CITY LIFE

Avoiding the Summer Slide

Hands-on educational programming engages students all summer long

Just because kids will soon be home from school for the summer, that doesn’t mean the gears stop turning. For students like Katie Ochoa, who spoke at a recent press conference held at South Providence Library, summer holds opportunities to learn everything from coding to sailing, thanks to FabNewport.

The event, led by youth ambassador emcee Mearah “MiMi” Smith, celebrated the after-school education organization’s 10-year anniversary, along with announcing the launch of their exciting next chapter here in Providence: FABx. Combining the forces of FabNewport with PVD Young Makers, FABx serves more than 700 middle and high school learners through a range of programming both in and outside of the classroom, emphasizing a learner-centered education.

“Using 3D printers, laser cutters, robotics, and other hands-on learning tools, our participants were not just making things,” said FABx cofounder and executive director Steve Heath at the press conference. “They were also making their lives. All we did was supply the opportunities to awaken the limitless possibilities that everyone should have. Yet ‘limitless’ is hard to fathom when there is inequity at every turn.”

Through PVD Young Makers programming happening this summer at the Community Libraries of Providence and the Providence Public Library, students turn their ideas into creations learning coding, design, and fabrication skills, along with growing their confidence. To further show the value of after-school and summer learning, FABx is hitting the road with their Positive Future Visions campaign, traveling the state collecting ideas on what defines successful and fulfilling futures for di erent people, and how access to the right resources and opportunities can turn those visions into reality.

“What we know is out-of-school time programs o er important learning opportunities for youth,” Heath continued. “Every Rhode Island young person deserves to participate in after school and summer learning.” FABx is free to families thanks to partnerships and community support. To learn more about programming, submit a Positive Future Vision, or donate, visit GoFABx.org | By Abbie Lahmers

By Abigail Lebowitz

Asterfields

Lifestyle boutique

We’re on the hunt for Rhody Gems! Every neighborhood has that secret, hidden, cool and unusual, or hole-in-the-wall spot that locals love. Email or tag us on social media using #RhodyGem to suggest yours, and we might just feature it!

What it is:

A design house selling apparel, accessories, and home decor.

Where to find it:

Asterfields is located in a small black building on Traverse Street – a side street off Sheldon, behind Wickenden. An “open” flag confirms you found it!

What makes it a Rhody Gem?

With a wide variety of garments and lifestyle goods all in the signature aesthetic of owner/designer Nicole Deponte, Asterfields offers a collection you won’t find anywhere else. According to Deponte, “Asterfields designs a colorful adventure that triggers your senses and inspires conversation.” The light-filled shop is stocked with a wide variety of locally made items connected by the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. Additionally, Asterfields hosts pop-up art shows, workshops, and events tailored to build connection and collaboration.

Asterfields

5 Traverse Street Asterfields.com

Instagram: @aster_fields

B UILDERS OF M OMENTS L IKE T HIS .

Step inside any Wingate Living community and you’ll discover how our welcoming, world-class residences are built to elevate everyday life and make you feel right at home without any of the stress of maintaining a home. And if your needs change, we’re here for you every step of the way. See what the good life looks like. Call us today to set up a tour.

wingateliving.com

What’s Next for Wickenden?

Revisiting the street’s storied past in the midst of future developments

There’s only one place in Providence where you can walk out of a high-end eyeglass store, cross the street to your car, and now clearly see that you’ve parked in front of a sex shop and a tattoo parlor! Wickenden Street in Fox Point – with its mix of quirky shops, superb ethnic restaurants, an oldstyle hardware store, a James Beard-nominated pizza place, and several of the state’s best coffee shops – represents a unique part of the city’s tapestry.

Our own Yankee Doodle Dandy – the entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and theatrical producer George M. Cohan – has a statue that sits at the top of Wickenden, and he’d probably be perplexed by many of the changes facing his street, including the latest residential proposal.

Fox Point’s colorful history began with its proximity to the waterfront becoming the home of a vibrant Portuguese and Cape Verdean immigrant community, many of whom earned their living servicing ships from all over the world that unloaded their wares at India Point. Even today, some of the houses on the street are still painted in pastel colors, a long-standing Portuguese tradition.

Hard-working immigrant families were on both sides of Wickenden Street, which was the major East-West connector. The proximity to the wharfs brought many “dive bars” and establishments catering to the transient visitors, earning a “tough, rough and tumble” reputation. The national spotlight arrived in 1964 when Manny Almeida’s Ringside Lounge brought boxing to the corner of Wickenden and Brook streets with a prominent neon sign. The lounge drew boxing champions like Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Rocky Marciano to Fox Point throughout the 1950s. Another “contender,” Cape Verdean George Araujo grew up in Fox Point, had a great career, and then coached the Army Olympic Team; the park at Preston and Ives streets honors his legacy.

Hundreds of Portuguese and Cape Verdean immigrants who called Fox Point home, with many homes holding three and four generations, held off gentrification for many decades. But when the East Side housing market exploded, buyers came to Fox Point from the more expensive sections of the East Side. Gradually, street after street of long-time residents sold out and left.

Like the original residents of the area, however, the shops on the street have hung tough. For every new upgraded watering hole, an equally determined old hang-out or eatery stayed. Rents have remained affordable and there are few vacant storefronts. The result is an eclectic and diverse potpourri of options for nearby residents and tourists who have supported the area over the years.

Even more changes are coming. A new, large apartment building now towers over Hope and Wickenden streets, the Duck & Bunny building remains a hole, and now a developer wants to add 62 apartments at Brook and Wickenden streets with very limited parking. The developer is looking for a height variance to make it a five-story building.

Reaction has been loud and pointed, largely concerning its height, design, and lack of compatibility with the neighborhood. But the reality is that something will be built, so the question becomes what do the neighbors there want.

Providence Preservation Society executive director Brent Runyon warns: “Without a historic district overlay, there really is no protection for the existing small buildings that contribute to the charm of Wickenden Street. But since the Providence City Council generally requires 80 percent owner ‘agreement’ to create a new district, the process is not any easy one.”

The Fox Point community must come together and decide what they want their neighborhood to be, before it’s too late. The current mantra for more height and density certainly is appropriate in large swaths of Providence. But here? Should variances be handed out like candy to developers? And how important is style and appearance in the equation? These are questions that need to be dealt with all over the city, as well, since some of the more interesting housing stock still exists on the city’s West and South sides.

Providence certainly needs more housing. Our growing student population needs to have places to sleep. But do they all have to be tall and, too often, bland boxes? And if we don’t deal with this now, then when?

Neighborhood News

Hot Topics

An overview of what’s happening around the city right now

The Jewelry District’s transformation continues

With the announcement of a new apartment complex on Parcel 14, almost all remnants of the shipyard, industrial, and interstate eras of the Jewelry District will have disappeared or been repurposed by 2025. At the 195 Commission monthly meeting in April, CV Properties presented their proposal for an 11-story apartment building as part of a proposal for Parcels 14 and 15 in the land formerly occupied by Interstate 195. CV Properties has already successfully carried out two game-changing projects in the district: South Street Landing, which turned a former power plant into a thriving educational facility for three Rhode Island institutions; and the Aloft Hotel, a first in the district, o ering stylish rooms and rooftop Blu Violet restaurant with sweeping views over the Providence River. With ground broken for the new Rhode Island State Lab, and a major project from Brown University in final planning stages, the future has never looked brighter for the Jewelry District.

Development updates and new streetlights in the Mile of History

Mile of History Association (MoHA) continues pressing for a building worthy of the historic section of Providence on I-195 Parcel 2. MoHA representatives recently met with Marc Crisafulli, chairman of the I-195 Commission, and the design team, led by Kamran Zahedi, president of Urbanica, to view the latest version of the proposed design, and found the new version to be much improved over previous drafts.

MoHA is also pleased to report the restoration of the streetlights along Benefit Street is complete. The new lanterns look similar to the old ones, but cast brighter, whiter light, replacing lights that were broken or out of service. The MoHA-led project took over five years with additional funding from the City of Providence and the Champlin Foundation, and strong support from Councilor Helen Anthony. MoHA is planning an outdoor block party this month for members and prospective new members. MileOfHistory.org

Fox Point residents fight for neighborhood character

Fox Point neighbors have been mobilizing to oppose a proposed development they fear will not only change the character of their neighborhood, but also set a precedent for future development in the area. As of early May, developer Fox Point Capital LLC was scheduled to appear before the City Plan Commission (CPC) to seek approval for the construction of a five-story mixed-use building on the corner of Wickenden and Brook streets. The structure would provide commercial space, internal parking, and 62 residential units.

Fox Point Neighborhood Association (FPNA) members have stated several objections, including the height and massing of the proposed building, which exceeds the typical three stories and 20 units, as well as the lack of natural lighting in the proposed units. Parking, which is already a major issue in the area, is also a cause for concern for neighbors, since the proposed building includes only a 30 percent parking-to-unit ratio. Perhaps most of all, neighbors object to the generic character of the design. FPNA vice president Daisy Schnepel warned, "We need to say no to unreasonable, incompatible development. This proposal could forever change the environment and sensibility of what it means to live in a small, historic community.” The proposal was scheduled to be heard by the CPC in mid May.

Home DIY workshops with Providence Preservation Society

If you’ve ever started a home project and wished you had an expert looking over your shoulder, then Shop Nights, taking place Thursdays through July 27 at 50 Sims Avenue, are for you. Drop by the Providence Preservation Society Building Works workshop to ask questions, get hands-on advice, tinker, and connect. Noel Sanchez, a restoration carpenter and small business owner of 30+ years, will be available to o er his experience and guidance on a range of home repair, maintenance, and carpentry topics. Everyone is welcome, from total beginners to seasoned DIYers. Participants are encouraged to bring their own small projects (and materials). Find more information and registration at PVDPreservation.org

Summit welcomes new board members, celebrates green initiatives

Following their annual meeting late April, Summit Neighborhood Association (SNA) welcomed back several returning board members, as well as new additions Emily Kloeblen, taking the vice president position, and new board members Alexander Gim-Fain, Morgan Schwartz, and Allyson Baker. SNA presented the Sheila B. Perlow Award to Helen Baskerville-Dukes, executive director at the Mount Hope Community Center, for her work building connections and creating joy in the community. Mayor Brett Smiley, Representative Rebecca Kislak, and Councilor Sue AnderBois were also in attendance, and The Sandwich Hut donated sandwiches and salads.

Neighbors gathered in April to plant community trees, done in partnership with the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program and City Forestry Division, which has resulted in more than 100 trees planted in Mount Hope and Summit neighborhoods over the last two years. Through a partnership with the Rochambeau Library, SNA is also excited to see new landscaping, composting options, and other improvements for their developing backyard Outdoor Classroom expansion. Plans are under way to better utilize the outdoor space behind the library with murals, flowers, interactive musical elements, and benches. To participate in tree plantings, contact Emily Kloeblen at kloeblenemily@gmail.com or 203-917-2052.

Providence Neighborhood Associations

Blackstone Parks Conservancy

Jane Peterson

P.O. Box 603141

Providence, RI 02906

401-270-3014

BlackstoneParks@gmail.com

BlackstoneParksConservancy.org

College Hill

Neighborhood Association

Rick Champagne

P.O. Box 2442

Providence, RI 02906

CHNA@chnaprovidence.org

CHNAProvidence.org

Downtown Neighborhood Association

DNAPVD@gmail.com

DNAPVD.com

Facebook: Providence Downtown Neighborhood Association, DNA

Elmwood Neighborhood Association

Karen Hlynsky

ENA-PVD.org

Facebook: Elmwood Neighborhood Association PVD

Fox Point Neighborhood Association

Meeting Date: June 12

Amy Mendillo

P.O. Box 2315

Providence, RI 02906

FoxPointNeighborhood@gmail.com

FPNA.net

Jewelry District Association

Sharon Steele

Sharon@sharonsteele.com

JewelryDistrict.org

Facebook: Jewelry District Association

Providence, RI

Summit neighborhood’s Bradly VanDerStad, Sharon Lee

Walfman, and award-winner Helen Baskerville-Dukes

Mile of History Association

Charles Hewitt, Secretary

1 Governor Street, Providence MileOfHistory@gmail.com

MileOfHistory.org

Mount Hope Community Center

401-521-8830

MHNAInc@gmail.com

Facebook: Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Inc.

Olneyville Neighborhood Association

Eduardo Sandoval

122 Manton Avenue, Box 8

Providence, RI 02909

ONAProvidence@gmail.com

Facebook: Olneyville Library

Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations

Info@provcna.org

ProvCNA.org

Reservoir Triangle

Neighborhood Association

David Talan

25 Santiago St.

Providence, RI 02907

401-941-3662

DaveTalan@aol.com

Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative

Wole Akinbi

400 Smith Street

Providence, RI 02908 Suite #1

AAkinbi@half-full.com

Facebook: Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative

South Providence

Neighborhood Association c/o Dwayne Keys

P.O. Box 5653

Providence, RI 02903

401-369-1334

SouthProvNeighbors@gmail.com

Facebook: South Providence Neighborhood Association

Summit Neighborhood Association

Meeting Date: June 19

P.O. Box 41092

Providence, RI 02940

401-400-0986

SNAProv@gmail.com

SummitNeighbors.org

Washington Park Neighborhood Association

237 Washington Avenue

Providence, RI 02905

BettyLinda@aol.com

Facebook: Washington Park Association

Wayland Square Neighborhood Association

Katherine Touafek

Facebook: Wayland Square Neighborhood Association

WaylandSquareNeighbors@gmail.com

West Broadway Neighborhood Association

1560 Westminster Street

Providence, RI 02909

401-831-9344

WBNA@wbna.org

WBNA.org

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