PHOTOS: The Larchwood Inn is Being Demolished

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI—A prominent fixture on Main Street in Wakefield since its construction in the 1800s, The former Larchwood Inn, is coming down once and for all.

The remains of the former estate "The Larches," built by textile mill owner James Robinson in 1831, is now being broken into bits and sorted into piles of wood, brick and granite and twisted metal.

With the demolition ends any hope among locals who wanted to preserve the building, which has languished unoccupied since 2006 when the the lights went out for the last time and no more rendezvous at the Tam O' Shanter lounge could be had.

Since then, the town and a developer have been embroiled in a protracted planning process over plans to build an assisted living facility at the site.

The Independent reported that developer and property owner Roland Fiore obtained a demolition permit in March. The paper also reported that Post Acute Partners, which seeks to build the assisted living facility, appealed a Zoning Board decision to uphold a Planning Board denial of a master plan.