Mayor, Rocky Point Trustee Confer on Fireproofing Site

6.19.2000

Mayor; Rocky Point trustee confer on 'fireproofing' site

Journal staff writer

WARWICK -- Mayor Scott Avedisian and the federal trustee in charge of Rocky Point agreed Friday to present a joint plan to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for resolving fire safety issues at the defunct amusement park. Avedisian said the plan is likely to include the demolition of at least some of the buildings in the park. The mayor met behind closed doors for about an hour Friday with Andrew S. Richardson, the trustee assigned to liquidate Rocky Point, and with Peter Scotti, a Providence broker whom Richardson hired to sell the 123-acre site. The three said they would tour the shoreline property this week and agree on a plan of action to present to the court.

"I'll do everything within my power, within my budget, and that doesn't harm my marketing efforts, to assist the city in this area," Richardson said, after the meeting.

Last week, a fire that investigators believe was set destroyed two buildings on the old Rocky Point midway. The incident raised concern about the potential for a much bigger fire at the park, which has been a chronic target for vandals since it closed in 1995.

Because of the fire, Richardson last week hired private guards and off-duty police officers to provide around-the-clock security. Avedisian said Friday that he was satisfied with the security plan so far and was confident that he, Richardson and Scotti would agree this week on a long-term solution for avoiding a major fire at Rocky Point.

"Instead of going into court as adversaries, I'd rather have Andy and Peter go in with us and say, 'This is the action we'd like to take,' " Avedisian said.

Security guards are not the long-term answer at Rocky Point, he said, because "there are so many ways to enter the property that it's virtually impossible to make the perimeter secure." Avedisian said he would advocate demolishing any building that serves as an "attractive nuisance" and an invitation to arson.

The fire last week destroyed a building that once housed a bumper-cars ride and an adjacent building where mechanics maintained the cars. Seven of the city's nine engine companies responded and were able to prevent the fire from spreading through the midway at large and the Palladium building.