The Future of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Building Is Unclear; Here’s a Look into Its Past

by Katy Pickens

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published by The Providence Post, a publication of the Providence Preservation Society. After going to auction last week, the future of St. Joseph’s Hospital on Peace Street remains unclear. The property up for bid includes the hospital complex and [...]

‘Living Preservation’: New Investment Fund Seeks to Bolster Local Ownership, Wealth

by Katy Pickens

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published by The Providence Post, a publication of the Providence Preservation Society. A new investment fund hopes to drive community-centric real estate development to keep the wealth generated by projects local, rather than seeing it be siphoned out of state. [...]

Building Triple Deckers in Providence — A Tale of Dimensions, Parking Minimums, and Zoning Variances

by J. Hogue

A new multifamily build on Ohio Ave. Photo from a 2025 Google Streetview. Editor’s note: This article has been updated for clarity. The process of building new housing in Providence is guided by zoning regulations, which dictate the aspects of a new building from lot [...]

Cathedral Square is in Need of a Refresh — or Even a Reimagining. What’s in the Works?

by Katy Pickens

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published by Providence Preservation Society. Copyright ppsri.org. Reprinted with permission. City has issued RFP to revamp plaza, instituted some temporary repairs Cathedral Square, tucked away in Downtown, has long been a poster child for the pitfalls of urban renewal [...]

The Plan to Make Public Street a Public Good

by Joshua Geaughan, Alana Lemene

Sandwiched between scrap metal recycling and mounds of salt, Providence’s Public Street is getting a makeover. As a result of the Washington Park community’s efforts to find a way to cohabitate with the Port of Providence, Public Street — one of the 234 public right-of-way [...]

Filling the Gaps: New Housing Popping Up in Previously Vacant East Side Lots

by J. Hogue

It’s been less than nine months since the City’s Comprehensive Plan was approved. As a guide to Providence’s long-term growth and development, it’s not too early to observe its effects on neighborhoods. Even the East Side — which may be perceived as slow to grow because [...]

Jane’s Walk Returns to Providence: Annual Community-Led Explorations of City Spaces

by Sarah Gleason

Jane’s Walk is an annual festival of free, neighbor-led walking conversations within a city space, inspired by urban activist Jane Jacobs— the activist and author who helped stop an expressway from slicing through lower Manhattan and contributed to the New Urbanist movement. Inspired by her [...]

Paying Attention to Providence’s Port and Its Impact

by Joshua Geaughan

For Ward 10 residents, including the Washington Park neighborhood and parts of South Providence, some see the Port of Providence as a hassle to their community. “It’s been going on for a long time…I’ve been calling DEM [Department of Environmental Management] about odors and responding [...]

Two Sides of Ebenezer Knight Dexter’s Donation

by Roseanne Camacho

In the early days of the American Republic, Ebenezer Knight Dexter enjoyed a successful career in Rhode Island mercantile and land trade, enough to become one of Providence’s greatest philanthropists after he died in 1824.  He left two impressive properties, one on the East Side [...]

02908 Neighborhood is One of Providence’s Most Endangered Places

by Marisa Angell Brown and Katy Pickens

Editorial Note: This article was initially published on Providence Preservation Society’s website as part of its annual list of Most Endangered Places (MEP). For the full list, visit here. For further reporting on “The Studentification of Wanskuck,” read here. Additional reporting by The Providence Eye. [...]