A man's decomposing body was found on Tuesday morning at the closed Skyline at Waterplace, a wedding and event venue in Providence, Rhode Island, currently embroiled in a legal battle with the city over eviction proceedings. The man, aged 57, has not been named by the authorities yet, but the police report noted he appeared to have been deceased for several days. The venue has been shuttered since July 27, 2024, and the owner had allowed the deceased man, who was struggling with health issues and homelessness, to sleep there. He was reportedly working at Skyline and had been given a key as part of his maintenance duties, according to 12 News.
The incident adds a grim chapter to the venue's controversial history. Skyline at Waterplace, which has been battling legal issues regarding lease violations and unpaid rent, is scheduled for an eviction trial in October. Providence police responded around 11 a.m. on Tuesday to the location, where they found the body inside what used to be a bustling event space. Michael Mota, the owner of Skyline, refuted claims that the man was homeless, saying the police were "mistaken" and that he only found with personal belongings. "He did have a key to the building, as he was in charge of maintenance, and we believe that he had entered the building to check on it and unfortunately passed away," Mota told Boston.com. The police report suggests the man had been going through chemotherapy and dialysis treatment for several months.
Details surrounding the man's death remain scarce as detectives continue their investigation. The report did not indicate any suspicion of foul play. Skyline has been a contentious issue for Providence officials, starting from clashes over rent payments to the current impasse over eviction. The leasing dispute stems from alleged maintenance lapses by the venue operator. After a rejected proposal to transfer its lease to another company, Skyline has been awaiting a legal decision on its fate, as reported by The Boston Globe.
The city's attempt to evict Skyline began last fall and has escalated to a trial this year. Despite receiving over $1.8 million in federal COVID relief funds, the venue has been linked to various ventures by its owner, including entertainment events and a failed cryptocurrency project. As the legal battle continues, the tragic discovery of a man's body has highlighted issues of health care and homelessness within the establishment. Statements from both Mota and the Providence Parks Department are pending, and Skyline's attorney, Michael Lepizzera, has not responded, as per Boston.com.
