Mayor's father loses bid to block therapist from neighborhood
5:47 PM Thu, Jun 25, 2009 | Permalink
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- John F. Cicilline, noted criminal-defense lawyer and father of Mayor David N. Cicilline, has unsuccessfully petitioned the Zoning Board of Review to forbid a behavioral therapist from practicing on the block where the elder Cicilline lives on Federal Hill. Cicilline contends that therapist Michael B. Stevens is in violation of the zoning code because he is doing his business in a "residential/professional zone." The office, at 424 Broadway, is next door to Cicilline's leased condominium, where Cicilline lives with his wife. The therapist counsels "drug addicts" and "sex offenders," according to Cicilline and several other Broadway residents who joined him at a zoning board hearing Monday night. Anthony Caprio, Stevens' landlord, contends that the use conforms to the code, and the board agrees with him. The board voted 4 to 1 to reject Cicilline's petition. Stevens, who testified at the zoning hearing, said that he maintains three offices and that he does not have any clients at his Providence office who are dangerous. He acknowledged that he treats pedophiles and addicts. Cicilline said Thursday that he has filed a notice with the board that he intends to appeal the decision to Superior Court. But rather than pursue the appeal, he said, he may move out of the neighborhood. 
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Turn out the lights when you leave.
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I am rethinking my post.
Yes,in the past,the Colin Baker row/townhouses were used as single family residences with an owner business allowed in the lower level.At some point though,an owner may have been allowed to rent out the lower level ,if they were not using it for said business.
If the lower level of the rowhouse in question was converted to a residence and sold as a condo,then the new owner would seem to lose the option to rent it to any commercial enterprise, (even if area zoning allowed it),but if it was sold as a business condo,he would not.
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I live 2/10ths of a mile from this. I don't have any problem with the treatment of drug addicts but I do have a problem with the treatment of sex offenders.
I don't want that element in this neighborhood.
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Yeah, way to go zoning board. Someone needs to let these people know that they are not the rulers of the city. Too bad that a therapist is moving in next to you - the city needs all the business that it can get. Feel free to move and take your sons with you - they are a pox on the city, too.
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I would think Mr. Stevens would want his office to be in a less conspicuous area. I can understand his profession is to help those with such problems. What about the neighbor he adjoins has he no rights.
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Well what's your solution, Tony? Leave the sex offenders untreated? Everyone wants it to be "not in my neighborhood", well guess what....it's gotta happen somewhere and the board voted-end of story.
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Seeking clarification--does/did Mr. Cicilline not make a living defending "drug addicts" and "sex offenders"?
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Yes limric, he was a noted crininal attoryney so he represented those types of clients as well as many other types.
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Not like there is a shortage of upscale over priced housing to move to.
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