The Providence Redevelopment Agency on Thursday will discuss the possibility of buying the three-story building at 94 Washington St.
a.k.a. The “Narrow Building.”
Downtown Design Review Committee to review proposals for the Arnold ("Narrow") and Alice buildings at their April 14 meeting.
The PRA announces the transfer of ownership and redevelopment of the 'Narrow Building' on Washington Street. Plans are for 3 apartments and 2 retail units in the iconic structure.
George C. Arnold Building (aka The Narrow Building), photo by Jef Nickerson The Providence City Council is set to give Mayor Angel Taveras the green light to seize a landmark downtown building that’s been decaying...
Greater City Providence
Jef Nickerson
Anyone know about a similar building that’s in use and “successful” elsewhere?
I’m really curious what kind of uses are available for this kind of building.
Any movement, especially with useful street-level use is good. It’s so upsetting that Washington Street is what it is compared to Westminster. Doesn’t have to be that way.
As I understand it, the economics to repair/renovate the Arnold Building by itself don’t pencil out due the small amount of floor area and extensive facade surface, but also partly because the property is within an historic district which adds significant costs. Additionally, ADA and current building code compliance is nearly impossible. A better use might be to combine the property with the parking lot behind, constructing a new building on the parking lot site, which could use the Arnold Building as an entrance/Washington St retail and the Arnold’s upper floor integrate as part of a new building uses.
Code and historic issues would make renovating the upper floors into usable space expensive. The street-level retail would be easy to rent, though, and if the upper floors were mothballed, the expenses would be limited to fire protection and facade work.
Peter– my assumption this whole time is there is no Arnold Building without integrating that parking lot. I was curious if there was a viable alternative.