Mayor Taveras, PPS, Revolving Fund Celebrate Removal of Steel Bracing on Providence National Bank Building façade

Mayor Angel Taveras put his signature on one of the last beams of steel bracing that has blocked pedestrian access along Weybosset Street in downtown Providence for seven years.

The Providence Preservation Society, the Providence Revolving Fund, the Downcity Merchants Association, O'Connor Capital Partners and dozens of preservationists and downtown business owners and residents joined Mayor Taveras to celebrate completion of the project to remove the steel bracing and preserve the historic Providence National Bank Building façade at 43 Weybosset Street in the downtown financial district.

"By saving the Providence National Bank façade, we are retaining the historic fabric of lower Weybosset Street, preserving the rhythm and historic integrity of buildings in our central business district," ," said Mayor Taveras. "Providence's architectural legacy is one of our strongest economic assets and the preservation of that legacy is under way in full force here in our financial district."

In November 2011, Mayor Taveras announced an agreement with the Providence Preservation Society, the Providence Revolving Fund and O'Connor Capital to preserve the historic Providence National Bank Building façade.

"PPS is thrilled to have partnered with Mayor Taveras, the City, the Providence Revolving Fund, the local merchants, and the property owner, O'Connor Capital Partners, to save the Providence National Bank Façade," said Lucie Searle, president of the PPS Board of Trustees. "The installation of new steel to support the facade from the interior has made it possible to remove the street-side steel that had made this section of Weybosset Street impassable to pedestrians for seven years. This is a win for everyone!"

"The removal of the steel is a great win for the citizens of Providence. Returning vitality to the streets of the historic financial district has long been a goal of the Providence Preservation Society," said PPS Executive Director James Hall.

Six historic structures are under restoration or have been completed in the 18 months since Mayor Taveras took office, including the former Adler's Camera, the Equitable Building, the Providence Gas Company building, the Teste Block, the Narragansett Hotel and the Providence Arcade.