Category: #NotInRuins

A handsome two-story former wharf warehouse along Dyer street, backing up to the Providence River, used as a electric substation for about 100 years

A square, seven story commercial building converted to apartments in the early aughts — a frontrunner to the downtown residential boom

A large mill built in stages with an iconic square, open-top stair tower visible from Interstate 95.

A collection of six brick buildings with a complicated history, series of owners, and name

An almost 100,000 square foot mill in an industrial section of Pawtucket that has been used as studio space for 30 years

A small brick industrial building in a predominantly residential neighborhood is the remaining legacy of a large bakery conglomerate

A large, long, four-story 100 plus year old mill on the corner of Harris and Atwells is revived as apartments and commercial space

A handsome, symmetrical, two-story fire house that was built at a time when horses still drew fire apparartus

A long-standing and intact example of mill architecture from the late 1800s, available as studio and commercial space

An 1860s gasometer with unheroic uses for a century before being reborn as small business and community space

A series of late 19th and early 20th century mill buildings converted to residential during the boom of the mid-2000s

This narrow, small footprint a hundred fifty year-old house had a prominent African-American artist as a resident for about 20 years

A visually-arresting former carriage house and stable behind one of Broadway’s most ornate mansions

An almost two-century old building which has been in constant use for military-related purposes

An opportunity for mid-century modern along a stretch of land opened up by razing older properties during the construction of I-95

A fine example of turn-of-the-19th-century hydroelectric power generation situated below Pawtucket Falls along the Blackstone River

A pair of turn-of-the-20th century buildings in use for commercial and automobile-related businesses with one being converted into apartments

A non-descript simple one-story brick and concrete structure on a busy commercial portion of Broadway

Slow and steady wins this race — vacated in 1964, some of the buildings were in use as early as 1988, but only 30 years later has the entire complex been redeveloped

Two distinctive buildings joined together as downtown residential lofts — both with unique features, design, and spaces

A former department store turned rock club venue turned loft apartments whose conversion contributed to making Downtown Providence bustle again

A late 19th-century mill building used originally as a machine shop but largely as a cording manufacturer that converted to residential in 2004

A 250+ year old home belonging to one of the captain’s that took part in the burning of the Gaspee

A four-turned-five-story 19th-century commercial building goes residential to support 44 micro-lofts and a younger clientele

Worcester Lunch Car #806 has had a long life and many names but continues to attract new entrepreneurs who want to make a go of the restaurant business

A more than century old ornate schoolhouse has been converted to fourteen apartments as part of the nearby Slater Cotton development

A mid-century brick indistrial building on the edge of the Jewelry District is given new life as part of Johnson & Wales University

A non-descript industrial steel-frame building is coverted to medical laboratory space

A handsomely-detailed yellow brick commercial building with an active bar on the first floor and currently empty upper floors

Two indistinct one-story infill buildings flanked by 100+ year old two-story mill buildings that manufactured fire safety equipment

One of the oldest industrial buildings in the state with a rich history that continues to this day

This former hotel has sat vacant and underused for 20 years or more and only recently is being renovated

Once the largest manufacturer of costume jewelry, this building was vacant in the 80s but then revived by Lifespan as their corporate headquarters

A worsted yarn mill under the same ownership for 60 to 80 years has been home to small businesses and a plastics company for at least the last 20

A small stature mill building in a residential neighborhood with many uses over the years is now residential

A low slung jewelry manufacturing building on the edge of the Jewelry District is now the main Student Services Center for Johnson & Wales University

A 60 year old metal blacksmithing business known for its craft, ingenuity, and dedication to quality fabrication

A very large, wood shingle mansion in Quality Hill with attached carriage house that was used as a senior care facility for 105 years

A large 250,000 sf brick mill complex used for rubber manufacture over almost 100 years, now divided into office and retail space

A former church mission turned into a series of unsavory businesses establishments until a 30 year old law allowing indoor prostitution was rewritten

A late ninteenth century dye house of the larger Weybosset Mills which has lately become a boutique hotel

An over 180-year-old mill structure with the Woonasquatucket river at its back and a former office building fronting Manton Avenue

A handsome single story early 20th-century storefront tastfully converted to a local bakery and coffee shop

A relatively simple carriage house down the hill from Benefit Street featuring unique architectural details and construction

Likely a former Phillips 66 Gas Station, this building went from tire shop to restaurant to convenience store

A former schoolhouse that has been constantly in use by the Girl Scouts of America, East Providence Troops

A popular restaurant since 1973 in a unique red brick building that was an early horse-drawn apparatus Fire Station

A small, unassuming but nicely detailed brick firehouse from the mid-19th century on Providence’s West Side

A very early fire station was repurposed as commercial space and a twin building was built next door

A former fire station that had its façade completely replaced by 1970, and home to independent radio station WBRU

A striking 3-story mansard former office building for a larger manufacturing complex of woven goods turned into various small office spaces

An enormous granite, brick, and steel early 19th-century military fortification guarding the entrance to Narragansett Bay

Falling into disrepair since the 1970s, this once important community center found new use and continues to support the neighborhood and Providence schoolchildren

A rare apartment row house with interconnected interior spaces and original details gets a facelift and modern new addition

This chalet-style 19th century Stone & Carpenter design was reivigorated in 2002 with new foundation and additional connecting buildings to expand Brown’s Hillel Center

A handsome, symmetrical façade, Greek-revival inspired mid-19th-century mill building that seems to have always been well cared for

This 3-story flatiron 1920s commercial building was vacant for more than 20 years

Parcel 8: An early-addition to Capital Center, built next to the new train station after Waterplace Park was created

A mid-century modern complex built in the late 60s/early 70s for Bulova Watch and then occupied by General Electric for about 20 years.

An unassuming former ice cream factory on a busy road through a residential neighborhood

At only 12 1/2 feet deep, the George Arnold building is an anomoly in the Downtown Historic District

A small but mighty former firefighter training facility turned art space and music venue and most recently, a hostel concept

A mid-sized 4-story mill of red brick and stucco in the middle of a residential neighborhood became apartments in 2009

An early conversion from industrial mill to residential and commercial space visible from the highway as visitors enter from Massachusetts

This stone mill off of a main road has many modern additions, like vinyl siding and brick warehouses, but its roots go back to 1775

An irregulary shaped former horse stable turned furniture showroom turned apartments

A modest hotel gets a facelift and an upgrade during the city’s development boom time

A former catholic school has been converted into 24 two-bedroom residential units on the East Side

Long-time tenants Davis Dairy vacated in spring 2020 after a fire damaaged the upper floors of the house

This huge 7-acre complex is a mixed-use, active-24/7 collection of 165 flexible business spaces and 149 mill lofts

A simple mill building with 100 years of history in use for jewelry manufacturing converted to commercial office space in the 1980s

A former high-art-style consumer banking lobby and offices becomes a 56,000 sf art library and housing for 500 students

A turn-of-the-century hotel with intact, 100-year old wood panelled bar enhanced by stained-glass windows and decorative terra cotta

A shingle-style public building sat underused for 20 years before being rejuvenated recently

The iconic “Superman” building, the tallest in the state, might be close to getting a new life as residential apartments

An emblem and pin manufacturer with a long life as industrial/commercial space until a conversion to apartments

A forgotten building on the industrial edge of the north side may be getting a new life

A four story former mill on the south side of Providence that has been under the radar as large industrial-style studio and living spaces

This four hundred foot long mill had a big part to play in the industrial revolution as home to the inventor James Brown

A narrow but deep building had its modern refacing removed to reveal an original set of brickwork ornamentation. Now being used as office space

A small one-story industrial building has been home to a design studio for about 50 years but is now awaiting a new owner

A turn-of-the-century 6-story downtown commercial building that is now part of the RISD campus

An elaborate home decorated with “gingerbread” details and the former workshop of notable designers A. & L. Tirocchi is now a collective-run bed & breakfast & artist residency program

One of the last operating woven product mills in the area, closing in 2001, and later converted to residential starting in 2007

This handsome trapezoidal mill building with chamfered corner in the Jewelry District was converted to lofts in 2004.

A cute, manageable, three-story mill building on the outskirts of Smith Hill surrounded by car yards

This three-story former lumber yard and wood working business has over a hundred years of history

A nine-story commercial building turned residential and joined the ranks of its neightbors in the collective called “Westminster Lofts”

One of the first condominium mill conversions in Pawtucket, taking full advantage of the picturesque Blackstone river

Two 19th-century commercial buildings come together to create a unique hotel with historic character

A striking black and cerulean blue Art Deco first floor facade adorns this commercial building along a historically significant portion of upper Westminster Street

An irregulary shaped two-story former jewelry mill turned into a small-business studio and residence

This 300-ton house was rotated and moved 450 feet up Olive Street in one piece over the course of three days

This former jewelry manufacturing building was converted to office use in the late 1970s and is now the Brown Medical School

This gothic revival wood frame house has been languishing since the 1990s as developers have come and gone

While only a small 2,600 sf portion of the original complex remains, it’s great that it was saved

A large two- and three-story mill complex bordered by Conant, Pine, Barton, and Weeden Streets

Parcel 14: This Neo—Classical Revival structure stood unfinished for 80 years before finally getting a new life as a hotel in 2004.

A five-story red brick former Freemasons hall in very good historic condition converted to commercial space in the 1980s

An over 170-year-old congregation has served the needs of people in the center of Downtown Providence from a 120-year-old church building

This once ornate building was simplified in the 1920s and once again in the 2000s but has always been commercial space

One of two remaining Sterling Streamliner diners manufactured in the late 1930s by the J.B. Judkins Company left in the country

One of the first artist-led redevelopment projects post-Eagle Square, these 21 units have remained in artist’s hands, some with afforability restrictions

This ornate former single-family home was built in stages and owned by two prominent business people that almost succumbed to the wrecking ball

A large mill complex of 13 buildings on 2 acres was converted to apartments and commercial space in 2005

A large mill complex on the West Side of Providence turns into residential lofts at the beginning of the boom

A 19th century former volunteer firehouse turned into commercial space on a busy urban corner

A classically-inspired former bank with soaring vaulted ceiling finds new life as a performing arts center

A late-nineteeth-century warehouse building with thick walls, strong floors, and details reminiscent of an armory building

A handsome yellow brick, seven story building with ornate white brickwork designs has become a dozen luxury residences with ground-floor retail

A soon-to-be-100-year-old movie theater went through a tumultous rebirth over a decade, and may now yet again be on the brink of something new

A massive, Romanesque-revival style, granite and brick masonry building with an interior Drill Hall clearspan space of 80 by 140 feet

An early 1900s fire station converted to a senior center in the 1980s and in constant use ever since

A six-story early Moderne former bank lobby and upper-floor offices was redeveloped in fits and starts into residential apartments

A group of turn-of-the-century mills get converted into affordable residential units and commercial/office space

A stone mill formerly used as a machine parts manufacturer and now commercial office space

A fire-damaged former church used for many years as a furniture storage facility recently turned into 15 residential units

A late 90s/early 2000s conversion of a small mill with new addition on North Main Street into luxury condos

An unassuming rehabilitation of a simple mid-century industrial space into a modern office

This 70-year-old diner car sat on blocks for 10 years before being restored and reopened as a classic breakfast and lunch diner

A small but charming red square building in various states of repair and neglect over the years

A relatively recent construction for large sporting and entertainment events, modernized in the late 2000’s to connect to the Convention Center

A newer complex of brick structures built up and around an almost 200-year old stone mill

A mill redevelopment that tried to be different than the typical luxury condos and one that change residential zoning to help make units more affordable

A 1980s conversion from industrial to residential condominiums by the same developer of the Davol Rubber Company

A 100-year-old ornamental steel and iron manufacturer gets a new life as a center for vocational training and art creation

A two-story industrial building used mainly as a nightclub in recent years flies under the radar in the Jewelry District — a hotbed of new development

A long industrial mill along the Atwells Avenue off ramp was home to the C.J. Fox company for 60 years before conversion to office space

A sprawling pre-Civil-War-era complex with a proud history of metal manufacturing of many kinds, including armaments

By the time we took photos, most of the main mill building had crumbled. The main building, though, is still standing and has been converted to a restaurant.

This modestly small but ornate brick building became the home to the Providence Revolving Fund

This former stable is a remnant of a larger house that was razed in the 1940s and now stands as a handsome private home

One of the oldest mill structures in Olneyville, this building housed a collection of 60 artists who were forced out in 2004

A huge, castle-looking 400 foot long stone rubble mill with two impressive towers joined to a more modern red brick mill on either side of a historically hard-working river

Lucky for all of us, the Rustic has so far outlasted 13 other drive-ins that operated in Rhode Island since the 1960s

An almost 200 year old brick house has seen many changes, from home of a three term Providence Mayor to an industrial business

A 60-year history slinging good, hearty diner food evaporated into a cyclone of legal battles. The diner itself is still unrestored.

After almost 100 years involved in heavy industry, this building became home to a variety of office and retail uses

A tall, handsome mill which was a cottom weaving company for about 35 years before becomming a realty company that rented space to other businesses — now residential lofts

An early 19th-century complex with two granite stone mills in the first “Mill Village” is converted into residential apartments

A modest turn-of-the-century three story mill in a dense mill area of Pawtucket

A collection of Victorian Gothic cottages and a stone chapel turned into a shopping center with character.

A very interesting weave shed building, flooded with natural light, becomes artist live/work studio lofts

An old house gets a renovation and a nearby addition for a total of five new “luxury” condominium units

A massive 58,000 sf former electricity generating station went through three different redevelopment projects over 20 years before finally being completed

An adorably symmetrical former fire station turned into a private residence in the early 2000s

A small flatiron-style 19th century mill building right on the bank of the Moshassuck River in a formerly dense industrial area

This reinforced concrete frame building was the first modern-style, large windowed design in the City

This unassuming golden brick, pier and spandrel commercial building has been part of the Johnson & Wales campus since the mid-1960s

A mid-19th century small scale commercial brick mill has been a home to various businesses and loving owners

A drive-up news stand on the “Pawtucket Downtown Loop” that survived for almost 40 years

A narrow and difficult to redevelop building languished on the Ten Most Endangered List for five years before getting a new life

A present-day example of early car service culture — white enamelled panels with bright green and red accents and an utilitarian design

This over 190 year old structure survived 170 years as an indoor mall but now is a collection of retail and micro-loft styles residential condos

An mid-19th-century mill falters in its second life but gains a third life in the late 2010s to become residential with a boutique hotel on the same property

Three tightly-packed buildings with histories in weaving and threading have turned residential and are thriving in post-industrial Central Falls

A small single-story brick commercial-industrial storefront with subtle art-deco details

A former businessman’s club that could no longer operate is turned into the offices for an archoeological and historic preservation non-profit

A late 19th-century investment building used as commercial space for over 100 years recently turned into residential upper floors.

A 27,000 sf piece of the former US Rubber Works has been developed into the Waterfire Arts Center

A 30-year-vacant 19th-century schoolhouse gets a new life as residential apartments

This 120-year old station has see fires and rehabilitation, but the remarkably handsome structure is still standing and useful and full of tenants

A 400,000+ sq. ft. series of mill buildings dating from 1870 and converted to residential units after suffering a devastating fire that leveled half the complex

A dense complex of 20 buildings built over the course of 50 years has ben converted from maufacturing to new-arts-industrial to residential

A collection of handsome late-19th- and early-20th-century buildings that served as headquarters for a knitted good company as well as rental space for jewelry businesses

A relatively low-slung and simple early 20th century former car repair garage in a residential portion off Broadway

A mini-arcade type of commercial building in a once bustling retail district turned small business and destination retail space

An ornate mill-company-built community space subdivided into offices during the last century

A recently underutilized mill building with distinctive central octoganol tower to become 225 apartments and commercial space

A nice, simple early 20th century building on a busy commercial corridor with some subtle Art Deco details

A large complex of mill buildings spread out over three city blocks is only partially intact and undergoing revitalization in different forms

A circa 1900 collection of mill buildings are still in use as manufacturing, small business space, and studios even though the building itself needs maintenance

A classic mid-century brick and limestone commercial building transformed into a highly visible commercial, residential, and rooftop restaurant space

The Fletcher building marks the first foray into downtown Providence for RISD and its graduate students

A former screw and fastener manufacturer that has been revitalized as a cooperative craft brewing collective

A small, five-story commercial building that underwent a modern renovation into 12 apartments on a busy downtown street

A quaint small cottage is delicately saved by a considerate addition and rebuild while the large lot was subdivided to support monster new construction

Smaller than its neighbors, this 2-story commercial building joined the ranks of its neightbors in the collective called “Westminster Lofts”