July 16, 2003
Blog globally, act locally
Apologies for the slow blogging lately; partly it's been the usual summer stuff, but lately it's been trying to fend off the developers. One would think that in this day and age this couldn't happen, but we here in Providence are faced with the prospect of a huge industrial building being built in in the very heart of the city's oldest and most historic (not to mention, densely populated) neighborhood -- a facility that its own proponents say will spew thousands of pounds of toxic waste into the air annually.
Who is behind this monstrous project? None other than Brown University. Brown is hugely influential here in Providence, and as anyone knows who followed the story of our now-imprisoned former mayor, Vincent "Buddy" Cianci, bending the rules has been SOP in Providence for a very long time.
Anyway, I've been busy setting up a website for our neighborhood association, where you can read more about Brown and its proposed Life Sciences Building. What is particularly galling about Brown's highhandedness and utter ruthlessness towards its neighbors is the fact that this isn't a normal town-gown divide: most of the neighbors are themselves Brown-affiliated, whether as alumni, parents of students, patrons, or faculty members -- with a significant number having lifelong or multigenerational Brown connections, making them at least as much a part of the school as the administrators now pushing the project.
Posted by David on July 16, 2003 6:26 PM
As a Brown alum, I'm interested in exactly what kinds of "toxic waste" will be spewed by a proposed Life Sciences Building into the air on Providence's East Side.
Carbon Monoxide? Sulfur Dioxide? More exotic medical-related toxins? Incinerated animal (read: lab rat) waste? In what concentrations?Your post sounds very alarmist.
I'd just point out that all buildings that are heated with hydrocarbon fuel (oil or gas) also spew "thousands of pounds" of toxic substances (CO, NOx, SO2, CO2, soot) out their chimneys every year. My own house does.
I wouldn't necessarily call this result the consequence of some evil Brown-influenced Rhode Island cabal.
Ever True,
Brown '73
Posted by: Swoosh on July 16, 2003 11:23 PM
The 6000 lbs. estimate is for what will be going into the fume hoods, and discharged without treatment directly into the surrounding air. Because of the slope of the site, even if the emissions are vented from the roof, the releases will be at the same level or below that of nearby residences.
The 6000 lbs. estimate specifically excludes emissions from furnaces and incinerators. Unfortunately, Brown has not specified exactly what chemicals will be discharged. On one hand, this is not entirely unreasonable, since one cannot predict with exactitude the exact nature of the research to be conducted in the future. On the other, it is a bit disingenuous, since current research typically makes use of a host of substances that are quite toxic.
The neighborhood response to this project has been far from alarmist. Pretty much all are in favor of the research, but think that Brown is making a huge mistake in choosing this particular site when far cheaper space is available close by -- in particular, near the major local hospital complex. Future expansion would be possible there, whereas it would not at Brown's proposed East Side site; prevailing winds would dilute any discharges there, whereas the East Side site is in a pocket of dead air, and crowded all around by residences, small retail businesses, and schools. Construction costs would also be much lower towards the hospital, zoning would allow a taller building permitting more efficient use of space, and no historic structures would have to be demolished.
With all respect for love of alma mater, good schools sometimes do bad things. Brown's leadership has, of course, changed since your time there; and unfortunately, the school has not been well served by its current representatives in this matter.
Posted by: David on July 17, 2003 10:39 AM
cronaca.com