 |
|
7/10/2014
|
Governor approves tax exemption for site of future Station Fire Memorial Park
|
STATE HOUSE – The governor’s approval of a tax exemption for the former Station nightclub site will now pave the way for a $2 million project to construct a park and memorial in honor of those who perished in the nightclub fire 11 years ago.
Sponsored by Sen. Adam J. Satchell (D-Dist. 9, West Warwick) and Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick), the legislation (2014-S 3071, 2014 8287) will assist the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, an East Greenwich-based nonprofit, in its quest to preserve the memories of Station fire victims.
“It’s hard to believe that it’s been 11 years since the Station fire,” Senator Satchell said. “This is something that a lot of people have waited a long time for. The Station Fire Memorial Foundation has worked very hard to make this project possible. I’m just grateful that I could do my part to help them move one step closer to their goal. I think a permanent memorial will mean so much to the people that were affected by this tragedy and to the town of West Warwick. I hope that once it’s complete, the memorial will be a fitting tribute to those who were lost and hopefully help to heal those who survived or lost a loved one.”
The West Warwick blaze – which claimed 100 lives in February 2003 and injured many others – prompted the state to institute new provisions for fire sprinklers and crowd management in Rhode Island’s nightclubs.
Representative Serpa noted that the foundation has worked tirelessly to raise money for the park so it can fill the empty space the tragedy left behind.
“The foundation is going to great lengths to raise the money for this, and this tax exemption will give the foundation’s members one less obstacle to face,” Representative Serpa said. “The Station fire was an event that not only deeply wounded my community, but all of Rhode Island. We live in a small state where everyone knows everyone, and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t been affected by this tragedy. I was happy to lend my support to the cause and I look forward to the foundation successfully completing its mission.”
The Station nightclub property was donated to the volunteer nonprofit foundation in 2012. For more information, go to www.stationfirememorialfoundation.org.
For more information, contact:
Brenna McCabe, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2457
|
|