Tag: Demolition by Neglect
35 properties
Properties that have been demolished because they have deteriorated to the point of no return. Sometimes, this is intentional on the part of the owner — especially when fixing a property would cost more because of its historic significance. This could be simply because the current owner couldn’t afford any upkeep, and sometimes, it is because the building itself is very difficult to turn into something else. Other times, it is an intentional way to get people onto the side of demolition rather than preservation.
An amazingly dense complex of mill structures dating from the mid-1800s and in use for over 100 years before succumbing to two large fires in the midst of plans to redevelop
A former clothing store built off the north side of Sears that stayed empty for years and years before being razed in 2009.
A quick redevelopment of two historic homes in an eroding historic district under pressure to provide “modern” student housing
Two massive five-story, brick, pier-and-spandrel warehouses along the waterfront once used for storing cargo. Vacant for 15+ years before demolition from 2013-2015.
Nine homes on a block off Thayer Street were demolished ot make way for a large bulk of student apartments
Eight houses allowed to decay as student housing and easily demolished because of a lack of visual maintenance
Two late-19th century houses are to be torn down in favor of a five-story mixed-use residential and commercial building in the College Hill Historic District
A large former gymnasium with a large enough indoor space to support a suspended indoor quarter mile track. Demolished in 2001.
A part of the Provisions District met the wrecking ball in 2011. Owner of this and nearby buildings, The Providence Journal Company, used deferred maintenance as an excuse.
A slowly built-up set of factory buildings that decayed for more than a decade before being razed for… a flower farm
The spooky former “School for the Feeble-minded” which decayed for 20 years before being slowly razed building by building.
A kid-friendly family theme park with storybook characters and amusement rides that closed in 2005.
This cinder block building with a residential looking store facade slapped on it stood vacant for many years before demolition. Part of the way commercial retail comes and goes.
A historic home that was not officially verified as “historic”, therefore it was unprotected from demolition by neglect
A mid-century industrial facility designed by famous architects for a little company that went national. Sadly, closed in 1998 and razed in 2020.
A long fight over the demolition of a former neighborhood school — and a contributing structure to the Broadway-Armory Historic District.
The iconic “HOPE” sign rose off the roof of a mill building as you drove north on 95 until a fire devastated it in 2004.
A decaying former banking hall with high cielings and an interior stained-glass lit dome shrouded in copper
A much loved, family-friendly, local amusement park, active from 1920 through 1987 and home to The Comet wooden roller coaster
A neglected little brick Greek-revival building vacant and boarded up since a fire in the 1990s succumbed to extensive roof damage in 2020
One the last remaining historic homes on the Thayer to Brook Street block demolished for a new structure
This imposing, 6-story cold storage facility ran continuously for 98 years. It fell to the wrecking ball before converting these buildings became the cool thing to do
A family-owned party supply, costume, and novelty store operating since the early 1980s. Closed in 2005 and burned in 2011.
Abandoned and derelict for 17 years, the former brewery complex that once employed 850 people was razed in 1998. The brand has lived on and has since reclaimed its Rhode Island heritage.
A rather small commercial storefront that was a branch bank for some time but abandoned for many years before eventual demolition.
A long, low slung industrial building west of the highway and in the shadow of the Providence Place Mall. Neglect over ten years as well as some nefarious local dealings took the building down.
This 60 year-old Art Deco structure was vacated in 2000 for new digs across the highway. It stayed vacant for 6 years until a proposed condo structure took it down.
A boarded-up retail space along a retail corridor in need of rethinking
One of the last big box stores on North Main Street, closed since the mid-to-late 90s. Demolished in 2014 to become infill for a parking lot.
A former waterfront nightclub overlooking Narragansett Bay that operated under many different names in its 10 year lifespan
Another erosion of the neighborhood fabric, moving from wood-built houses to slick “modern concept” commercial structures
A huge turn-of-the-century brick barn for trolleys that was later used by the Narragansett Brewing Company for storage & distribution.
A large parcel of land on the edge of the jewelry district whose 1- and 2-story buildings were razed by speculation but nothing yet occupies the site.
Vacant since 1987, this building stood on the West Side across from Central High School for over 20 years before being completely razed to the ground.
The former home of three different radio stations left to rot for almost 20 years.