our city working together to accomplish something great!
Tuesday, January 15, 2019 Report this
wwkvoter
I agree...
Tuesday, January 15, 2019 Report this
richardcorrente
Please don't anyone forget that when Avedisian said we "had to sell it", it was a heroic decision on Steve McAllister's part to dispute the issue with him.
Steve started this "Save Buttonwoods" drive and he deserves the majority of credit for the current success.
The owners of Furley Roofing deserve the Key-to-the-City and Mayor Solomon and City Council/Finance Chair Ed Ladouceur deserves credit too, for supporting McAllister when the easy answer was to "just say "No""
Happy Valentines everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Tuesday, January 15, 2019 Report this
Justanidiot
donts look a gifted hoarse in the mouth
Tuesday, January 15, 2019 Report this
wwkvoter
correction to the post two comments above... corrente is NO ONE'S mayor.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019 Report this
richardcorrente
Correction on WwkVoter's comment.
Corrente decides who he represents. Not WwkVoter, who doesn't even have the courage to comment using his real name.
Happy Valentines everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Wednesday, January 16, 2019 Report this
Justanidiot
master mayer doesn't represent me. he was never erected and eyes never voted for him. nor has i ever paid taxes--just like master mayer
Wednesday, January 16, 2019 Report this
Cat2222
HAHAHAHA, you have it backwards RC. The people decide who represents them and they didn't choose you!
Wednesday, January 16, 2019 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Cat,
I'm glad my comments made you laugh. We need more laughter in this world, but, no, I didn't get it backwards. My sincerest efforts are to serve the taxpayers best interests. That doesn't mean "but only if they vote for me". That condition wouldn't make it honest. I believe you are more familiar with political-insider "payback", but I am only concerned with helping the taxpayers without requiring anything in return. That's why I refused PAC donations. They come with "strings". "Here's a donation, but only if you reciprocate", is not my style. That's politics in Warwick, but it's not my politics. Is it yours Cat?
Happy Valentines Cat.
Happy Valentines everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor (and maybe even Cats')
Thursday, January 17, 2019 Report this
Justanidiot
da taxprayers mayer because he donts pays his and needs someone to carry da weight.
Thursday, January 17, 2019 Report this
Cat2222
Let's be honest with one another, shall we? You don't represent anyone other than yourself. You don't represent the taxpayers of this city in any capacity. Wishful thinking, if you will. You already know that. At some point all of us have to grow up and face reality. I think you are struggling with your own reality and that is why you retreat into your fantasy world so often. Play acting and make believe doesn't work in adulthood the same way it did in childhood.
Thursday, January 17, 2019 Report this
PaulHuff
Mr. Corrente,
Can you kindly take down the billboard on Greenwich Ave until next election season?
Thanks for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Warwick
Thursday, January 17, 2019 Report this
Justanidiot
PaulHuff
master mayer has electile dysfuntion it is really hard for him to get things up and down. plus he is just ramping up his 2020 campaign. a chicken in every garage and a car in every pot
Friday, January 18, 2019 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Cat,
I accept your "let's be honest with one another, shall we?"challenge.
First, my honest name is Richard Corrente. What's yours?
Second, I represent the 80,000 taxpayers that are paying the tab. The fact that I do it voluntarily, without getting paid, doesn't change my commitment to them. What have you ever done for their benefit? Anything?
Third, no fantasy world, no play acting on my part. How about your part? Anything to take credit for? Anything at all?
Lastly, my "own reality" was to see a wrong and spend $40,000 of my own money and 700+ days of my life correcting it. You might disagree with me as to the results. I stopped Avedisian from doing to this City what he had done for over 18 years. By the way, what, if anything have you done for the taxpayers? Anything?? Any money spent? No? Not even a dime? Any time spent? No? Any campaign for any special cause? No? Anything? Have you EVER done ANYTHING for the benefit of even ONE taxpayer? If you have, let's hear it. If not, could you please lighten up on me. I've done kind of a lot.
When Avedisian tried to add 29 tax-increasing amendments to the 2017 budget the City Council unanimously told him "No" for the first time THIS CENTURY. EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER told me, my campaign of "Cut Taxes - Cut Spending" was repeated to them loud and clear from their constituents. I say it was my efforts that caused that vote. You can just call it one gigantic coincidence if you like. That, in my opinion, would honestly be the REAL fantasy world.
So, my new, about-to-get-honest friend...what's your honest name?
Happy Valentines Cat, or Cat2222, or whatever your honest name is.
Happy Valentines everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Friday, January 18, 2019 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear PaulHuff,
I appreciate your kind and sincere request. 13 months ago I received by regular mail, by certified mail and also by an unannounced visit to my office from some of the Mayors people threatening to fine me $500 a day if I didn't take that sign down. I went to the ACLU and they sent a lawyers letter to the City reminding them that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution allows that sign. They also reminded the City that the matter went to court about eight years ago and Warwick not only lost but they were court-ordered to take that unconstitutional zoning ordinance off the books. They didn't.
But they rescinded the illegal demand so I let the matter drop. Court action would have only cost the taxpayers.
(Here's where it gets good!)
Recently (January 2019) they did it again! I sent them a courtesy letter reminding them of what happened a year ago and commented that "Unless the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was revised without my knowledge, the City of Warwick can't possibly win this battle that will be looked upon as purely political."
I say "courtesy letter" because I have no desire to fight them, but if we have to fight, I'll win.
Because your comment was kind and sincere, I will tell you the outcome first.
Happy Valentines PaulHuff.
Happy Valentines everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Friday, January 18, 2019 Report this
wrkvoter
REMINDER: Corrente represents NO ONE. He is not a mayor nor will he ever be. His sign may or may not be legal, but it definitely is a testament to a demented and delusional failed candidate who would not know the truth if it fell on him. Which it won't. because he is politically inconsequential. His ONLY influence at all is to annoy, inappropriately, here in a local newspaper comment section. sad. Annoying, but also very very sad.
Monday, January 21, 2019 Report this
tellitlikeitis
LOL John SPEARS.
Monday, January 21, 2019 Report this
Cat2222
Thankfully, my parents taught me about Matthew 6:1 and what the Bible says about helping people. Be very careful about how you decide to put down people RC. You can never really know what someone does in private. Karma and all that.
I have left my reasoning for not using my full legal name a few times. My decision stands.
Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Report this
wrkvoter
this corrente delusion of "I stopped 29 tax raising amendments" has been disproven as a flat out lie OVER AND OVER AGAIN. next thing corrente will claim he created santa claus!
Tuesday, January 22, 2019 Report this