Providence Street PIA

Recently there has been a big push by our supervisors to stage a truck on the apron of the the abandoned Providence Street fire station. I didn't understand why, until Monday. While parked on the apron, because we still can't occupy the building, we were approached by a woman. She explained to us that she never sees any ambulances at the station so she and her neighbors have been calling their city councilors and state representative daily. They have been demanding the ambulances that the city promised them when they closed the fire station. I tired to explain to her that we have been there as our very busy schedule allows but she believes we have never been there until she started her campaign. I tried to explain to her we cannot replace a fire company but she did not care. She only wanted what she was promised by the city, ambulances at the station. We did not matter to her. She asked me how I liked it there. I told her we cannot get into the building and her response was "You don't seem to mind hanging out at Kelly Square." I replied if there was at least coffee and a bathroom here I may make more of an effort to be here.

Raising the white flag-

On the next day, Car Two noticed on his Fleeteyes program that no one was in Providence Street area so we were sent there. He didn't say where exactly so....

Here we are in front of 64 Dorchester Street. The residence of the woman who complains that we are never in the area. The next time she calls and complains, show her this. Of course we weren't there very long, precious down time wasted on political nonsense.

Since we had to respond to a call, another unit was sent to the station. After we cleared the hospital, we grabbed some coffee to bring to the exiled crew. We arrived to find the same woman yelling across the intersection, proclaiming that her calls had caused us to be there.

I was able to obtain some pictures taken of the interior. I wasn't surprised. The place is a dump. Years of neglect had taken their toll. I see why the city was so quick to send the firefighters to Franklin Street when they started complaining about mold issues and illnesses.

Here's the apparatus floor, plaster falling from the second floor ceiling down the pole chute.

Here is a second floor ceiling loaded with green and black mold.

Here is the ceiling above the pole on the second floor. Extensive water damage causing plaster to fall and mold growth.

There are numerous rodent traps in the building. The paint, probably lead based, is peeling badly everywhere. A third of the windows have been broken by neighborhood vandals. The longer the building is vacant, the worse it will get.

It is going to take a considerable amount of money to renovate this place. Money the city doesn't have right now. I first expressed my concerns with this idea almost a year ago, and it may be another year before anyone actually occupies this station again. I hope you're happy lady.