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Photo by Jeff Krause In addition to the destruction of the East Wing of the White House to replace it with a ballroom, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) is also slated for significant alterations. During an April 16 Commission of Fine Arts review meeting, the Executive Office of the President, Office of Administration, presented a concept plan with two options for painting over the EEOB’s original solid granite façade in bright white. The first would paint the e

Matthew Miller was born and raised in Providence, a place where the city’s history and homes are very important to him. He has been a mason for close to 30 years. He currently works for East Coast Masonry & Restoration, Inc. and belongs to Local 3 Bricklayers & Allied Craftsman. He learned the trade working alongside East Coast owner Michael St. Angelo as well as many other talented craftsmen throughout the years. He has led and worked on countless projects in Rhode Island an

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building (Photo: Jeff Krause) May 6, 2026 Mr. William Scharf Chair National Capital Planning Commission 401 Ninth Street NW, Suite 500N Washington, DC 20004 Re: Proposed Eisenhower Executive Office Building Exterior Beautification Project NCPC File Number 8777 Dear Mr. Scharf: Preserve Rhode Island (Preserve RI) serves as the statewide advocate for Rhode Island’s historic places. Our advocacy efforts extend beyond the borders of

Rhode Island’s Historic Tax Credits are a proven tool to create more housing stock— from 2013 to 2024 approximately 20% of all new housing comes through the program, including 20% of all affordable housing. But unlike neighboring states which are expanding their programs to address their housing crises, Rhode Island’s Historic Tax Credit program has been stymied through lack of funding, onerous fees, and a lack of transparency. Just when the program is needed most, and elect

In December of 2025, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, alleging that replacing the East Wing of the White House with a massive ballroom violated Federal law. In response, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) declared an open period for public comment. Preserve RI, along with many other organizations and individuals took advantage of the opportunity to speak up about the scale, design, and appropriateness

David Corsetti, as CEO of Premier Land Development, continues to shape the rehabilitation of mill buildings across the state. His company specializes in pioneering distinct residential, mixed-use, commercial and industrial projects, including both new construction and adaptive reuse. Among the notable projects he has worked on are the 2024 Rhody Award winning project, Wanskuck Mill, in Providence and the Ann and Hope Mill in Cumberland which is currently being developed. Davi

The main streets of towns and cities are vital to the economic and cultural health of the United States. They connect us to our vibrant past and have been an important component of preservation work across the country. Main Street America , established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980, has been working across the nation to preserve and promote downtowns and other neighborhood commercial districts. Clark Schoettle, a Preserve RI board member and former E

March 2, 2026 Mr. William Scharf Chair National Capital Planning Commission 401 Ninth Street NW, Suite 500N Washington, DC 20004 Re: Proposed Construction of White House Ballroom NCPC File Number 8733 Dear Mr. Scharf: Preserve Rhode Island (Preserve RI) serves as the statewide advocate for Rhode Island’s historic places. Our advocacy efforts extend beyond the borders of our state when the interests of Rhode Islanders are at stake. Significant architectural landmarks,

State Senators Lori Urso and Robert Britto at Lippitt House Museum. As the statewide advocate for Rhode Island’s historic places, Preserve RI works closely with the legislature on various issues. To strengthen our connections with Smith Hill and showcase the power of preservation, we invited legislators to Preserve RI’s Lippitt House Museum on January 27th. For some this was their first time at the Museum. Not only did they learn about the building’s rich history, but we coul

Preserve RI is excited to welcome five new members to our Board of Trustees. We will be profiling our newest Trustees throughout the first few months of 2026. To read about last month’s profiles, click here. Stephen Lane, Wickford Stephen brings both board governance experience and a hands-on preservation perspective to Rhode Island’s nonprofit and cultural community. He is the steward of the former home of noted preservation architect Norman Isham, where he has actively pres