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. [...]

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 [...]