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Un4 & Community Revifcjliz^tion
BROWNF1FI PS surrIN NFW FNC.I AND
PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
Motivation for Redevelopment: The state-of-the-art Providence
Community Health Centers (PCHC) facility is located 011 the site
of the former Federated Lithographers and Beaman and Smith
without a commitment from Lifespan hospital network as an
anchor tenant. This partnership will lead to approximately $45
Address:	355 Prairie Avenue Providence, RI 02905
Size:	3.5 acres
Former Use:	Machine manufacturing, metal can
manufacturing, printing operations
Contaminants:	Asbestos, lead, polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbon (PAHs), methyl /£T/-Butyl
ether (MBTE), volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), chlorinated solvents, lead
Current Use: Community health center, offices, retail space
Owner: Providence Community Health Centers (PCHC)
US Economic Development Administration (EDA); Rhode
Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM);
Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC);
Providence City Plan Commission; Lifespan; BCOG Planning
and Development
EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grants (3):
US Economic Development
Administration (EDA) Grants (2):	$3,500,000
US Health Resource and Services
Administration (HRSA) Grant:
Federal Appropriations:
Rhode Island Economic Development
Corporation (RIEDC) Grant:
Citizen's Bank Loan:
Providence Community Health Centers:
Champlin Foundation:
•	Overall project will create 125 seasonal construction jobs,
350 permanent jobs, and 556 "direct-effect" jobs.
•	Projected to generate an additional $250 million in economic
activity for the South Providence community.
$1,400,000
$396,000
$55,000
$9,100,000
$2,000,000
$500,000
$600,000
Motivation for Redevelopment: The state-of-the-art Providence
Community Health Centers (PCHC) facility is located 011 the site
of the former Federated Lithographers and Beaman and Smith
Company (BSC) factories in South Providence. While South
Providence was once a vibrant industrial and residential
community in the mid-20111 century, the neighborhood lias been in
decline since the mid-1970s. It is now one of the most
economically distressed, educationally-challenged, socially-
isolated, and impoverished neighborhoods in Providence.
PCHC is the largest primary health care provider in Rhode Island
with a commitment to providing quality care to the medically
underserved. Although PCHC operated a facility in South
Providence, it needed additional service delivery and ancillary
program space. The health center chose the abandoned Federated
Lithographers complex as the site of its new facility because of
the property's proximity to its existing site in that area.
Property History: Starting in the late 1800s, BSC manufactured
precision machinery in two buildings on site. After BSC closed
in 1926, a metal can manufacturer used its factory until 1962. In
the third building. Providence Lithograph Company housed its
printing operations from 1905 to the mid-1940s. The printing
facilities were later consolidated to become the home of
Federated Lithographers, which specialized in printing maps,
books, magazines, and catalogues. The company vacated the mill
complex in 2000. Site investigations discovered hazardous
building materials (asbestos, lead-based paint) as well as soil and
groundwater contamination attributable to former printing
operations. Despite its environmental complications, PCHC
decided to purchase the property in 2003. Site cleanup included
asbestos and lead abatement, soil remediation, installation of a
groundwater monitoring system, and capping of contaminated
soils by way of the buildings, the asphalt parking lot, and a
geotextile covering under the landscaped areas.
Project Results: This redevelopment into PCHC's $17.5 million
Prairie Avenue Health Center would not have been possible
without a commitment from Lifespan hospital network as an
anchor tenant. This partnership will lead to approximately $45
million in govermnent. private sector, and philanthropic
investments, which were needed in order to revitalize this
brownfield site. Additionally, the securing of state and federal
historic tax credits, new market tax credits, and private sector
funding is anticipated as part of the redevelopment effort. A
capital campaign will help pay down $1.5 million of the
Citizen's Bank loan. By next year, the completed project will
include three buildings: a new health center for PCHC (41,000
sf), which is currently open; medical office space anchored by
Lifespan (50,000 sf); and a retail building anchored by
Walgreens (5,000 sf). The energy efficient buildings integrate
strategies for renewable energy and are a mix of new
construction and historic renovation.
As both a healthcare platform and economic engine, this "urban
industrial park" is expected to rejuvenate one of Providence's
most depressed communities. During site cleanup, 98% of the
project's contractors were Rhode Island-based and 28% of the
contracts were awarded to minority and women-owned
businesses (MBE/WBE). The project is expected to catalyze an
additional $250 million in development and resident education
and skills training envisioned through the Prairie Avenue
Revitalization Initiative conceptualized by BCOG Planning and
Development, development consultant to the project.
Transformation of this site was the critical first step in restoring
South Providence as a thriving and promising community.
Timeline
June 2003
Aug. 2003
May 2005
June 2010
Mar. 2011
July 2012
Nov. 2012
May 2013
Phase I site assessment completed
PCHC purchases property
Phase II site assessment completed
Site cleanup and selected building demo completed
Groundbreaking
PCHC ribbon-cutting
5,000 sf retail space projected completion
50,000 sf office space projected completion
July 2012
Local Contact: Merrill Thomas, Providence Community Health Centers • (401) 444-0400 • mthomas@providencechc.org

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