The Providence Phoenix   City Watch                           Released: 01.20.04     Source: Providence Phoenix     Author: Ian Donnis     Original source link                 About 60 people who have been part of Olneyville’s flourishing underground music scene were facing imminent eviction in sub-freezing weather as this week’s Phoenix went to press. City officials and members of the extended music community have been scrambling to lend assistance since the threat of mass evictions came into sight around January 9, but many of the residents were still said to be without a place to go. "We’re in a worse situation than we thought we were in," says Yvette Koch, a 26-year-old Ph.D. student at Brown University who has lived in the building at 244 Oak St./71 Troy St. for about 18 months. After previously receiving a deadline of Friday, January 23 for moving out of the building, residents learned late on Tuesday, January 20 that a demolition crew would arrive 12 hours later. After meeting with residents and their supporters at about 7 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21, the demolition crew was dissuaded from entering the building, but city officials were said to be imminently poised to condemn the structure and lock the doors. Although she accepted the possibility of being bounced from a sketchy living situation in an old industrial building, "I never thought it would happen on this scale," Koch says. "There’s a difference between six people getting evicted and 56 . . . They [city officials] keep mentioning the Station fire. With the Station fire, obviously, we understand the risk of fire that they see, but there’s also a crisis if you have 56 people homeless in 14 degree weather," particularly with Rhode Island suffering from a lack of affordable housing. Cliff Wood, director of Providence’s Department of Art, Culture, and Tourism, says the root of the problem is dangerous conditions in the Olneyville building. Fire and electrical inspectors rated hazards there an eight out of a possible 10, and would have felt within their rights to evacuate the structure within an hour of the initial inspection, Wood says, but the ensuing 12 days have given residents more time to gather their gear and make plans. Wood says he is focusing on identifying which residents need relocation and what their specific circumstances are. Wood and Koch identified the owner of the building as Walter Bronhard of Fall River, Massachusetts. Bronhard could not be immediately reached for comment. The Olneyville Square music scene, although largely hidden from public view, has supplanted the former Fort Thunder as the bastion of Providence’s creative underground. Residents of the lofts at 244 Oak St./71 Troy St. have relished being part of a vibrant and do-it-yourself alternative to the commercial club scene. As Koch puts it, "I feel like this is my way of life. It’s really important to create a positive community environment out of spaces that otherwise would be unused . . . I consider myself a community activist and consider my life part of that. Choosing to live in a situation like this, the main thing was the potential for creating something out of nothing, but also out of something" -- a forgotten industrial building -- "that was considered completely useless." The clampdown on the building, where some artists and musicians are said to have lived for up to six years, was apparently prompted by a complaint to the nuisance task force of Attorney General Patrick Lynch. With Fort Thunder already having fallen to the forces of gentrification, it remains to be seen how the administration of Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline will now balance safety and code concerns with support for the city’s creative underground.                     other items in this group     Local Anesthesia 05.27.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       ’Round town - Westside ARTS, RISA’s men, Radio Kings, and more     Local Anesthesia 05.20.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       A better Day - Jackie O’Brien and company’s Waving in Traffic     Local Anesthesia 05.13.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Swan song - A Westerly institution gets unplugged     Local Anesthesia 05.06.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       New noise - Suicide Liquors, the StereoBirds, and the Gobshites     Local Anesthesia 04.29.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       New tricks (and treats) - The Dino Club’s Oscar-worthy Big Screen Wide     Local Anesthesia 04.22.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       A wealth of talent - Mark Renburke calls on the best for his new disc     Local Anesthesia 03.18.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Around the world - Jo Jo Gator comes home again     Local Anesthesia 03.11.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Fringe benefits - Urdog, the Slip, Fred Kendall Abong, and more     Local Anesthesia 03.04.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Blood simple - Wretched Asylum paint the town red in Prognosis     Local Anesthesia 02.25.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Battle royale - Sasquatch takes the top prize at the Rock Hunt     Local Anesthesia 02.18.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Taking lessons - The second anniversary of the Station fire     Local Anesthesia 02.11.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Rattlin’ all over - RattleHead Records gears up for ’05     Local Anesthesia 02.04.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Lovin’ it live - Richard Thompson, Anders Parker, more     Local Anesthesia 01.28.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Restless records - Grüvis Malt master the art of multitasking     Local Anesthesia 01.21.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Still standing - Roomful of Blues celebrate a new disc — and survival     Local Anesthesia 01.14.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Short stuff - Big sounds in little packages     Local Anesthesia 01.07.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Good acoustics - The best jazz, blues, and folk of ’04     Local Anesthesia 12.31.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Best in show - The top rock, etc. listens in ’04     Local Anesthesia 12.24.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Success story - The big time doesn’t elude the Slip     Local Anesthesia 12.17.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Everyday people - Routine 8’s debut is more than a daily grind     Local Anesthesia 12.10.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Ready for Bedtime - Rebecca Nurse deliver some sweet Stories     Local Anesthesia 12.03.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Funk soul brothers - Fungus Amungus puts the fun back in funky     Local Anesthesia 11.26.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The genuine article - Stefan Couture and company keep it real on Ghost     Local Anesthesia 11.19.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Acoustic café - Stone Soup keeps the folk talent coming     Local Anesthesia 11.12.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       On the verge - M-80 are ready for their close-up with the release of American Road     Local Anesthesia 11.05.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Staying positive - You can learn a lot about living from Randy Hien     Local Anesthesia 10.29.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Getting busy - Becky Chace and Blues Bastard     Local Anesthesia 10.22.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Velver revolving - Menck and Chastain make another great disc     Local Anesthesia 10.15.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Shipping out - Mastamindz’s Matt Moreau is headed to Iraq     Local Anesthesia 10.01.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Miracle men - Greg Hodde’s deep blues; 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Stone sings about the Station fire in "Eddie"     Local Anesthesia 12.06.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Grand evolution -- Erin McKeown’s songs get ‘bigger and better’     Local Anesthesia 11.28.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Howlin’ wolves -- Smokestack Lightnin’ brings down the house     Local Anesthesia 11.28.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The full Monty -- The Fan Club flirts with the big time     Local Anesthesia 11.21.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       One night only! -- Neutral Nation celebrate 20 years and a new disc     Local Anesthesia 11.14.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Wheat dreams -- Taunton-based crew goes Technicolor     Local Anesthesia 11.07.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The long haul -- Al Copley is in too deep, and likes it that way     Local Anesthesia 10.31.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Ace of clubs? -- Ultra arrives; the Electra Complex; and more     Local Anesthesia 10.17.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Seeking the truth -- Davies and Auchenbach conspire on a new disc     Rhode Island's most influential people in the Arts community 10.11.03 by Phoenix Staff (Providence Phoenix)       The Phoenix profiles Rhode Island's most influential people in the Arts community.     Local Anesthesia 10.10.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Blowin Smoke -- Greg Abate and Channel One tear it up again     Local Anesthesia 10.03.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Cosmic Psychos -- Sasquatch and the Sick-a-Billys get a groove on     Local Anesthesia 09.26.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Knight Moves -- Margie Wienk celebrates a haunting new disc     Local Anesthesia 09.19.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       April Fooled -- An Unsigned Band; plus, Pendragon turns 20     Local Anesthesia 09.12.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The 300 Shows -- Midnight Creeps celebrate a milestone     Local Anesthesia 09.05.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Floodstock -- The welcome return of Summerfest     Local Anesthesia 08.29.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Summer’s not over -- Rhythm & Roots tops a busy Labor Day weekend     Local Anesthesia 08.22.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Go, Cat, Go! -- Rockabilly picks up steam on the scene     Local Anesthesia 08.15.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Just for fun -- Cracking wise with Katie Lee Hooker     Local Anesthesia 08.08.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Have Mercy! The return of Mike Dinallo and company     Local Anesthesia 08.01.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Lotsa Hats, Big Shoes -- Eric Fontana Finally Gets His Disc Out     Local Anesthesia 07.18.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Straw Dogs -- The Haymakers' Why We Can’t Have Nice Things     Local Anesthesia 07.18.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Sound Defects -- Blues Bastard And Other Awesome Aberrations     Local Anesthesia 07.11.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Growing Painz -- Mastamindz Hatch Fiendish Plot     Local Anesthesia 07.04.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: The Best Goes On -- Music Pollapalooza comes to the Ocean Mist     Local Anesthesia 06.27.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Break out -- Letdown, Chinese Stars, Fuses rev it up     Local Anesthesia 06.13.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Answering the call -- The healing power of the Call for Action DVD     Local Anesthesia 06.06.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Newport news -- No Means Yes and the Philtres make headlines     Local Anesthesia 05.30.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Freakin’ out -- Mike Hamel and company head west     Local Anesthesia 05.23.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Demo derby -- Emery Vesch, Sibling Rivalry, and Flav Martin     Local Anesthesia 05.16.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Soundcheck -- Donnybrook, the Cringe, Illustrious Day, and more     Local Anesthesia 05.09.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Arabs off radar -- The avant act calls it quits; plus, an Invasion update     Local Anesthesia 05.02.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Healing sounds -- The Call’s energetic and heartfelt benefit CD     Local Anesthesia 04.18.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Musing again -- A winning Throwback, Benny Sizzler, and more     Local Anesthesia 02.27.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Hole in our soul -- The music community's devastating loss     Local Anesthesia 02.20.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week:     Local Anesthesia 02.13.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Wonderful world -- Cheryl Wheeler loves her job; plus, V for Vendetta     Local Anesthesia 02.07.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Story hour -- Dan Moretti and Once Through lay it down     Local Anesthesia 01.31.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Love you live -- Planet Groove lays it down at the Ocean Mist     Local Anesthesia 01.24.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Consolation prize -- Ricky Valente grows up     Local Anesthesia 01.17.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Whistle stop -- Otis Read, Phil Edmonds, and Friends     Local Anesthesia 01.10.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Lights, camera... Century Productions is where the action is     Local Anesthesia 01.03.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week:The big picture -- Best in show, pt. 2               Filed Under...   becky chace band (36) beyond blonde (183) black and white (12) CD Reviews (4) complaints (2) Crazed Rock Fan (3) Dirk Diggla (6) Decibel Magazine (12) ellis ashbrook (13) grandevolution (15) hawkins rise (102) Headlines (85) jazz bastards (4) J Hunter (1) frank martyn (24) mastamindz (27) owen mcgonigle (4) Misc. Items (2) Opinions (10) Pele (5) The Providence Phoenix (115) the radionics (9) RattleHead News (8) (2) rossoni (1) santa mamba (41) sasquatch and the sick-a-billys (121) sexcoffee (16) Satyr's Local Rock Report (23) Spock's Brain (3) terri g and the band (2) ultra plush (17) vulgarrity (2)             The Providence Phoenix is the God of local music in the area. Bob Gulla is an excellent music reporter, and they provide the only weekly local music coverage that is accessible to the masses.