New Building & Demolition Proposals
#On The Boards
The City maintains an ArcGIS map with projects under review and completed that is worth checking out.
#327 Elmwood Avenue
Update April 2025
The site of long vacant land is proposed to become dozens of affordable housing units. Blueprints filed showed plans to redevelop 327 Elmwood Ave., once the site of a diner and then a gas station, into a five-story mixed-use building with commercial space on the first floor and 44 apartments.
The project’s developer, Women’s Development Corporation, told the City Plan Commission that units will be affordable for households earning 80 percent or less of the area median income. A rental home is considered affordable when total housing costs are no more than 30 percent of their annual income. That means these units will be designated to those who earn $66,650 in a single-family household, $76,200 in a two-family household, and $85,700 in a three-family household, according to new income limits released by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development earlier this month.
#Signature Residences at 209–217 Angell St
Update March 2025
A developer proposes 32-units of residential on the site of three razed houses. The increase in density of this neighborhood supports the low housing availability in the area at the expense of the historic fabric of the previous neighborhood. We lament the loss, but accept the change as a necessary one. At least the design if this building is an much-needed contrast to the darkitecture across the street.
The will appear to be five stories tall but the ground floor will be structured parking. 32 three-bedroom units will be supported by 45 parking spaces, 42 of which will be structured parking under the first floor of the building. A number of zoning variances were requested for height, setback, and dimensions.
The City Plan Commission (CPC) reasoned that the project met key requirements: The proposed development is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, the proposed development is in compliance with the standards and provisions of the Zoning Ordinance (after adjustments or the granting of variances), there will be no significant environmental impacts from the proposed development, there are no physical restraints from the lot size or site configuration, and access to public rights of way will be maintained.
The CPC granted approval subject to conditions to be met. The applicant included provisions to rent to non-students only. The project is intended to serve older residents. The CPC stated in their approval the following constraints:
- In accordance with the applicant’s offer, rental of dwelling units to undergraduate college students shall be prohibited. Undergraduate college students may live in owner-occupied units.
- In accordance with the applicant’s offer, rental to graduate students shall only be allowed on upon majority vote of the condominium
#70 Houghton Street
Update February 2025
A new business park is proposed on City of Providence land on the border of North Providence off Veazie Street and Houghton. The land currently does not have any structures on it, and the proposal includes three large industrial warehouse buildings.
The Providence Redevelopment Agency and College Hill Development LLC propose the project jointly in the neighborhood of Wanskuck. The 9 acre site (394,879 SF) would contain three buildings: Building 1 at 14,785 SF, Building 2 at 45,000 SF, and Building 3 at 16,200 SF. Buildings are designated as warehouses and as a contractor garage for equipment storage and access.
The preliminary master plan was approved with requests for a traffic study and additional details for the design of the main warehouse at the preliminary plan stage.
#269 Wickenden Street
Update January 2025
Developers Dustin Dezube and Kevin Diamond submitted updated architectural plans have been submitted to the City Plan Commission. The Public’s Radio covers the story in this article.
Update October 2024
No new construction progress has been made. Moved most of this information to a #DemolitionAlert post for the properties at 249 through 265.
Update November 4, 2023
On Tuesday, October 17, the City Plan Commission approved an updated Master Plan proposal. This design has substantially changed; the facade has been broken up into three distinct sections and the residential-unit count increased from 62 to 75 while commercial and parking space decreased. The fifth story was hidden as requested by the Commission in order to grant the additional story, with a denied request to encroach on a 20-foot rear setback by 10 feet. The approval came with many conditions, including a request for further details on the transformer’s location; a recommendation that the loading space for parking remains; and requested specifications related to the cellar, landscaping, floor plans, drainage management and signage, all to be presented at the proposal’s next step, Preliminary Planning.
Update August 22, 2023
William Morgan weighs in with this GoLocal recent article.
Update August 16, 2023
The City Plan Commission approved the plan for this new building after the developer made slight modifications to the design. Even though most of the 60 citizens who packed the meeting opposed the development, the CPC has a history of agreeing with developers who are making an investment in the city. They push back some, but not enough most of the time, and do not always consider public opinion. Granted, some of that opinion might be NIMBY, but many people presented salient points about the design, the increase in density, and the historic and relatively untouched nature of the neighborhood.
#As many as 326 units at 27 East River Street
A vacant 88,000 sf parcel along the Seekonk River and East River Street has a proposal for a seven story, 326 unit apartment building with 163 parking spaces. The proposal won “by-right” approval from the City Plan Commission with some requested adjustments. “By-right” means the proposal meets all zoning and code enforcement policies and these projects do not require approval from the Providence City Council.
Councilman John Goncalves is holding a community meeting to solicit feedback on the proposal, and his recent newsletter informed constituents of the proposal. It included such details as:
- Project Overview: The proposed $90 million+ development is a 7-story, 326-unit multifamily residential building with 163 internal parking spaces. The property is in the W-1 zoning district, which allows multifamily use by legal right. The project sought dimensional adjustments, including a height increase from the permitted 75 feet to 90 feet and a 50% reduction in required parking (from 326 to 163 spaces). These adjustments were granted by the CPC with specific conditions.
- Environmental Impact and Landscaping: The development will include a 25-foot-wide landscape buffer at the rear, featuring a public walking/bike path and access to a kayak launch along the river. The applicant has also submitted a drainage plan for stormwater runoff, but the DPD advises that a sediment and erosion control plan should be provided before final approval.
- Traffic and Parking: Ingress and egress will be provided via East River Street. The DPD highlighted the need for a traffic study to assess the impact on the street’s safety and flow, especially given the site’s location on a rising grade. The study should also assess the visibility and safety of the loading zone and the adequacy of the 163 proposed parking spaces, with a condition that additional parking spaces be identified off-site if necessary.
- Dimensional Adjustments: The project sought and was granted dimensional adjustments by the CPC for both height and parking. These adjustments were approved by the CPC with conditions, including the requirement for a traffic study, CRMC input, additional community outreach, and the identification of off-site parking if necessary.
His newsletter goes on to say, and we largely agree and echo these statements:
Given the housing crisis, there’s a diversity of opinions about these kinds of developments in our neighborhood. Some residents emphasize the need for more housing and welcome the increased density, while others raise concerns about the project’s height, parking, and impact on neighborhood character. Balancing these perspectives is essential as we move forward with addressing both immediate housing needs and long-term community goals.
#30-story tower proposed next to the Hilton Hotel
Posted May 2024
A proposed 216-unit, 30-story tower received an approval from the Downtown Design Review Committee in May. Only three members were present of the six, and the vote was 2-1. The project will not need to go before the committee again, as this approval cleared the way for final approval to rest with city officials.
The tower has been proposed by Procaccianti Companies who owns the Hilton Hotel next door and built the Residences tower down the street next to the Omni hotel.
The building would be constructed over a parking garage with 248 spaces. There is an existing parking garage on site now and a one-story hotel addition housing a ballroom. The architect is ZDS Architecture. The building would feature “upscale units.”
Full story and renderings at the Providence Journal, “This new condo high rise could go up in downtown Providence. Here’s everything to know.”
Interestingly, this proposal mirrors some of the same ideas for a massive tower project dubbed The Power Block that was never built on a lot next door.
More advocacy news at the Providence Preservation Society.