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This is something I wish we'd see more of. Taking neglected, rotting properties and building a business in its place. Lord knows there are certainly plenty of properties that are vacant just waiting to be repurposed in Warwick. It creates jobs, could potentially add sales tax revenue and cleans up our City at the same time. I see all of those things as positive. The one factor that I'm sure will be discussed at length is traffic. I can't see traffic getting much worse in the area, one of the worst intersections in the City and if the state hasn't got their act together to change the traffic pattern there yet, I won't hold my breath.

That said, I wonder who owns the corner property where the former Sunoco Gas Station sits? The grass is consistently overgrown, the structure that's standing looks awful and these property owners should be told to clean it up or face fines. I'm not saying we should plug budget holes on the backs of business owners but there should be some accountability from these property owners to clean up their mess! For example, Healy's Seafood off West Shore Rd in Warwick hasn't been a functioning business for atleast 20-25 years. The building itself is rotting and falling apart. If the building is inoperable than it is a public safety issue. If the property is bank owned and just neglected, demand the bank take action and hire someone to clean it up. If there are laws already on the books, enforce them!!! Make the fines mean something and use them to leverage property owners to clean up the mess! The City could even apply some of that $ to their #1 priority school sports.

I have had plenty of neighbors over the years who receive letters from the City telling them they have unregistered cars on the property or a car is missing 1 plate, wood piles that aren't stacked neatly enough, hedges that are too high. If the City can enforce these things on residents, in some cases SENIORS, then they should have no problem at all telling banks, property owners and business owners to clean up their act or pay up! There is no excuse for some of the conditions on these properties. NONE!