PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Tenants of Atlantic Mills are taking decisive action to protect the Providence landmark from falling into what they fear could be the wrong hands.
At a rally held at Riverside Park on Saturday, it was announced that a supermajority of tenants has formed the Atlantic Mills Tenant Union, demanding direct negotiations with the landlord to address their concerns about the building’s future.
This move makes history as Rhode Island’s first commercial tenants union.
For tenants, however, saving Atlantic Mills goes beyond a fight for real estate.
BACKGROUND: Tenants fight to preserve Atlantic Mills amid potential sale
According to a petition created by a concerned citizen that launched in early October, preserving Atlantic Mills emphasizes its cultural significance to the community. To date, that petition has garnered nearly 2,000 signatures.
“It represents a rich tapestry of relationships and close community, many of which have found a comfortable dwelling here—our second home,” the petition states. “We have put our hearts and souls into this place.”