New state departments moving into the former Shepard Company Building - but future is unclear

Katherine Gregg, Providence Journal
·4 min read

PROVIDENCE – In January, the McKee administration sought proposals for turning the Shepard Building, currently home to the Providence branch of the University of Rhode Island, into something new, possibly housing.

Ten months later, the administration is moving, at least temporarily, to fill the empty spaces with relocated state agencies.

On Tuesday, spokeswoman Laura Hart confirmed plans to move the state's rapidly expanding Department of Housing into the state-owned former Shepard department store in downtown Providence. The office of the commissioner who oversees the state college system may follow.

The Department of Housing is currently nestled rent-free within the Commerce Corporation's office space.

The main entrance to the Shepard Building, on Westminster Street.
The main entrance to the Shepard Building, on Westminster Street.

State still moving forward with other new uses for the Shepard Building

The state received two responses to its request for potential new uses it issued in January from Paolino Properties and Cornish Associates.

Former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino told The Journal on Tuesday he does not believe the state should move URI out of downtown and specifically, out of a building which he, as the state's Sundlun-era economic development director in the early 1990s, had a role in renovating for the university's use. But if the state opts to sell it, he said, he proposes it be used for housing.

Unclear: whether the state is pursuing any aspect of what his company or Cornish Associates suggested. But "the move of the Rhode Island Department of Housing and the potential move of the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner do not preclude other uses for all or part of the building in the future," Hart, the Department of Administration spokeswoman, told The Journal.

"While the state continues to seek innovative, long-term options for all or part of the Shepard Building," Hart said, "it also needs to make immediate best use of all properties under its care."

A view of the Shepard Building sign and the old clock that was a landmark.
A view of the Shepard Building sign and the old clock that was a landmark.

Elaborating, she said: "With URI significantly reducing its footprint in the building, an opportunity arose to locate other state offices in the lower floors of the building. Due to its growing staff and operational needs, the Department of Housing is a natural fit for the historic property, which is conveniently located near both other government offices and key partners such as RI Housing."

"The Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner is also actively considering a move to the second floor of the building. The RI Department of Education plans to remain on site," she continued.

Building is the site of the former Shepard Company Department Store

The former Shepard Company Department Store spans the entire block between Westminster, Clemence, Washington and Union streets.

More on the Shepard Building: What's the deal with that squiggly clock in Providence? It's public art.

The building has been home to URI's Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies, including its daycare center, library, cafeteria and auditorium. The building, with a gross area of 255,000 square feet, has also housed state Department of Education offices.

The Time Wave, a clock on Washington Street in Providence, was designed by California artist Robert Ellison.
The Time Wave, a clock on Washington Street in Providence, was designed by California artist Robert Ellison.

"URI has shrunk its footprint within the Shepard Building and is in the process of moving out; the child care center with which it is affiliated, however, will remain at Shepard for the foreseeable future," Hart said.

At its maximum usage, URI had nearly 100,000 square feet in the building, she said.

The Rhode Island Department of Housing is currently located at Iron Horse Way in Providence, while the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner is located at 560 Jefferson Blvd., in Warwick.

"The Department of Housing is currently not paying rent for the space occupied at 315 Iron Horse Way,'' according to the agency's spokesman Joseph Lindstrom. However, "the Department of Administration requires agencies to pay them for use of state-owned facilities such as the Shepard Building." The amount in this case "has not yet been determined."

The growing housing department has 15 employees now, with two more about to start, and authority from the legislature to hire 17 more people.

It remains unclear how much space URI is still occupying in the building.

When and why URI was moving out, spokesman David Lavallee forwarded a statement from April in which the school attributed the decision to the McKee administration's desire to "explore new opportunities for the Shepard Building ... including a possible sale of the building."

Asked on Tuesday how many office and staff remain, he said: "The university does still maintain a limited presence in the Shepard Building. However, during this interim period, many programs and staff previously in the building have relocated to available spaces on the Kingston Campus."

"URI is exploring appropriate future space and programming in Providence, and the university is committed to maintaining a robust presence in Providence."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Shepard Company Building to be home to RI Department of Housing