To Address Housing Shortage, Revolving Fund Sees Repairing, Not Just Building, As Crucial Strategy

by Dana Schneider

In Greek mythology, there is the story of the Hydra—a snakelike monster with nine heads. It is formidable not only for its many snapping jowls, but also for its regenerative abilities. For every head chopped off, it can regrow two from its wound. The current [...]

How is Providence’s Historic Aesthetic Maintained?

by J. Hogue

Providence has 8 historic districts covering over 2,600 documented properties. These designations mean owners who want to make a change to a structure located in one of these districts have to first apply to the Providence Historic District Commission (PHDC) for a Certificate of Appropriateness. [...]

Preservation Awards Blending the Old and New

by Marisa Angell Brown

I joined Providence Preservation Society as Executive Director last October and one thing that struck me as I was looking back on my whirlwind of a year was the number of times I’ve been asked in conversation about whether Mayor Smiley’s administration is good for preservation.  [...]

With Sale Pending, Atlantic Mills Tenants Concerned about Future of Community Hub

by Katy Pickens, Providence Preservation Society Planning & Development Writer

Editor’s note: This story was published originally in the Providence Preservation Society’s October 6, 2024 newsletter. The tenants of Atlantic Mills — an Olneyville community staple which has hosted the Big Top Flea and other events for decades — are worried that with the pending sale of [...]

Getting Serious About Providence’s Housing Crisis

by Seth Zeren

It’s no secret that Providence is in the midst of a housing crisis. In 2012, the median home sold for around $200,000. Today that number is nearly $500,000, far more than the median household can afford. From 2018 to 2023, average apartment rents increased 50% [...]

Community Members Share Concerns About Future of John Hope Settlement House

by Keating Zelenke

Editor’s Note:This story was originally published by the Providence Preservation Society, which is shifting to include local news coverage. Read more here and subscribe to the PPS Newsletter. As the sun was setting on August 27, about two dozen people from a variety of neighborhoods on the West Side [...]

Providence Unsung Heroes:  Meet Dave Talan of the Elmwood Little League

by S. J. Jackson

On a sunny early summer Saturday morning in1975, one of Dave Talan’s neighbors on Santiago Street in the Reservoir Triangle neighborhood on the southside of Providence asked Dave if he would come with him to the J.T. Owens field over in the Huntington Industrial Park [...]

Historic Districts in Providence: Why There Should be More

by J. Hogue

In Providence, we have seen Historic Districts lose properties to fire, lack of maintenance and neglect, developer speculation, or just the forward march of progress.  As the saying goes, “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” When one or two historic properties are [...]

For the Public Good: Triggs Memorial Golf Course

by Roseanne Camacho

Triggs Memorial Golf Course, nestled between Rhode Island College and Chalkstone Avenue, is often overlooked as an extraordinary green space in Providence. From its original design to its operation today, it is recognized as one of the top municipal golf courses in the country, promoting [...]

Gentle Density: How to Have Both Preservation and Population Growth in Providence

by Kari Lang

On June 18th, after a 3+ hour meeting consisting primarily of public comment, the Providence City Plan Commission voted to approve the city’s draft Comprehensive Plan and send it to the City Council. Over and over, speakers expressed two things: a love for Providence, and [...]