Prior to the mid-1800s, the area was considered rural escape from downtown, with few homes. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s industrialization attracted immigrants from Ireland, Eastern Europe and the Balkans to work in nearby mills and in particular the Watershed Foundry Area along the Woonasquatucket River. I sense that Smith Hill never experienced widespread disinvestment and blight but it also is not one of Providence’s trendy gentrified neighborhoods. Stark income divisions exist on either side of the Smith Ave with many upper middle class families south of Smith and much more working class families north of it. This tracks with the location of the Smith Hill Historic District, which runs along the highway near dwtn, hosting some of the neighborhood’s best homes from the late 19th century. Smith Hill also hosts a unique historic district the “”Oakland Historic District”” preserving a very intact row of triple decker houses from the turn of the centry. The Watershed Foundry Area was redeveloped in the early 2000s with the closure of the Brown and Shape Manufacturing Company. At its peak the plant employed around 12K in WWII. This redevelopment has also lead to the cleaning up of the Woonasquatucket River and the Providence Place Mall opened in 1999 just across the highway.
From an urban perspective Smith Hill is a solid urban district with good bones. It has good public transit, excellent access to Dwtn, relatively affordable housing (compared to more gentrified Providence neighborhoods), good parks, a decent array of food & beverage businesses, and is a pretty safe area to live. But it really lacks retail amenities forcing residents to drive to surrounding neighborhoods or go to Providence Mall for all their shopping needs. Bike infrastructure is almost non-existent here and the schools leave much to be desired. My sense is that development and reinvestment will eventually home to Smith Hill. Hopefully this helps densify the neighborhood and attract better retail amenities along Smith and Douglas Avenues.
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URBAN STRENGTHS:
* Solid density number.
* Sidewalk infrastructure is good but ADA standard curbs are located on about half of all curb cuts.
* Very convenient access to Dwtn being only 1-1.5 miles away but even closer if you are trying to get to the State House or Providence Place Mall. Transit takes about 10 mins and a 5 min drive.
* Excellent racial diversity with 1/3 of the population being Hispanic and White. Large number of Black and Asian households as well. While about 1/4 of the population is in poverty still a strong middle class represented here.
* Average urban form along the two main commercial arteries (Smith and Douglas). Some good and in-tact stretches and some bad autocentric ones. While there has been some good reuse projects of the Foundry complex, a large # of surface parking lots surround it. This is located along Promenade St.
* Mix of attractive and more gritty historic residential throughout most of Smith Hill. Some great homes mid-late 19th century historic homes just south of Smith Street and near the Statehouse.
* Some low level crime but overall Smith Hill is pretty safe. While there is some grit and abandonded vacant lot, limited vacant structures.
* Nice array of small and medium sized parks spread throughout Smith Hill. Also a community rec center and outdoor pool.
* Decent cultural amenities including a diverse array of ethnic restaurants, several cafes & bars, a couple restaurants that do live music, performing arts at nearby Providence College, and convenient access to the cineplex in Providence Place Mall and pretty easy access to the cultural amenities dwtn.
* Fair # of rentals and pretty moderately priced compared to surrounding neighborhoods. Studios & 1 beds rent btwn 1.5K-2.5K, More 2-beds btwn 1.3K-3K depending on age, and some 3 & 4 beds that rent btwn 1.8K-3K. Decent # of affordable rentals however.
* Ok or-sale options including some 1-bed condos that sell btwn 170K-350K, fewer 2-beds that sell in the 300Ks & 400Ks, and 3 & 4 beds btwn 250K-600K.
URBAN WEAKNESSES:
* Limited bike lanes infrastructure in Smith Hill and no direct connection to Dwtn. So so coverage by the dockless bike system here.
* Not the best connectivity and grid for an urban district thanks to the highways, industrial areas and many dead end streets.
* So so tree canopy.
* The streetscaping is serviceable but tired and has not received any investment for awhile.
* Modern infill is limited to most autocentric crude. The market isn’t strong enough in Smith Hill for attractive urban infill.
* Some schools here is mixed ratings but poorer array of walkable schools than most Providence neighborhoods.
* Retail amenities for small locally owned businesses and boutiques are pretty limited. But Smith Hill does have an Aldi’s, a couple ethnic grocerias, an antique store, a local public library & post office, a bakery and ice cream store, several salons & barber shops, several churches and a good # of doctor’s offices and two major hospitals just west of the neighborhood. Smith Hill residents also have a convenient walk to Providence Mall which includes several brand name clothing stores, and dept stores.
Evaluating our Urban Communities [with a focus on America] 