1. Refueling History
CM 1.25
Transforming a gas station in the
heart of a historic district into an
urban green space & educational site

2. Learning Objectives
1. Evaluate how planning improves accessibility to education & cultural tourism an
provides long term quality of life for communities.
2. Examine how repurposing urban spaces requires a collaborative effort among
Public, Private and Non-profit groups.
3. Discuss the environmental challenges that gas station parcels face when
considering adaptive reuse.

3. Panel
J. Michael Abbott, AIA, APA, CNU-A
John K. Grosvenor, AIA
Glenn R. Gardiner, AIA LEED AP
Paige Bronk, AICP
Kevin Essington

4. An American Icon

5. Early Gas Station

6. Early Gas Station

7. Early Gas Stations

8. Urban Crossroads

9. Urban Crossroads

10. Urban Crossroads

11. Environmental Regulations
ederal/state laws governing Underground
torage Tanks (UST)
UST = system that has at least 10 percent of i
ombined volume underground

12. Environmental Regulations
Title 40, Part 280, Subpart G (Out of
Service UST and Closure)
Lengthy and costly process

13. Revenue Loss
Gas stations have provided steady and
reliable property taxes

14. Revenue Loss
New use may provide less or no property
tax or direct municipal revenue

15. Land Use/Zoning
Often a long transition period for adaptive
reuse. Loss of legal, non-conforming
(“grandfathered”) status

16. Land Use/Zoning
Old stations might be located in residentia
zones or non-commercial zones
Possible benefit to circulation/traffic
impacts
Possible conversion to alternate
automobile dependant use

17. Public Perception & Support
Some may not support new use and
desire neighborhood gas station to remain
Some may desire for environmental
cleanup and more desirable use

18. Public Use & Perception
Public buy-in of process and acceptable
uses

19. Case Study: Newport, RI
One Innovative Idea: Religious Tolerance
One Authentic Location: Charter Spring
One Pressing Goal: Acquire the Site
One Opportunity: Now

20. Citgo Station, Newport, RI

21. Newport’s Origins & Charter Park

22. Roger Williams - 1636

23. John Clarke – 1663 Royal Charter
Royal Charter
guaranteed religious
liberty and was the
most liberal document
of entire Colonial era.

24. John Clarke – 1663 Royal Charter
From the day Charles II allowed
the Royal Charter to be applied,
RI became an independent
commonwealth absolutely self
governing. Under its broad
shelter, the people or the
legislature of the colony could
enact any law they deemed for
their advantage, subject not even
to the royal veto.

25. Original Spring

27. Stiles 1758 Charles Blascowitz 1777

29. Tax Assessor Map 1884

36. Earliest Sacred Places, 1671-1871
1880 – Kay Ch
1846 - Christian Science Church
1730 - The 7th Day Sabbatarian
1759 - Touro Synagogue Newport Congre
1846 - United Baptist
1871 - Union Congregational
1726
1741 - Old Colony House
Friends Meeting House 1733 – 2nd Congregational
1834 - Zion Episcopal
St. Paul’s Methodist

37. Earliest Sacred Places, 1671-1871
ca1880 – Kay
1846 - Christian Science Church
1730 - The 7th Day Sabbatarian
1759 - Touro Synagogue Newport Congre
1846 - United Baptist
1871 - Union Congregational
1726
1741 - Old Colony House
Friends Meeting House 1733 – 2nd Congregational
1834 - Zion Episcopal
St. Paul’s Methodist

41. ond Baptist –
n Clarke

48. The Spring

49. Wanton-Lyman Hazard House
Colony House
roposed
harter Park
Barney House

51. Spring Street

52. Spring Street

53. Spring Street

54. Spring Street

55. Spring Street

56. Spring Street

57. Spring Street

58. Spring Street

59. Spring Street

60. Spring Street

61. Adaptive Reuse

62. Adaptive Reuse

63. Adaptive Reuse

64. Q & A