Downtown Neighborhood Association forms in Providence

Corey Towner stands in her micro-loft located on the second floor of the Arcade Providence. A new neighborhood association has formed to represent the interests of downtown Providence residents. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
Corey Towner stands in her micro-loft located on the second floor of the Arcade Providence. A new neighborhood association has formed to represent the interests of downtown Providence residents. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

PROVIDENCE – A new neighborhood association has formed to represent the interests of downtown Providence residents.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association held its first meeting Oct. 28, according to Rich Pezzillo, an organizer. About 80 people attended, residents of some of the converted office buildings in the city’s downtown.

Pezzillo, a Rhode Island native who has lived downtown for 11 months, is a resident of the Peerless building on Union Street. The neighborhood association will provide a mechanism for residents living downtown to communicate with the city in a unified way, and also for residents to receive information.

Speakers at the first meeting included Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, and representatives of the Providence Foundation and the Downtown Improvement District.

- Advertisement -

An estimated 4,500 people live downtown, according to Pezzillo, citing the Providence Foundation.

“The purpose of the Downtown Neighborhood Association is to connect downtown residents and create an organized way for residents to have a unified voice,” Pezzillo said.

A recent project drew neighbors together, he said, to paint over graffiti on the “Keep Providence Beautiful” mural on the Paolino Properties building. The business provided the paint and neighbors volunteered to remove graffiti, he said.

“Now there’s a relationship there. That’s what the hope is, neighbors coming together to create change.”

No posts to display