Park Theatre

Police: Drive-by shooting outside nightclub investigated

Cranston Police continue to investigate an April 12 incident in which gunshots were fired from a motor vehicle at two pedestrians who had just left a local nightclub.

PreGame Lounge, located at 349 Dyer Ave., appeared before the City Council’s Safety Services and Licenses Committee on Monday for what was docketed as a show cause hearing related to the incident, which had not been immediately reported to police.

Police Maj. Todd Patalano, however, advised the committee that the department is familiar with the establishment’s attorney, Nick Hemond, and will work with him and PreGame’s ownership to evaluate its security planning.

“I think it’s just more of a communication issue right now,” he told council members, later adding: “We’ve worked with Attorney Hemond in the past. I don’t see any problems going forward.”

According to Patalano, police responded to the area of PreGame Lounge at approximately 8:40 p.m. on April 14 for a complaint of illegal parked cars causing traffic issues. At that point, he said, officers were approached by neighbors and informed about the recent shooting incident.

Patalano said police subsequently obtained surveillance camera footage from the area. That footage captured the incident, showing “two males clearly leaving the Pregame Lounge” before approximately eight shots were fired from a vehicle traveling in the area of Farmington and Dyer Avenue. One of the men was struck by a bullet and returned inside the lounge, according the major.

“Obviously, we were never contacted. We were never advised of this pretty serious incident,” he said during Monday’s meeting.

Patalano also told council members the department is “not looking to close [PreGame Lounge] down.”

During a Tuesday follow-up call, he said: “At this time, we can’t connect the shooter or the vehicle with the nightclub.” He also said he was unsure of the precise source of the video of the incident.

He added: “We’re looking at the single incident that was described by neighbors … We have not met much cooperation with regard to that.”

According to records, PreGame Lounge’s licenses were approved in November 2019. The business was previously known as Epic Lounge under different ownership.

PreGame Lounge appears before the Safety Services and Licenses Committee last year after it was found in violation of state COVID-19 executive orders.

Patalano on Monday also said the Police Department is monitoring the area “very closely,” particular as restrictions ease and the weather warms.

“We’re aware of it. We’re out there … We know the crowds are going to increase as time moves on now,” he said.

RIDOT: Park Avenue railroad bridge closing May 15

A date has been set for the roughly four-month closure of the bridge carrying Park Avenue over railroad tracks between Wellington and Elmwood avenues.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation last week announced the closure will begin Saturday, May 15, as work to replace the bridge fully commences. At that point, a detour involving Wellington and Elmwood avenues will be put in place. RIDOT estimates the detour will add between six and 10 minutes to travel times.

For pedestrians, RIPTA will run a free shuttle around the bridge at 30-minute intervals between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day.

“RIDOT is taking steps to replace this bridge as quickly as possible, and plans to reopen it to traffic prior to the start of school this fall,” a statement from the agency reads. “The $11.7 million project includes the use of an early contractor involvement procurement method, in which a contractor was engaged early in the design process to identify the best solutions for construction prior to the start of work.”

According to RIDOT, the project is utilizing “accelerated bridge construction methods,” which include the use of pre-fabricated bridge units, or PBUs.

“Each PBU is composed of a concrete deck piece with two steel beams underneath it,” the statement reads. “The units are installed side-by-side to rapidly create a new bridge deck, saving considerable time compared to the conventional approach of forming and pouring a concrete bridge deck. These steps will allow the Department to complete the project up to three months faster than using conventional methods.”

According to RIDOT, the Park Avenue railroad bridge, which is roughly 115 years old, carries 15,000 vehicles per day. A wood deck bridge, it has been deemed structurally deficient.

Final completion of the replacement project, which is part of the RhodeWorks program, is scheduled for summer of 2022.

Park Theatre auction delayed

A scheduled public auction for the historic Park Theatre was delayed last week as the city continues to work with the property’s owner to find a buyer who would continue the facility’s use as a home for performing arts.

“The city, as well as the owner, Pi Patel, would love to keep the institution in tact, that being as a performing arts center … We’re doing everything possible,” Director of Administration Anthony Moretti said Tuesday.

He added: “I know there are a couple of interested buyers in dialogue with Mr. Patel, but we haven’t received any firm word at this point, because it would take some time to do diligence and reach a purchase and sale.”

Moretti said the administration of Mayor Ken Hopkins has been reaching out to prospective buyers with backgrounds in the financial and entertainment industries. He also said he has spoken regularly with Patel.

“It just has too much value to the community,” he said of the theater. “It’s part of Cranston, period. The mayor’s certainly committed to this.”

The auction had been scheduled through Irving Shechtman & Co. Inc. Property records show the combined assessed value of the land and building at more than $3 million.

Patel purchased the theater, which was built in the 1920s and housed a movie theater for decades, more than 20 years ago and invested millions in revitalizing the facility.

-- Daniel Kittredge