September Preservation Advocacy Updates
Brook Street: Since August of 2025, the impending demolition of four homes at 277, 281-283, 287 and 291 Brook Street, owned by Brown University, has been in limbo and stands a chance to be added to Brown’s list of demolitions on the East Side. Providence Preservation Society (PPS), the Black Heritage Society of Rhode Island, and concerned neighbors have spearheaded advocacy efforts to work with Brown University and avoid demolition.
These four historic buildings, all contributing structures to the College Hill Historic District, greatly contribute to the history of Providence’s East Side. 287 and 291 Brook Street were built between 1882 and 1895 by Alexander Gorham, a successful Black real estate developer. 277 and 281-283 were built for Frederic Fuller in the 1870s, whose father founded Fuller Iron Works in 1840.
Brown University recently announced on September 15th that they have changed course - only 277 and 281-283 Brook Street will be demolished, preserving the other two buildings (287 and 291 Brook Street). PPS has reported that while they are thrilled to see the two buildings associated with Black history preserved, they are still pressing Brown to make a public account of their organization's history of mass demolishment within Providence. Oftentimes, these demolitions have affected disenfranchised communities, and Brown owes the public accountability.
108-110 Waterman Street: Preserve RI was disappointed to learn of a recent demolition in Providence, located at 108-110 Waterman Street. Built in 1877, the Rufus Waterman House, listed on the College Hill Historic District, consisted of six apartments and two commercial spaces. The building was completely leveled this past month to make way for developer Walter Bronhard’s 35-unit 44,000 square foot, five-story mixed use building. The demolition proposal came before the Providence City Planning Commission (CPC) on September 19, 2023 was unanimously approved. Minutes from the meeting state that after the completion of an analysis to study the loss of the demolished building, it was found that the structure was not significant enough to prevent demolition.
A September 12, 2023, a memo from the Providence Historic District Commission stated that the property is not located within a City of Providence local historic district and therefore, there is no Historic District Commission oversight or regulation that prevents demolition. However, it was recommended that the CPC request a report documenting the history of the property, elevation drawings, floorplans, exterior and interior photos assembled into an archival package and submitted to the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission (RIHPHC) as part of the Rhode Island Historical Resources Archives and to the City of Providence’s Archives. It was also recommended that this become standard procedure when and if buildings of similar designation are requested to be demolished.
Smithfield- Esmond Historic District: Over the past year, the town of Smithfield’s Historic Preservation Commission has been seeking to designate a new local historic district called the Esmond Historic District. The district will include two town owned buildings comprised of the East Smithfield Neighborhood Center and the Allenville Mill Storehouse, allowing the site to have Certified Local Government (CLG) status and making it eligible for Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission CLG grants. After approval from the HDC in June, the proposal was presented to the Planning Board on August 20, where the board gave a positive recommendation approving the request. The proposal will be scheduled to go before the town council.
East Greenwich- Demolition by Neglect Ordinance: The town of East Greenwich's Historic District Commission approved a draft Demolition by Neglect Ordinance on August 12. On September 16, the Planning Board unanimously passed the ordinance to be fully adopted. Following this, the ordinance will be forwarded to the Town Council for full adoption within the coming weeks. The ordinance is largely in response to the demolition of the Andrews-Briggs House located at 1727 Division Road. For over 20 years, after exchanging hands multiple times, the house has been left to slowly decay with intentions to demolish. The current owner, Cris Crecelius with Crossroads Capital Fund VIII will be allowed to demolish the building after decades of locals and the HDC advocating to save the structure. Preserve RI congratulates the East Greenwich for putting forward such an ordinance. It is the hope that other HDCs in the state will adopt such ordinances to help combat demolition by neglect.
