If you drive along any highway you will indubitably see semi-tractor trucks pulling shipping containers to their final destination.  Or if you have been to a port, you’ve seen them off-loaded from ships of origins far away.

But what happens to the “old” containers once they’ve out lived their useful life in shipping, or, as in downturns like the recent past, when they aren’t being used as much?  How about turning them into office space?

Yes, that is exactly what’s happening at the Box Office.  The project was designed by Joe Haskett, principal at Distill Studio, and developed by truth box, inc.  Stack Design Build is erecting the 12 unit office complex on the old Harris Lumber Yard site in Olneyville.  The plan is for an early spring 2010 completion.

Here is a 5 day time lapse video of the “construction” project during the stacking phase.

It’s great to read about non-profits helping our citizens.  At tonight’s Celebration of Justice Reception, the Attorney General will present the Rhode Island Housing HelpCenter with a Justice Award in the category of Consumer Protection.

According to Richard Godfrey, Executive Director of Rhode Island Housing, “Our HelpCenter provides a safe place for advice and education when it comes to protecting both homeowners and tenants from foreclosure, or coping with the loss of a home. Here in Rhode Island, which is currently ranked 11th in the nation for foreclosure activity, distressed homeowners are at particularly high risk of predators.”

Rhode Island Housing is a self-sustaining public agency, which generates its own operating income, without state funding. Everything the agency earns is reinvested to meet the needs of the state. Together with its partners, the agency works to ensure that all people who live and work in Rhode Island can afford a safe, healthy home that meets their needs. Rhode Island Housing provides low-interest loans, grants, education, advocacy and consumer counseling to help its customers rent, buy and retain their homes. It also offers special programs to ensure that these homes are safe and healthy.

A more detailed press release on this award was posted in the Providence Business News.

“This Old House” website has their best old house neighborhoods list for the Northeast posted on the website. Among the twelve best for 2010, Cranston’s Edgewood and Pawtuxet Village areas are what they are describing in the piece. They said, “While western Cranston is rife with new housing development, the eastern part of the city is a charming mix of older Capes and Colonial Revivals, some of which feature Shingle Style facades.”

For the closing description of why is it the time to buy, they said, “Retirees are moving into smaller homes, leaving behind their well-maintained properties.”

The entire article gives more highlights on the town and the other eleven choices.

Foreclosure notices filed in Rhode Island during January were almost 13 percent lower when compared with a year earlier. In a report by RealtyTrac, 643 homes in Rhode Island received a foreclosure notice in January filings representing a number 5% lower than December 2009.

Nationally, one in every 409 homes received a foreclosure notice in January, up 15 percent from a year earlier but down 10 percent from December, RealtyTrac said. According to RealtyTrac Chief Executive James J. Saccacio, January’s  numbers are  very similar to a year ago – a double-digit jump in December followed by a 10 percent drop in January.  “If history repeats itself we will see a surge in the numbers over the next few months as lenders foreclose on delinquent loans where neither the existing loan modification programs or the new short sale and deed-in-lieu of foreclosure alternatives work,” he said.

The year-end statistics for Rhode Island were promising. Overall foreclosure filings in Rhode Island decreased 23 percent in 2009 compared to 2008. Rhode Island still has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, but it does seem to be bucking the trends for foreclosure filings.

Nationally,  the state accounted for less than 1 percent of the foreclosure filings reported nationwide in 2009 and  total U.S. activity increased more than 21 percent over the level reported for all of 2008.

If it’s Friday (and sometimes any day of the week), it must be pizza time.  Providence has some of the best pizza in the country and Wickenden Street has a couple of great pizzerias, but if you are looking for a great slice go no further than Fellini’s.

Fellini’s is as unique as Wickenden Street itself. Check out this video to see why.