Station Nightclub fire memorial

The original plans for a permanent memorial at the site of a nightclub fire that killed 100 people envisioned placid gardens and winding paths, a stream and ripple pool, and a meeting house where visitors could gather in reflection amid the sounds of a wind-strummed Aeolian harp.

Now some elements of the design, unveiled last year at the fifth anniversary commemoration of the deadly Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, are being reconsidered amid concerns over longterm maintenance and even possible liability.

The design received broad support when it was selected. Now victims’ relatives who consulted with construction experts say they’re concerned that the lawn and greenery would demand too much upkeep, that open water might be a hazard for young children and that some building materials might not be durable enough, said Chris Fontaine, the president of the Station Fire Memorial Foundation whose son, Mark, died in the fire.

She said she’s not sure what the final design will look like, or how much it will cost, but hopes it will incorporate at least some elements of the original, which she called “breathtaking.”

“Where do you want to be 10 years from now, 20 years from now, 30 years from now, when we the board members are no longer here?” Fontaine asked. “As beautiful as it is, it’s going to require a lot of maintenance.”

The foundation has been raising donations for the memorial but fell far short of its goal during the recession, Fontaine said. Building the original design was estimated to cost more than $1 million, she said, though the creators say they always assumed costs could be reduced through donations from companies and individuals.

Help came when BuildRI, an association of 17 construction unions with about 10,000 workers, volunteered to donate as much material and manpower as possible. Those conversations with building experts led the foundation to rethink the original design, said Fontaine.

“We all want to assist the folks at the foundation and anyone affected by that. That’s really what it boils down to,” said Gregory Mancini, executive director and general counsel of BuildRI. “And we think we come to the table with a lot of people.”

The sparse roadside property remains tied up in lawsuits over the fire, so no work could begin until the property is transferred to the foundation. It’s not clear when that will happen.

The nightclub building was owned by Triton Realty and leased by club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, who installed cheap packaging foam as soundproofing that was set ablaze by pyrotechnics during a concert by 1980s rock band Great White.

The Feb. 20, 2003, fire killed 100 people and injured more than 200 others, and the Derderians pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter charges.

Since the fire, the land has been a makeshift memorial of crosses, photographs and other mementoes. Hundreds of people gather there each February to honor the anniversary with music, 100 seconds of silence and a recitation of the victims’ names.

The foundation commissioned designs for a permanent memorial. The winning one was submitted by architect Stephen Greenleaf and Thomas Viall, the general manager of RI.gov.

The Station Fire Memorial Park, as it was known, called for gardens, a courtyard, meeting house, a pool and memorial steps honoring survivors and others, including emergency workers and volunteers. The highlight was an “Aeolian harp bridge” with 100 strings running along both sides to be played by the wind.

Viall and Greenleaf said they’re no longer actively involved with the project and accept the foundation’s prerogative to alter the design and seek new input.

But, Viall said, “I would be disappointed if it never got built, and I think I would be disappointed if at least we weren’t talked to about what kind of adaptions would be necessary.”

Greenleaf said it was always apparent that the design would require upkeep. He had hoped the foundation would be able to raise enough money to pay for it, and said he had even suggested ways to reduce the cost.

“We think it’s appropriate that something happened down there, and we think our design is what the state needed,” Greenleaf said. “That’s not to say that it couldn’t be changed or adjusted or tweaked.”

Dave Kane, a foundation director whose 18-year-old son died in the fire, said it was logical to assume that people’s interest in maintaining the memorial would wane over time, noting a drop in attendance at last February’s memorial service.

“We’re trying to be smart about it and make something that would take less maintenance—not because we don’t care but because of the reality of taking care of it,” he said.