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WOONSOCKET, R.I. — A downtown office building that was the home of the city’s newspaper for the last century has been under construction to become sleek, modern apartments with office co-working space. But this month, the project’s developers listed the four-story commercial block for $4.2 million, with hopes that a future owner can take it from here.
The listing is for 55-75 Main St., which is part of Woonsocket’s historic downtown district, and incorporates Harris Mill #4, the Buckland and Clark Building, and the Buell Building. Through its subsidiary 55 Main St LLC, NPM Main St. Holdings, LP, a real estate investment firm led by John Messier, purchased the combined property for $1.16 million in early 2023, according to real estate records.
Messier, developer and construction manager Leszek “Les” Przybylko, and their investors had begun carrying out plans to renovate the buildings into 73 residential apartments and eight commercial spaces.
But after starting initial construction, they’ve decided to put it up for sale in an effort to “consolidate funds to work on another project,” broker Dan Gardner told the Globe on Wednesday morning.
“The new buyer is to finish the project,” Gardner wrote in an email. “About 70 percent of the work still needs to be done.”
Gardner declined to provide any further details or answer questions related to any ongoing construction, the developer’s other projects, or funding gaps. Calls to Messier’s office were not returned ahead of publication.
Harris Mill #4 is a six-story early Victorian mill building that is the only remains of the historic Harris Woolen Company Mills, built in 1846 by the local industrialist and philanthropist Edward Harris. Attached to the old mill is the Buckland and Clark Building, a two-story structure with a yellow brick storefront facade that was first constructed in 1897. The developers planned to put most of the apartment spaces in this part of the complex, as well as some retail storefront space.
The Buell Building at 75 Main St., a four-story brick building, was long considered the home of the Woonsocket Call, a newspaper that was first founded in 1892. The paper once had to use the entire 31,200-square-food building to support its operations. The Call was acquired by Rhode Island Suburban Newspapers in 2007, and by 2023 it had just two news reporters and two sports reporters when it merged with the Pawtucket Times to become The Blackstone Valley Call & Times.
News articles in 2022 reported that the newspaper would remain in the property as part of a lease-back agreement. But on Wednesday, the property’s real estate listing said the building was vacant.
“The Call is no longer in that building,” publisher Jody A. Boucher told the Globe in an email on Wednesday. “We were asked to vacate for a brief time for construction purposes but were then told that the property was on the market again. Unsure of what the future would bring as far as the building was concerned, we relocated to a storefront on 154 Main St. directly across from City Hall.”
Boucher said the newspaper had “a skeleton crew” working in the building until late October 2023. Employees worked remotely until the paper relocated to its current offices in February 2024.
Mike Debroisse, the city’s director of planning and development, said he was made aware that the property would be listed for sale in the middle of construction, and that the department has already spoken to a couple of developers who are interested in purchasing the project as is.
It’s “great to see investors interested in Woonsocket,” Debroisse said.
First constructed in 1922, the Buell Building was designed by Westcott & Mapes, a New Haven, Conn., architectural firm, to house both a printing plant and editorial and administrative offices, according to preservation document with the US Department of the Interior. For years, little has been altered of the building’s Gothic Revival facade with its massive cast-stone central entrance and segmental arch.
The Buell Building’s remaining office and print shop space, which is located above and below the first floor, was expected to be converted into apartment space, a large gym, laundry, and shared areas for the tenants, according to the developer’s plans.
Messier and Przybylko told the city their rehab project would take approximately 18 months to complete, and would include a large rooftop.
The developers have also worked on a number of other downtown Woonsocket projects. In 2021, the pair purchased the former Father Marot CYO Center at 53 Federal St., and adjacent buildings at 77 Federal St. for $350,000, which they plan to turn into apartments.
In 2020, their renovation project at 122 North Main St. was named the recipient of a 2020 Rhode Island Smart Growth Award from Grow Smart RI. Its renovation was the first major mixed-use development located in the Woonsocket Downtown Overlay District, and included 17 modern, market-rate apartments on its upper floors. The building’s first floor holds Lops Brewing, the neighborhood’s first brewery, and co-working space.
Alexa Gagosz can be reached at alexa.gagosz@globe.com. Follow her @alexagagosz and on Instagram @AlexaGagosz.
Local News
A Rhode Island husband and wife in their 50s were identified as the two people killed in a Swansea car crash Friday night.
Carlolyn Carcasi, 54, and James Carcasi, 53, of Bristol, Rhode Island, were killed in the Feb. 27 crash, the office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said in a press release Monday.
The crash occurred at the intersection of Route 136 and Route 6 in Swansea, Quinn’s office said.
Police in Cranston, Rhode Island identified the driver who allegedly hit the couple as Demitri Sousa, 28. Sousa allegedly shot and killed a man in Rhode Island nearly four hours before the crash, Cranston police said.
At around 12:18 a.m. Friday, Swansea police spotted Sousa’s Infiniti barreling down Route 6, Swansea officials said previously.
The couple was driving southbound on Route 136 when the Sousa crashed into the side of a Subaru Ascent. Both cars had “catastrophic damage,” and the Subaru was engulfed in flames, Swansea fire and police officials said.
Both occupants of the Subaru were declared dead at the scene, Swansea officials said.
Sousa was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for serious injuries. He is expected to live and will be held in Cranston police custody until he is medically cleared, police said Sunday.
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CRANSTON, R.I. (WJAR) — Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday.
The event was held at the Cranston Public Library at 9 a.m.
Reed and other leaders of WFRI hosted a panel discussion with women leaders in environmental and agricultural advocacy, education, community resilience, housing, finance, workforce development, and more, officials said.
Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday. (WJAR)
“Women have played a critical role in this process, most often without any recognition,” Reed said. “Today’s panel brings together an extraordinary group of women who are addressing the challenged of sustainability from various angles and I want to thank you all for your great efforts.”
The panelists highlighted their experiences, shared insights and tips on lifting up women’s voices, provided strategies for sparking change and more.
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According to officials, some of the panelists included Executive Director of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council Nessa Richman, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at Rhode Island College Kim Bright, Newport Housing Authority Executive Director Rhonda Mitchell and more.
Local News
A Seekonk man is accused of murder after he allegedly shot and killed a man in Rhode Island before causing a car crash in Swansea that killed two people last week, police said.
Demitri Sousa, 28, is charged with murder, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license, the Cranston Police Department said.
The shooting occurred Thursday night in Cranston, police said in a press release.
That night, Sousa allegedly arrived at the Cranston home of Javon Lawson, 35. Sousa began banging on the side door of the home, police said.
When Lawson approached the door, he was hit by gunfire from outside, police said.
First responders transported Lawson to the Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Cranston police said.
“Based on the preliminary investigation, the motive is believed to be a dispute between the suspect and the victim over a mutual female acquaintance. Detectives are continuing this investigation to gain more insight, as well as to collect and analyze evidence,” Colonel Michael Winquist, Chief of Cranston police, said in an emailed statement to Boston.com.
Neighbors gave police video footage that “showed a male subject wearing dark clothing and a mask walking toward the residence moments before the shooting and fleeing immediately afterward,” Winquist said.
The suspect was also seen running to a white Infiniti sedan which then drove off, the Cranston police chief said.
Shortly after the shooting, a license plate reader captured the vehicle driving southbound on Route 10, and then later in Fall River and Westport, Massachusetts. The sedan’s license plate was registered in Sousa’s name, Winquist said.
At around 12:18 a.m. Friday, Swansea police spotted Sousa’s Infiniti barreling down Route 6, Swansea officials said.
Just moments later, Sousa allegedly “crashed into the side of another vehicle, a blue 2022 Subaru Ascent that had been traveling southbound on Route 136,” Swansea Police Chief Mark Foley and Fire Chief Eric Hajder said in a joint press release.
Both vehicles had “catastrophic damage,” and the struck car was engulfed in flames, the Swansea officials said.
The driver and passenger of the hit car — a man and a woman — were declared dead at the scene, they said.
“Swansea Police had been alerted to be on the lookout for the suspect vehicle. However, Swansea Police were not involved in the pursuit and were not pursuing the vehicle at the time of the crash,” the Swansea chiefs wrote. Swansea official have not announced charges related to the fatal crash.
Sousa had been driving the Infiniti and appeared to be suffering from serious injuries, Winquist said. Inside the car, police found a pistol and “additional .22 caliber ammunition was recovered” from Sousa at Rhode Island Hospital, Winquist said.
Police arrested Sousa and transported him to Rhode Island Hospital. Sousa is expected to survive, Winquist said. Sousa will be held in Cranston police custody until he is conscious and medically cleared, Winquist said.
“On behalf of the Cranston Police Department, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Javon Lawson and the two individuals who were killed in the crash in Swansea,” Winquist said.
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