What You Need to Know About Rehabilitating Historic Buildings in 2026

Providence Preservation Society Policy Insight Series

Join Providence Preservation Society on Thursday, May 14 at 5:30pm for a panel conversation about the challenges of rehabilitating historic buildings in Providence and recent zoning changes that may make adaptive reuse easier this year. Panelists will describe existing city, state and federal programs such as historic tax credits and new market tax credits, with attention to how they work, how they have been used effectively in some recent projects, and where the policy landscape is today with regard to the future funding of these programs. They will also discuss key aspects of Rhode Island's 2024 adaptive reuse legislation, which makes conversions easier. This is a great program for people in the real estate, construction, development, and preservation industries, and for people who are interested in learning more about how adaptive reuse projects get financed and greenlit.

Panelists include Dylan Conley, Derek Farias, and Kim Smith Barnett.

Scott Wolf, Executive Director of Grow Smart RI, will join us for brief remarks at the end on the status of S 3151, introduced by State Senators Bissaillon, Urso, DiPalma, Ciccone, Britto, and DiMario a few weeks ago, which would expand the state historic tax credit program and provide a special incentive for housing conversions -- especially for affordable housing. There will be ample time for questions and conversation, and the panel will be followed by drinks, snacks, and an opportunity to mingle.

This event is free for all corporate members of Business and Civic Leaders for Preservation and for individual PPS members. If you are not a PPS member, please consider joining us this year (first-year memberships start at $35). If you prefer to purchase an event ticket as a non-member, tickets are $15.

This program will be held in PPS's second-floor community room, which is served by stairs (available from the Meeting Street side of the building) and an elevator (served by the South Court Street side of the building). PPS can make several parking spots available for visitors with accessibility needs -- to reserve one, please write to us at ahernandez@ppsri.org. On a weekday evening, visitors will find street parking on Benefit Street, North Main Street, and surrounding streets, but please keep in mind that this is a hilly neighborhood so some walking may be required to get to PPS after parking.