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Rhodes School Property Cleared For Construction

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] There's just a porta-potty standing at the Rhodes School property with the building demolition finished Jan. 3.

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] There's just a porta-potty standing at the Rhodes School property with the building demolition finished Jan. 3.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] There’s just a porta-potty standing at the Rhodes School property with the building demolition finished Jan. 3.
[CREDIT: City of Warwick] Demolition of Rhodes School is scheduled for Dec. 5. The building is planned Residents are warned to avoid the property during the next several weeks.
[CREDIT: City of Warwick] Demolition of Rhodes School began Dec. 5. The building is planned Residents are warned to avoid the property during the next several weeks.
WARWICK, RI — There’s just property at the Rhodes School property at 110 Sherwood Ave. following the successful demolition of the building, a port-a-potty the sole structure standing Friday.

Friday morning, two trucks idled on the site, each bearing sections of a large piece of construction equipment used in the demolition, their drivers readying to haul the machinery to its next task. The demolition is prelude to redevelopment of the property by h.a. Fisher Homes, which plans to build 30 single-family houses at the site.

“For many, this is a bittersweet moment.  While the deteriorating building has been an eyesore in the neighborhood for almost a decade, so many have so many memories of their home elementary school,” said Warwick City Councilman Jeremy Rix in an email to his Ward 2 constituents announcing the end of demolition at the site.

Rix said in his email that about 100 interested residents had taken advantage of commemorative bricks from the school as momentoes. The bricks were provided by Hugh Fisher, owner of  h.a. Fisher Homes, and stenciled by Marc Berman, he said.

In return, Berman and Rix suggested, but did not require, a donation to the RI Community Food Bank.

[CREDIT: Marc Berman] Bricks from the demolished Rhodes School have been stenciled as keepsakes for interested former faculty, staff and students of the closed school.
[CREDIT: Marc Berman] Bricks from the demolished Rhodes School have been stenciled as keepsakes for interested former faculty, staff and students of the closed school.
“As every dollar helps support an important cause, we hope that those with the means will have the willingness to donate, but, there’s no pressure, as we don’t want a suggested donation to be a barrier for anyone,” Rix wrote.

While the first brick pickup was Dec. 28, Rix said he and Berman will likely hold another event to distribute bricks to people interested who weren’t able to make that date. Interested Rhodes School fans may contact him at [email protected].

 

 

 

Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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