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Preservation Committee
By David Kelleher, Chairman
The East Providence Historic Properties Study Commission held a meeting several weeks ago at Grace Chapel, Roger Williams Avenue, with residents of the Phillipsdale area to determine if there was an interest in having the area declared a historic district. A slide show of the area was presented and a discussion followed regarding the pros and cons of such a designation.
A later meeting was held at Grace Chapel on May 25. Representatives from Washington, DC, Cambridge, MA and state and city officials met with residents. The discussion centered on creating a 'walkable' area after a presentation about similar projects around the country. Many ideas surfaced for improving Roger Williams Avenue such as better sidewalks, alternating on-street parking, 'round abouts', trees and constructing a waterfront drive to eliminate trucks on Roger Williams Avenue. Future meetings will be held in the fall to continue to involve the residents.
The properties commission is moving to obtain grant money to hire a consultant to apply to Washington, DC to designate the Phillipsdale area a national historic district.
The properties commission believes that East Providence needs a demolition delay ordinance to protect historic properties from being demolished before an effort has been made to save them. The commission is studying different ordinances in cities and towns in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
The city of East Providence has set aside $30,000 to restore the Brown Williams cottage, Hunts Mills Road. There is some evidence that the cottage may date back to 1710.
The historical society is looking to obtain grant money from the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor to develop a master plan for the Hunts Mills area.
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