Five Questions With: Brent Runyon

Brent Runyon is executive director of the Providence Preservation Society. / COURTESY PROVIDENCE PRESERVATION SOCIETY
Brent Runyon is executive director of the Providence Preservation Society. / COURTESY PROVIDENCE PRESERVATION SOCIETY

The Providence Preservation Society will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year, with a symposium Nov. 3-5 and a seated dinner to follow at Skyline at Waterplace, the newly renovated facility at Waterplace Park. The theme of the symposium is “Why Preserve?” and that event will be held at the Industrial Trust Building. PPS Executive Director Brent Runyon spoke recently with Providence Business News about current preservation issues.
PBN: Why was the theme “Why Preserve?” chosen this year?
RUNYON:
It’s our 60th anniversary. It’s also the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act and the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, which are all interrelated. We thought about looking at the past, present and future of preservation, but we really wanted to not just sit around and talk about it. We wanted to build a case that it’s still important. We will be asking people to engage in a conversation. We believe the outcome will be, yeah, this is important.
PBN: The organization has started seeking a new round of nominations for Most Endangered Properties. Are you expecting to see some new properties this year?
RUNYON:
Sometimes we do have things that were pointed out to us that were not apparent. Often it is things that are being recycled. That is one of the problems with preservation; you’re never done. Buildings last a lot longer than economic cycles or owners. It’s almost a reordering of priorities. We think some will be off the list as success stories.
PBN: A property that has been named on several lists, the Southwest Pavilion building, owned by Lifespan, is scheduled to be razed. The hospital has prevailed before various city boards. Is that a building that you’ve conceded will not be saved?
RUNYON:
We have not conceded that point yet. We do understand that legally there is nothing that can be done. But for Lifespan to pretend they’re not part of the community, so they can clean off their balance sheet, is irresponsible. The City Council last week passed a resolution … urging them to do everything they can to preserve that building. We don’t believe they’ve considered all the options.
PBN: Looking back at the past year, is there anything that you are proud of?
RUNYON:
The Cranston Street Armory is a perennial favorite. With the new administration, and Michael DiBiase at the Department of Administration, we’re having monthly meetings with the stakeholders, inviting stakeholders into the conversation.
The purpose right now is to get to a point where they can hire someone to facilitate the process. People want different things, and the state can’t pick and choose. I think they want to get us all moving in one direction, then build up support for funding.
PBN: The symposium will be held at the Industrial Trust building, also known as the “Superman building.” Was that chosen for a reason?
RUNYON:
We believe the more people we get in that building, the more public support for the building there is, because it is irreplaceable. If you’re in the building, you see the craftsmanship, and the materials. That kind of space will never be re-created in Providence. It’s an era that’s over. And it is worth the extra effort to preserve it. We’re hoping through our theme this year, Why Preserve, to build a case that it’s good to preserve things for economic development. But it’s also good to preserve things for beauty, craftsmanship and other intrinsic values.

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