Chafee isn't going to get Armory renovated, occupied

The Cranston Street Armory, the castle-like structure in Providence built in 1907, has fallen into disrepair. Gov. Lincoln Chafee pledged during his 2010 campaign to not only complete renovations on the facility, but also to move three state agencies into the building to save on high-rent leases.

In 2011, we last rated this promise "In the Works" because there was an effort underway to appropriate money for the renovations.

But according to a May 26, 2014, story in The Providence Journal, the state canceled a proposed repair contract for the armory so it could determine the most critical work needed to stabilize the historic building, even as it tried to decide how to use it.

Allison Rogers, policy director for the state Department of Administration, said repairs could cost tens of millions of dollars.

The state was seeking proposals to study the armory building and come with a plan for its use. The contract was to have been awarded last June, with a report due by December 2014.

But in an update, Rogers told us, "No award has been made at this time for the Redevelopment Feasibility Assessment Study for the Cranston Street Armory. There is a tentative recommendation to Peregrine Group, but, again, at this time no award has been made.

"Given the award has not yet been made," she said, "the due date for the study is not yet finalized."

We also asked about Chafee's promise to move three state agencies into the armory. That hasn't happened either. In fact, the state fire marshal's office, which had been there, has been moved out. The building is being used for storage and meeting space.

With Chafee's term due to expire at the beginning of January, we're reclassifying this promise from "In the Works" to "Promise Broken."