Barrington will hire a Pawtucket-based company to conduct an archeological survey of the former Carmelite monastery property. 

At their meeting on Monday night, April 7, members of the Barrington Town Council approved a bid from The Public Archeology Laboratory of Pawtucket in the amount of $10,823 for “Phase I archeological survey services at the 25 Watson Avenue site.”

Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey said the survey of the property is required by CRMC (Coastal Resources Management Council) before any demolition work can take place. 

The town purchased the monastery in 2021 from the Diocese of Providence for approximately $3.5 million. The seven-acre property included the monastery, a few outbuildings, a parking lot, and some open space. It rests between Watson Avenue and Freemont Avenue and overlooks Narragansett Bay to the south.

After years of work, the town finalized a plan to use most of the property for housing. 

The town sold a 1.75-acre portion of the property to FJS Associates for $1. The developer will construct a 12-unit pocket neighborhood that will be age-restricted to people 55 and older. As part of the agreement with FJS, Barrington will pay for the demolition of the monastery building. The town also plans to sell off six single-family house lots.

At the April 7 meeting, councilor Jordan Jancosek asked Hervey how the town planned to pay for the archeological survey. 

She asked if they would be using money from the sale of the single family lots. Hervey concurred, adding that the town will cover the cost up front. 

Councilor Kate Berard asked what the possible outcomes of archeological survey could be. Hervey responded: “I guess we’ll find out.” 

Assistant town solicitor Amy Goins said the archeological survey would start with a small area — the excavated space could expand if anything is found, she said. 

Goins also said the survey needs to be approved by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission. If anything is discovered, she said, state and federal laws will determine what would happen. 

Goins also said that the Narragansett Indians will have mandatory involvement in the process. 

Berard, referencing the recent discovery of a burial site on Nayatt Point, questioned whether the potential discovery of historically-sensitive artifacts on the monastery land could delay the development of housing on the property. Berard asked if any specific language was included in the contracts. 

Hervey said he did not believe the archeological survey would cause delays. 

Jancosek also mentioned that she had heard that Barrington was not a stranger to discoveries of Native American significance. 

A short time later, council president Braxton Cloutier made a motion to accept the quote from The Public Archoelogical Laboratory of Pawtucket. Kerry O’Neill seconded the motion, which passed 5-0. 

Demolition consultant

In March, the town hired Verdantas LLC to provide consulting services for the abatement and demolition of the former monastery building. The town will pay Verdantas $62,800 plus an additional 20 percent contingency — that cost is separate from the fee to demolish the structure; that figure has not yet been determined.