Warwick, RI — The continuing work to provide a facelift to ‘The Victorian Lady,’ home to the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, pauses for fortification Thursday morning, Sept. 18, with a breakfast hosted by Warwick Mall and Newport Creamery in the mall’s food court.
Registration and coffee at 7:45 a.m., breakfast served at 8. Mayor Scott Avedisian and mall co-Managing Partner Aram Garabedian are on the speaking program, which officially opens the “community aspect of the drive,” explained Chamber President Lauren Slocum. “We’re going to the public to ask them to join us in support of this restoration effort.”
Slocum said the Chamber has surpassed the 65-percent mark in raising funds for the estimated $200,000 cost for re-siding the building that houses the organization at 3288 Post Road. The next-door Slade Business Center is also included in the project.
Read the whole story behind ‘Restoring the Victorian Lady’ here.
The two buildings’ exteriors have deteriorated badly, mainly due to environmental conditions and a requirement for painted wood shingles in prior historic zoning codes. Warwick recently updated its exterior codes to allow for longer-lasting “architectural” siding, and the Chamber is making a visible example of the new rules.
There’s also an opportunity for community feedback on the colors for the buildings with an online poll — so far, Heritage Cream and Cyprus Green are swapping the top spot every few days, Slocum noted. Polling is expected to close the first week of October, she added.
Slocum also offered thanks to Avedisian and the city, Warwick Mall and Newport Creamery for supporting the effort.
“We truly could not have done it without them,” she said.
Author: Joe Hutnak - [email protected]
Co-Founder and Editor-at-Large of Warwick Post. For Warwick Post-related inquiries or communications, email [email protected]
This is a test
