Not Superman: Man Climbs Scaffolding of Superman Building, Rescued by Fire Dept.
GoLocalProv News Team
Not Superman: Man Climbs Scaffolding of Superman Building, Rescued by Fire Dept.
The man, according to Providence Police, is in his late 20s. He climbed up and then needed to be brought down by the Providence Fire Department.
Providence Police arrested the man.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Superman building has been vacant for 12 years and is surrounded by scaffolding.
Stalled Project
Interior demolition on the building shut down more than 6 months ago.
Governor Dan McKee and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley have committed nearly $100 million in federal historic tax credits and state and city subsidies for a private developer.
The state through a series of funding sources in part in an attempt to avoid legislative approval or a direct subsidy has committed:
$15M Rebuild RI Tax Credit
$5.7M First Wave Closing Fund
$1M RI Housing Acquisition and Revitalization
$5M RI Housing WHIC
$2.1M New Market Tax Credits
$22M Federal Tax Credits
Depending on the total value of the Providence TSA, the total value of the taxpayer-funded subsidies totals between $90M and $100M.
In April of 2024, GoLocal reported that the cost of the project had increased dramatically.
GoLocal has learned that the cost to transform the Superman Building from a vacant office building to apartments has jumped 43% since state leaders and the developer announced the deal in April of 2022 in the Stateroom of the State House.
The increased price of the project is driven by additional construction and financing costs, according to those directly involved in the deal.
The McKee Administration announced at the time, “The $220 million project announced today will convert the long-vacant, yet iconic, tower into 285 residential apartments, 20 percent of which will be affordable to low- and moderate-income Rhode Islanders, 8,000 square feet of commercial office space, and a mix of retail, event, and community uses in the 26,000-square foot banking hall.”
The revitalization of the Superman Building into apartments continues to be stalled.