A map of ProvPort and surrounding areas. Photo: Eric Halvarson.
ProvPort Community Benefits Fund Distribution Remains in Contention Almost Three Years Since Inception
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Three years after a city tax agreement dedicated at least $120,000 annually to a community benefits fund for projects in South Providence and Washington Park, residents are struggling to follow the money. Neighborhoods near the Port of Providence are calling for a more transparent and [...]

12
Nov
Four Providence Churches Launch Audacious Plan to Combat Homelessness by Providing Winter Warming Centers
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Editor’s note: This article was originally published on Steve Ahlquist’s Substack on November 06. Reprinted with permission. November 8, 2022: A corrections, with apologies: The Housing Department wanted to clarify that these churches are operating “warming centers,” not “warming shelters.” The difference is both semantic and legal. [...]

11
Nov
Discussion at the October 21 community meeting. Photo: Eric Halvarson.
ProvPort Master Planning Continues with Port Sustainability Fund Primed to Support Environmental Projects
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At the end of this year Providence will begin distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars to sustainability projects in South Providence neighborhoods afflicted by the contamination by industrial facilities in the Port of Providence. Community groups are hopeful the funds will support their fight against [...]

29
Oct
Butler Caregivers Raise Money and Volunteer to Restore the Blackstone Boulevard Park
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Editor’s note: This article was originally published on Steve Ahlquist’s Substack on October 19. Reprinted with permission. Two months after settling a contract with Care New England, and after enduring the longest hospital strike in Rhode Island history, Butler Hospital caregivers represented by SEIU 1199 NE partnered with the Blackstone Parks Conservancy and the Providence [...]

27
Oct
Gloria, 3 years old, circa 1950, outside Baubee and Zaidee’s Orms St. home.
Remembering Providence: from lullabies to tea rooms
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At this uncertain moment in history, I find myself turning to a time long ago and recalling a young, Jewish girl growing up in Providence. An address on Mulberry Street, near our synagogue first comes to mind for me.  I loved the sound of that [...]

08
Oct
The Future of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Building Is Unclear; Here’s a Look into Its Past
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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 [...]

23
Sep
‘Living Preservation’: New Investment Fund Seeks to Bolster Local Ownership, Wealth
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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. [...]

03
Sep
Building Triple Deckers in Providence — A Tale of Dimensions, Parking Minimums, and Zoning Variances
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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 [...]

27
Aug
Cathedral Square is in Need of a Refresh — or Even a Reimagining. What’s in the Works?
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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 [...]

13
Aug
Public Street. Photo via Google Street View.
The Plan to Make Public Street a Public Good
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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 [...]

17
Jun