A developer is asking Providence’s Downcity Design Review Committee for permission to raze the former Providence National Bank building façade at 35 Weybosset St., and allow him to build a temporary parking lot at the site.

The Providence Journal / Frieda Squires

PROVIDENCE — Four years ago, a group of developers proposed the state’s tallest residential skyscraper — a 32-story condominium tower at 110 Westminster St. in downtown Providence.

Two buildings, one of which was historic, were torn down to make way for the $90-million modern structure. But as the real-estate market crashed and credit dried up, the project stalled and the property remained a vacant dirt lot.

The current developer Jeremiah O’Connor III is seeking the city’s permission to raze the former Providence National Bank building façade at 35 Weybosset St., next to the Arcade building. In its place, O’Connor is proposing to build a temporary parking lot.

The three-story Georgian revival-style façade dates to 1950 and is the last remnant of the old bank, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The city fought for its preservation and incorporation into the new building.

The city Downcity Design Review Committee, which regulates downtown development, heard O’Connor’s request for demolition on Monday night, during two-hour public hearing that was attended by about 35 people.

O’Connor, who is a member of the review committee but recused himself for the meeting, argued that the façade must come down because prolonged exposure to the elements has badly deteriorated it. He said the façade presents a public safety hazard and that a parking lot, if designed properly, would be an asset to the area.

Weybosset Street business owners agreed, saying that the façade and its supports cut off access to the sidewalk, discourages pedestrian traffic and hurts their businesses.

“We just don’t get traffic anymore,” said David O’Brien, owner of Picture This, a gallery directly across the street from the façade. “We have a Financial District with no one on the street … If we don’t do something, downtown is going to go to hell in a hand basket.”

Ronald DelSesto, a Weybosset Street landlord, agreed: “A city can’t survive on memories. It has to evolve … We’re urging the board to put the present day in proper perspective.”

But residents and local preservationists lamented the potential loss of another historic downtown structure. They argued for creative solutions that incorporated the façade into a public space within the proposed parking lot.

They were critical of what they saw as the developer’s failure to maintain the façade and the city’s unwillingness to enforce its own development policies.

They said the request was another reminder that the city needs better controls on developments dealing with historic structures, as too many demolitions are approved for developments that never materialize.

“It’s a beautiful piece of structure, even without the building behind it,” said Frederick Jodry, a resident and Brown University professor.

“They created the situation,” Robert Leach, a former city resident, said of the developer. “This is a failure of vision and lack of creativity” in finding a solution, he said.

The committee tabled a vote until next month, asking O’Connor for an assessment from a structural engineer on the safety and stability of the facade. But at least three of the four board members present voiced their doubts about the need for demolition.

Vice Chairman Clark Schoettle agreed with opponents that O’Connor had failed to maintain the façade. He noted that the city had granted the developer permission to demolish the other two buildings only on the condition that the façade remained.

“This seems like demolition by neglect,” he said.

TIMELINE One Ten Westminster

February 2005: Granoff Associates of Providence and BlueChip Properties of Boston announce a proposed 32-story, $90-million condominium tower, which would be the state’s tallest residential structure at 360 feet.

September 2005: The vacant Providence National Bank building (90 Westminster St.) and the vacant First Federal Savings and Loan Building (110 Westminster St.) are razed. A façade of the National Bank building (35 Weybosset St.) is preserved.

March 2006: BlueChip Properties submits to the city a revised plan for the condo building that calls for a 38-story tower, 526 feet tall.

May 2006: BlueChip Properties acquires the property from Granoff Associates.

October 2006: BlueChip Properties revises the plan to include a 200-room hotel. The condo units are reduced to 75 from the 130 originally proposed.

March 2007: BlueChip confirms that the boutique W Hotel chain will be in the tower.

2008: O’Connor Capital Properties acquires the property from BlueChip Properties.

October 2009: O’Connor requests city permission to demolish the 35 Weybosset St. façade.

pmarcelo@projo.com