New Petition Started Against Breakers Welcome Center

NEWPORT, RI—It sort of worked for Cliff the Coyote. Now, the Friends of Newport Preservation are hoping to protect The Breakers with a petition to oppose the building of a new Welcome Center on the mansion's grounds. The petition, over Change.org, advocates for locating the new center in the parking lot across the street.

Over the weekend the Preservation Society, which owns the mansion, announced it has hired a contractor to build a new structure with rest rooms and a ticket area. The construction is expected to start within a couple of weeks.

The Friends have issued a statement in response.

"The flawed plan for a commercial building on the grounds of The Breakers will outrage anyone who cares about the historic integrity of the landmark and preservation. It is similar to placing a fast food restaurant on the lawn at Mount Vernon. The Preservation Society claims it will present “world class hospitality.” Rather, the Society is destroying The Breakers landscape and ambiance to the detriment of its visitors. We will continue to work to prevent this travesty, and urge that the visitors’ center be put where it belongs – in the parking lot across the street."

The statement went on to point out "the Preservation Society has not filed the necessary developmental plan yet or received a building permit for the project."

Behan Brothers of Middletown has been awarded the contract.