background : : : renovation of abandoned buildings in Providence

It is no surprise, then, that building renovation has been steadily increasing as urban blight and poverty become salient topics for planners and politicians alike. Federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and federal block grants have made possible large projects that renovate several houses at once. Instead of rebuilding houses individually over time, the tendency is toward renovating in clusters.

Funding for housing renovation in Providence comes largely from state and federal sources. These monies are funneled through a quasi-government organization, Rhode Island Housing (RIH), which helps developers build affordable homes. RIH is the largest funder of renovations in the state. [Click here for a map of the projects that RIH funded in approximately the past 8 years]

Moreover, the infrastructure of Providence's funding groups and non-governmental organizations is an intricate web of historical and political attempts at urban revitalization. Several groups are at the forefront of abandoned housing renovation, including the Elmwood Foundation (located in the Elmwood neighborhood) and the West Elmwood Community Development Corporation (located in the West End).

Another interesting aspect of Providence's policy-making is that much of it happens on the neighborhood level. Even though crime and violence are regional problems that cross municipal boundaries, much redevelopment in Providence is done on the neighborhood-level. Much renovation also takes place on many houses at once; an urban planning method that is growing in popularity. [Click here for more information about renovation by groups of houses]