WHAT: A four-bedroom, two and a half bath home in Scituate
HOW MUCH: $625,000
SIZE: 3,500 square feet
SETTING: The home is in Northern Scituate, just over fifteen miles west of downtown Providence. The community is rural; known for its apple orchards, hearty farms, and stone walls, and major fall art festival. The dominant geographical feature is the Scituate Reservoir—the largest freshwater body of water in the state, with forests and ponds filling the rest of the landscape. The property is about five miles away from the historic village of North Scituate—known for its annual art festival over Columbus Day Weekend.
INSIDE: The home itself is a historic reproduction of the 1683 Parson Capen House in Topsfield, MA. The house is done in the post and beam style, and incorporates wide brick fireplaces, hardwood floors, and paneled walls into the design. The living room, dining room, kitchen, library, and family room are on the entry level. The four bedrooms are upstairs, and there is a study on the third floor. Several of the rooms have built in bookshelves.
OUTDOOR SPACE: The home sits on 1.58 acres. There is a large stone patio and a bird bath. A walkway weaves throughout the gardens.

WHAT: A four bedroom, three and a half bath townhouse in the Wayland Square neighborhood of Providence
HOW MUCH: $639,000
SIZE: 3,900 square feet
SETTING: This building is in the affluent Wayland Square neighborhood of the East Side. The neighborhood, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, features a mix of colonial revival architecture and Queen Ann style houses. The building is within five bocks of Wayland Square, a commercial area lined with restaurants and shops, amidst residential homes. It’s also three blocks from Blackstone Boulevard, a 1.7 mile green space for jogging and walking, and about half a mile from Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design.
INSIDE: This unit, a townhouse, is one of only two in the 1915 building. The interior features hardwood floors, beamed ceilings, and crowned moldings. The entire building has been renovated within the last two years, including the kitchen, washer, dryer, bathrooms, windows. The living room, dining room, and kitchen are on the entry level. Three of the unit’s bedrooms are on the second level, and the fourth is on the third floor. There is a sitting room on the lower level.
OUTDOOR SPACE: There is a common area outside with a large stone patio and white gazebo.

WHAT: A four-bedroom, four bath historic farmhouse in North Kingstown’s Harborview Farm Preserve.
HOW MUCH: $650,000
SIZE: 3,687
SETTING: This house is in a private compound less than five minutes from Calf Pasture Beach and the Quidnesset Golf and Country Club. Goddard Park—about four miles away—features a nine hole golf course, a horse barn where the public can rent and ride horses, a beach with a bathhouse, sprawling open fields, and a carousel building for functions. Wickford Village—about ten miles away—is anchored by a natural harbor lined with historic buildings and locally owned shops, galleries and restaurants.
INSIDE: The house was built in 1800, and recent renovations accent the original hardwoods, five fireplaces, and exposed beams. The home now includes skylights, kitchen-and-bathroom updates, and central air, along with a new roof and heating system. The living room, dining room, family room, and kitchen are on the entry level. All four bedrooms are on the second floor. The master bedroom has a fireplace.
OUTDOOR SPACE: The lot is on well over three fourths of an acre, surrounded by stone walls and wooden fences. There’s a backyard patio, accessible from the family room. There are views of the fields in every direction.

These days, downsizing does not necessarily mean a smaller or less expensive home, instead the concern is lifestyle. Baby Boomers make up a significant amount of home buyers, especially in Rhode Island. These people, now between 47 and 65 years old, are “younger”, healthier and have more disposable income than the previous generations. As they switch residences, they move into areas that satisfy their cultural and social interests. Residing in a walkable town filled with arts, entertainment, great restaurants and a lively atmosphere, like college towns, is extremely appealing to this generation.

Many of these buyers are searching for certain amenities in their homes, as well as location. They are in pursuit of homes with higher quality features, lower maintenance and proximity to public transportation and health care. In addition, features which they may not have worried about before now, are of growing concern. A universal design which generally offers single story living, accessibility and maneuverability have become of great importance.

The ideas of convenience and lifestyle are making cities and tight knit communities the destinations of choice for the downsizing community. To hear more about this in depth, be sure to tune into The Money Pro$ this Sunday the 11th at 11:30 on Fox Providence.

Architecture for Humanity has helped people and communities in countries like Haiti, Japan and South Africa, as well as, in the United States, focusing on keeping places safe and sustainable by rebuilding communities, alleviating poverty and creating spaces that aid in community causes. The Providence Chapter is a new group of the global organization which is a network of architects, designers, and other building professionals working to brings design, construction and development services to communities in need. To kick start their efforts, the local group has a different initiative with its “Holiday Wish List Exhibition”. This program is asking members of the Providence community to submit 2-D artwork or photography of a property which you wish to be renovated, transformed, or re-purposed. The details needed with the submission are enumerated on their website. All submissions should be emailed or mailed to the address on the Architecture for Humanity, Providence Chapter’s website by December 15th. They will be displayed on the 19th of December.

Though the architecture group is new to Providence, the city has been a national leader in preservation through an organization that was founded by some astute women back in 1956. The Providence Preservation Society offers many programs and each year they showcase some of the historic deliverances which have occurred over the past 50 plus years. This past Sunday, I had James Brayton Hall, executive Director of PPS, on my radio show to discuss aspects of preservation in Providence. We talked on items from their Ten Most Endangered Properties program, to his vision of saving neighborhoods one building at a time, to their upcoming Benefit Street event this Saturday, December 3, 2011. You can hear a free podcast of the show via itunes.

This weekend you should make it a date to enjoy a collection of gems, which make Providence so unique, by attending The Providence Preservation Society’s “Benefit Street Holiday” event. Ticket holders will be guided through historic homes and shops on Benefit Street, learning about the significant collection of architecture, while enjoy festive decorations, storytelling, and celebrations. And there are activities for everyone in the family.

Preserving our community is the best way we can build a better future. Whether you want to bask in the glory of past renovations, or get involved in proposing new projects, this December is a great time to start.

The “Taste of the Hill” event has several restaurants teaming up to make this a delicious and cultural experience for you to enjoy, but also support the FHHA’s efforts to help people, help themselves integrate into the community. Started in 1887 as a home for recent immigrants, the multi-cultural nature of FHHA inspires “The Taste of the Hill” ethnic blend of eating and entertainment.
If you happen to be in Newport, you don’t have to miss out either. This Friday, November 4th, is the opening day of Newport’s Annual Restaurant Week that feature many of the restaurants in Newport and Bristol counties. A prefixed lunch and dinner menu offer a delicious ten-day opportunity to experience some of Rhode Island’s finest, and please your taste-buds.

Ed Hardie, our Providence Manager and Newport boater, recommends either of these events. “They offer the perfect way to try new restaurants to which you have never been at a fantastic price. What better way to be adventurous.” Note that these are both paid events.

Have you ever thought about where you come from means? Head to the Washington Park Library all weekend long from 6pm- 7:30pm to “Celebrate Your Heritage” and hear the fascinating stories of internationally acclaimed, Valarie Tutson and Len Cabral discuss and share their impressive stories of African heritage. In addition to their stories, you too will have the opportunity to connect with your roots. This weekend is the chance to experience all the Providence Community Library has to offer.

In addition to this cultural event, the Rochambeau library, also under the Providence Community Library management, is participating in the 31st annual Friends of Rochambeau Book Sale which has been a well respected “Friends” group in the Rhode Island community. This book sale is all weekend long and open to the public.

The nine libraries that are part of PCL are located around the greater Providence area, so do not miss out on your opportunity to support their efforts. The Providence Community Library has managed the neighborhood libraries of Providence since 2009.  Join their mission to improve and unite the communities of Providence.

Reserve your spot to connect with your roots by calling (401) 467-2700.

This is one of those Rhode Island traditions I can’t help but love, and apparently, I’m not the only one—the event attracts over 80,000 visitors each year. There’s nothing that says ‘welcome to autumn’ quite like the bold glow of a Jack-O-Lantern, and the intricate carving on display at this event doesn’t hurt either. The Spectacular can’t quite be defined; it’s at once artistic, spooky, and agricultural, but incredibly goofy and light hearted at the same time. This may explain the mass appeal—it speaks to that je ne sais quoi at the heart of Rhode Island culture. The birthplace of Pauly D, H.P. Lovecraft, and Mr. Potato Head, the state also bore the World’s Biggest Pumpkin in 2006 and 2007.

And that is what the Roger Williams Park Zoo asks us to remember at this year’s “Journey Around the World.” Diverse populations can exist in harmony, with the help of the pumpkin medium. Perhaps Rhode Island is something of a pumpkin itself? Regardless, the October-long Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is definitely worth the trip.

The character of College Hill can certainly be seen through the buildings and structures that exist in this historic area, but the community is what sets it apart from other locations. The recognition of being a “Top 10  Neighborhood” by APA comes from the cultural and environmental awareness. College Hill is constantly finding innovative ways to create a sustainable area, while preserving the historical and architectural characteristics that make it unique.

The University culture of Brown and RISD make the importance of these concepts obvious as they integrate refreshing ideas into the community every day. Exploring the vast mix of restaurants, shops and scenery of College Hill provides for a rich cultural experience. With so many things to do and see, this arsty neighborhood is universally appealing. Checking out the reasons why College Hill is a “Top 10 Neighborhood” would be the perfect way to spend an afternoon, or weekend.

As a company who markets the atmosphere and architecture that make College Hill so original, this has almost become second nature to us.  As we take a step back, it is fascinating to see the significance of this neighborhood and how it has developed to be a cultural identity for the city of Providence.

Open Houses on the East Side:

View East Side Luxury Condo Event in a larger map

Open Houses in Edgewood:

View Edgewood Luxury Condo Event in a larger map

Individual open house times and details may be viewed either on the map or at ResidentialProperties.com, for a list of all open houses in the Edgewood and East Side areas.

This got us thinking. Time works differently in Rhode Island. Instead of living by that clock thing hanging on the wall, nostalgia seems to be the dominant rhythm of life here. While new construction may change the terrain, the Rhode Island conscious is embedded in the past. Just ask a true Rhode Islander for directions. Instead of street names, they will most likely be given by landmark. And usually this landmark will be outdated, like where the old I-195 used to be. With this trait in mind, we’ve created a list of some famous Rhode Island Used-To-Be’s that are important to our culture.

If you live in the Ocean State and are over the age of 20, there’s a really good chance you have some childhood memory of Rocky Point Amusement Park. This Warwick Park, established in 1847, grew quickly in popularity, and from the 1850’s through the 1980’s it was the most popular attraction in New England. Tom Flanagan remembers spending Saturdays there, full of laughter and cotton candy. The park closed in 1995 and was demolished in 2007. The town of Warwick is currently looking to make the land into a public park.

Much like Rocky Point, Crescent Park in East Providence (named for the crescent shape of the Riverside beach) was renowned in its time. Founded in 1886 by George Boyden, the venue was known as the “Coney Island of the East”, with hot air balloons and extravagant carousels providing the Park’s main attractions. Tom Flanagan also remembers the delicious candy apples he enjoyed here (there is a theme here with Tom about amusement venues). The park closed in 1979, and the surrounding area was developed. The only remnant of these sweet roots is the Crescent Park Carousel, which remains open to this day.

Today, The Towers set the backdrop to the Narragansett social scene, but they once provided entrance to the Narragansett Pier Casino, another source of turn-of-the-century entertainment. The Casino was completed in 1886 and provided a refuge for the areas social elite, offering a variety of recreational opportunities, such as boating, tennis, billiards, bowling, cards, and shooting. The venue also had restaurants, stores, reading rooms, a theater, a bandstand, a ballroom, and a beautiful beach. While Residential Properties Ltd. has been around for a long time (this year is our 30th anniversery!), none of us were there to enjoy the pleasures of The Casino, since the building burned down in 1900. However, locals like Anita Langer cherish The Towers for uniting a community with their granite walls.

Our final used to be is much less romantic, but is a part of Rhode Island history none-the-less. In the 1980s, Providence was included in the Guinness Book of World Record for holding the distinction of World’s Widest Bridge. Known as the Crawford Street Bridge at 1,147 feet, the structure grew when several normal sized bridges were covered with decking and turned into a parking lot. Oh yeah, this monstrosity was located across the Providence River. Ed Hardy remembers thinking this bridge was gross in his youth. This monstrosity has since been dismantled; the river has been moved; Waterfire caldrons line the center of where the bridge was; and the whole transformation turned the area into an asthetically pleasing area. While this demolition was integral in developing our Capital Center, we just couldn’t let you erase this Used-To-Be from your memory. So, remember, you can get to the downtown area from the East Side by crossing over the river where the world’s widest bridge was.

Admittedly, we’ve left out numerous landmarks that could be used for directions, so you can expect another Used-To-Be compilation in the near future.

Recently, the Jewish Voice and Herald talked with me about the matchmaking I have done over the past 30 plus years.  Selling real estate is my career, but I’ve had this sideline all these years.  Sharing the story with everyone came to mind, and with this being Valentine’s Day, why not publish a video.

Here is how I described it to my marketing manager: