New Life For An Old Providence Mill Complex

Adding to the success of Providence's downtown revitalization, the Promenade at the Foundry is an excellent illustration of how the city has converted its older mill buildings into places for people to live and work downtown.

"Called the Promenade at the Foundry, the complex has 220 units with exposed brick walls, 12- to 18-foot ceilings, and other features that recall the original use of the buildings. The property’s industrial past is memorialized in the restoration and display of some of Brown & Sharpe’s machinery in common areas and in enlarged historic photographs that decorate the walls."

"The benefits of saving these old buildings and putting them to new use are enormous, said Bill Struever, the company’s founder. Not only do they generate tax income and create housing, but, for many people, the old mills represent their community’s soul."