Once the site of a 1950s diner, this vacant R.I. land is slated to become affordable housing
Advertisement
That means these units will be designated to those who earn $66,650 in a single-family household, $76,200 in a two-family household, and $85,700 in a three-family household, according
Get Rhode Map
A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State.
Enter Email
Sign Up
The current vacant lot at 327 Elmwood Ave. in Providence, R.I., was once the site of the Peter Pan Diner in the 1960s.
UNION
The nearly 9,500-square-foot lot has been vacant for years, but has a storied past.
In 1953, the Peter Pan Diner opened as an
the spot 'New England's Most Beautiful Diner-Restaurant,' and had bright white neon lights that reflected off of the silver plating that wrapped around the business.
Advertisement
The restaurant also drew characters: The late Frank L. Marrapese Jr., also known as 'Bobo,' was a powerful enforcer for New England crime boss
In 1971, the diner was bought at auction and relocated to state-owned land in Galilee, a fishing village in Narragansett. The owner at the time wanted to reopen the diner, which would have required a zoning change with the town. Questions swirled over who permitted the relocation, and over the legality of keeping it on the state-owned land. The matter spurred council and court hearings. Vandals smashed its windows to get inside.
A newspaper clipping in 1972 about the former Peter Pan Diner, which at the time was located on a potato farm in Exeter, R.I.
Courtesy of Providence Public Library
Eventually, the state paid H. Winfield Tucker $1 to store the controversial diner on his potato farm in Exeter, according to the Providence Journal's archives. At that point, the diner was already worthless. A tax assessor in 1972 said it was worth the 'junk price of $2,500.' The diner sat there for years, but it's unclear what happened to the diner's remains.
Linda Tucker, H. Winfield Tucker's daughter, hung up on a Globe reporter when seeking information. H. Winfield Tucker's grandson, Dawson Hodgson, who is now the president
After the diner vacated Providence, the Elmwood Avenue plot became a Sunoco service gas station. Sometime afterward, Johnson & Wales University purchased the land, but in 2006, the college transferred the property to the Providence Redevelopment Agency.
Advertisement
On the West Side, the vacant plot of land at 327 Elmwood Ave. in Providence, R.I., is expected to become a mixed-use building with 44 apartment units.
UNION
The land was assessed last year for $200,200. In February 2024, the city requested bids for interested buyers to redevelop the property, which is how Women's Development Corporation took control over the property.
Ten units will be built on each of the second through fifth stories. The units will be a mix of studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments, according to blueprints. There is not expected to be any parking for cars, but the developer will create space for bicycles.
The construction timeline is not clear. Ellen Quinn, the group's asset manager, could not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday evening.
Alexa Gagosz can be reached at
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
New Mexico union files charges against Albertsons, Smith's for colluding despite failed merger
Jun. 13—A New Mexico union representing thousands of food workers on Friday announced it filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against regional food chains Smith's and Albertsons. The union, in contract negotiations with both companies, alleges the grocery store owners are not bargaining in good faith, a development that could lead to strikes this month. Taking it a step further, the charges state Smith's and Albertsons have worked together in the bargaining process, despite the two being completely separate entities. In late 2024, state and federal courts rejected a merger request by Kroger, which owns Smith's, and Albertsons. The companies have since sued each other over how the deal fell apart and whose fault it was. But New Mexico's United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1564 — which represents more than 2,500 Smith's employees and around 1,200 Albertsons workers — doesn't think the failed merger stopped the companies from working together. The union's charges, filed earlier this week, state Smith's and Albertsons have "engaged in collusion ... on bargaining proposals, effectively creating a multi-employer bargaining unit without the union's consent." The charges also allege both companies have failed to provide the union with requested information needed to bargain and have refused to arbitrate grievances. "I've been dealing with both companies for many years, and they appear to be more united now than ... any time before," said Greg Frazier, president of the local union. Smith's denies conducting any unfair labor practices. Spokesperson Tina Murray said, "The path to a fair and peaceful resolution is at the bargaining table," urging the local union to work with the company in finding common ground. "We're focused on reaching a balanced agreement — one that increases wages for our associates while keeping groceries affordable for New Mexico families," she said. Albertsons didn't respond to a Journal request for comment Friday. UFCW Local 1564 has been in negotiations with Albertsons and Smith's on contracts since May, Frazier said. The current contracts would've expired this weekend, but the union and companies agreed to extend them through June 28. Unionized Smith's and Albertsons employees around the state are voting next week about whether to strike over the alleged unfair bargaining practices. Each chain has dozens of stores in New Mexico. The union would announce the start and length of any potential strikes, and participating union employees would get paid up to $100 a day, according to UFCW. "We don't feel that we can bargain efficiently with what's going on around us," Frazier said. Frazier pointed out that other states have also filed charges against the grocery store chains. Just this month, multiple UFCW branches filed charges with the NLRB against Albertsons and Kroger stores, including branches in California, Texas and Oregon, according to NLRB's docket. "This behavior is not giving those workers the opportunity to make a fair living," Frazier said. "We're hoping the behavior changes and that we can start making progress in negotiations."
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
New Mexico union files charges against Albertsons, Smith's for colluding despite failed merger
Jun. 13—A New Mexico union representing thousands of food workers on Friday announced it filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against regional food chains Smith's and Albertsons. The union, in contract negotiations with both companies, alleges the grocery store owners are not bargaining in good faith, a development that could lead to strikes this month. Taking it a step further, the charges state Smith's and Albertsons have worked together in the bargaining process, despite the two being completely separate entities. In late 2024, state and federal courts rejected a merger request by Kroger, which owns Smith's, and Albertsons. The companies have since sued each other over how the deal fell apart and whose fault it was. But New Mexico's United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1564 — which represents more than 2,500 Smith's employees and around 1,200 Albertsons workers — doesn't think the failed merger stopped the companies from working together. The union's charges, filed earlier this week, state Smith's and Albertsons have "engaged in collusion ... on bargaining proposals, effectively creating a multi-employer bargaining unit without the union's consent." The charges also allege both companies have failed to provide the union with requested information needed to bargain and have refused to arbitrate grievances. "I've been dealing with both companies for many years, and they appear to be more united now than ... any time before," said Greg Frazier, president of the local union. Smith's denies conducting any unfair labor practices. Spokesperson Tina Murray said, "The path to a fair and peaceful resolution is at the bargaining table," urging the local union to work with the company in finding common ground. "We're focused on reaching a balanced agreement — one that increases wages for our associates while keeping groceries affordable for New Mexico families," she said. Albertsons didn't respond to a Journal request for comment Friday. UFCW Local 1564 has been in negotiations with Albertsons and Smith's on contracts since May, Frazier said. The current contracts would've expired this weekend, but the union and companies agreed to extend them through June 28. Unionized Smith's and Albertsons employees around the state are voting next week about whether to strike over the alleged unfair bargaining practices. Each chain has dozens of stores in New Mexico. The union would announce the start and length of any potential strikes, and participating union employees would get paid up to $100 a day, according to UFCW. "We don't feel that we can bargain efficiently with what's going on around us," Frazier said. Frazier pointed out that other states have also filed charges against the grocery store chains. Just this month, multiple UFCW branches filed charges with the NLRB against Albertsons and Kroger stores, including branches in California, Texas and Oregon, according to NLRB's docket. "This behavior is not giving those workers the opportunity to make a fair living," Frazier said. "We're hoping the behavior changes and that we can start making progress in negotiations."
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
Documents that Lincoln signed to end slavery to be auctioned off
By Dean Murray Two era-defining documents that ended slavery and reshaped American history are to be auctioned. The Thirteenth Amendment (estimated at $8–12 million) and the Emancipation Proclamation (estimated at $3–5 million) are both signed by President Abraham Lincoln. The landmark documents, rarely seen together, will headline Sotheby's Fine Books and Manuscripts auction in New York on June 26. They offer collectors a rare glimpse into the enduring legacy of Lincoln's vision for the legal abolition of slavery in the United States. While the Emancipation Proclamation introduced partial emancipation, the Thirteenth Amendment was the first instance in which abolition was enshrined in law. Sotheby's says both documents are considered the most valuable copies of their kind ever to reach auction. Their appearance together at the event not only marks a pivotal moment in the nation's history but also underscores Lincoln's commitment to ending slavery-an act he considered his greatest achievement as president. The Thirteenth Amendment copy on offer is among only 15 recorded manuscript copies signed by Lincoln, and one of just nine signed by Lincoln alongside the senators and congressmen who passed it for ratification by the states. Of these, only four remain in private hands, with this example bearing the most signatures of supporting legislators-an extraordinary 96%. The Emancipation Proclamation, also signed by Lincoln, is one of just 27 surviving limited edition copies from an original run of 48 produced to benefit the United States Sanitary Commission, a cause close to Lincoln's heart. These documents were sold at the Great Central Fair in Philadelphia in 1864, raising funds for vital medical care and support for Union soldiers during the Civil War. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed on 1 January 1863, while the Thirteenth Amendment was originally signed by President Abraham Lincoln on 1 February 1865, after Congress passed the joint resolution proposing the amendment on 31 January 1865. The documents will be on public view at Sotheby's York Avenue galleries from 20–25 June, ahead of the highly anticipated auction. The post Documents that Lincoln signed to end slavery to be auctioned off appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
