Press Releases

Providence, R.I. – April 26, 2004 – The Olneyville Merchants’ Association and the developers of the Rising Sun Mills complex have teamed up to donate two bicycles to the Providence Police Department. The event is scheduled for 11:30 Am on April 29th at Donigian Park on Valley Street. The specialized police bicycles from Trek Bicycle Co. will be used as part of a community policing unit that will patrol the Olneyville neighborhood, including Olneyville Square, Manton Avenue, Eagle Square and Donigian Park. The donation was made in response to the City’s announcement that it would open an additional community policing substation in Olneyville. Rising Sun Mills developers Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, Inc. and The Armory Revival Company, have donated space in front of the historic mill complex for the substation, which will feature a community meeting room.

“We are pleased that the Providence Police Department has expanded its community policing program to the Olneyville Square and Eagle Square business districts and the surrounding neighborhoods,” said Michael Solomon, President of the Olneyville Merchants’ Association and owner of Wes’ Rib House on Dike Street. “We hope that these police bicycles assist the Providence Police Department’s goal of creating safe neighborhoods for residents and businesses alike.”

The Trek police bikes feature distinctive black and white patterning and large “police” decals along the frame. The bicycles will be outfitted with saddle packs and a halogen headlight. According to Reed Caster, owner of Caster’s Bicycles & Fitness in Warwick, these are the same police bicycles that have been supplied for the Warwick, Johnston, East Greenwich and University of Rhode Island police departments.

“The generous donation of these bicycles is symbolic of the partnerships we hope to forge with our community partners as we implement community policing throughout the City of Providence,” said Dean Esserman, Chief of Police. “We are looking forward to opening our newest community substation annex in the Rising Sun Mills Complex on Valley Street and becoming a familiar and welcome presence in the neighborhood.”

Captain Hugh Clements of the Providence Police Department will serve as District Commander for the community substation. The substation, located in front of the Rising Sun Mills complex on Valley Street, is approximately mid-way between Olneyville Square and the new Eagle Square shopping center. The Valley Street corridor has been the locus of substantial investment in the past few years. Eagle Square is a 14-acre shopping and office complex that boasts the largest Shaw’s supermarket in new England, while the rehabilitation of Rising Sun Mills will provide 142 loft apartments and over 100,000 square feet of office space. Rising Sun Mills is being redeveloped by a joint venture between Baltimore-based developer Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, Inc. and the Providence-based Armory Revival Company.

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