RISD looks to demolish Farnum Hall

THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN is seeking permission to demolish Farnum Hall, a former residence hall on Congdon Street. /
THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN is seeking permission to demolish Farnum Hall, a former residence hall on Congdon Street. /

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island School of Design is moving to demolish Farnum Hall on Congdon Street.
The Providence Historic District Commission is slated to discuss whether to allow the demolition of the former dormitory at its meeting Monday. The commission last took up the request at an August meeting.
RISD spokeswoman Jaime Marland said building has been closed for several years because of “serious foundation issues.”
“Our ultimate vision and intent is to provide an outside classroom/park for our students within that space,” Marland wrote in an e-mail. “The proposal is still in the review process with the Providence Historic District Commission, and so there’s no timing or decision on any demolition as of yet.”
The proposal, she said, has been public since 1996, when the school filed an institutional master plan with the city. She added that the school is committed to discussing plans for the property with neighbors.
Farnum Hall was built in 1929 and contains 54 apartments, according to city tax records. The building is appraised at $1.2 million and the half-acre of land its sits on at $381,100.

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