East Side, Providence, Rhode Island Explained

The East Side is a collection of neighborhoods in the eastern part of the city of Providence, Rhode Island. It officially comprises the neighborhoods of Blackstone, Hope (commonly known as Summit), Mount Hope, College Hill, Wayland, and Fox Point.[1] [2] [3] The area is separated from East Providence, Rhode Island, to the east by the Seekonk River. To the west it is separated from the rest of Providence by the Providence River and Interstate 95. To the north, it borders Pawtucket, Rhode Island. To the south, it abuts Narragansett Bay, which is formed by the confluence of the Seekonk and Providence Rivers.

Roger Williams founded Providence along College Hill. This area thus includes some of the oldest sections of the city. The spot where Williams landed after crossing the Seekonk River is marked by a small park in Fox Point.

Universities and schools

The East Side contains most of Brown University's academic and athletic facilities. These include the Main Green, the Rockefeller Library, the Erickson Athletic Complex, the Pembroke Campus, and the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. Many of the Rhode Island School of Design's buildings are along the slope of College Hill. The RISD Museum is located on Benefit Street.

Private schools include the Moses Brown School, the Wheeler School, Lincoln School, School One, Providence Hebrew Day School, and the French-American School.

Hope High School is located at the corner of Hope and Olney Streets. It is one of Providence's public high schools.[4]

Restaurants and shopping

Numerous cafes, restaurants, and shops are located along Thayer Street, adjoining Brown University at Veteran's Gate, and along Wickenden Street, South Water Street. Both streets are home to numerous small and independent shops, though Thayer Street has a few chain stores. Brown University's bookstore is located on Thayer.[5] A notable Thayer Street landmark is the Avon Cinema which dates back to the early twentieth century.[6]

Wayland Square is another shopping area, located at the intersection of Wayland Ave. and Angell St.

Parks

The East Side contains numerous parks and green spaces. India Point Park, the largest of these, is located along the northernmost shore of Narragansett Bay. It is the only large expanse of Bay-side shoreline in Providence reserved for public use.

Interstate 195 separates the park from the rest of Fox Point. The relocation and reconstruction of Interstate 195 included a new, landscaped pedestrian bridge connecting Fox Point to India Point Park.

Other parks include:

Demographics

Mostly residential,[13] the East Side is the most affluent part[14] of the city with higher property values, lower unemployment, and higher income levels than the city as a whole.[15] Approximately 20% of the city's 190,934 people live on the East Side.[16] Mount Hope and the area along Elmgrove Avenue have historically had a large community of Russian Jews.[17]

Government

Three of the fifteen Providence City Council wards are located on the East Side. Ward One includes all of Fox Point and parts of College Hill and Wayland south of Angell St.[18] Ward Two encompasses the remainder of College Hill and Wayland, most of Blackstone, and parts of Mount Hope.[19] Ward Three includes Hope (Summit) and most of Mount Hope.[20]

Major public buildings include the Rhode Island Supreme Court on Benefit Street and the RI Office of the Attorney General on South Main Street.[21]

Hospitals

Miriam Hospital, a private, non-profit hospital, is located along Summit Avenue in the Hope (Summit) area. Local Jewish organizations founded the hospital in 1926.[22]

Butler Hospital, located off Blackstone Boulevard, is Rhode Island's only private mental health hospital. Founded in 1844, the hospital offers psychiatric and substance-abuse treatment programs.[23]

Landmarks

The East Side contains the oldest section of the city. The Providence Preservation Society[24] and the Rhode Island Historical Society have preserved numerous historic buildings, especially in the College Hill area. Historic landmarks include:

References

  1. http://204.17.79.244/profiles/altnames.html Providence Neighborhood Profiles
  2. Web site: Archived copy . 2007-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004648/http://204.17.79.244/profiles/maprnks/cen_mr/mr_unemp_lg.gif . 2007-09-28 . dead .
  3. Web site: Archived copy . 2007-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004452/http://204.17.79.244/profiles/maprnks/cen_mr/cw_mfami_det.gif . 2007-09-28 . dead .
  4. http://www.providenceschools.org/hs/hope/arts/index.html Hope High School Arts Community
  5. http://bookstore.brown.edu/ Brown University Bookstore
  6. http://www.avoncinema.com/ Avon Cinema
  7. Web site: Citywide Green . 2007-04-15 . 2007-09-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928104156/http://www.citywidegreen.org/parkFinder/neighborhoods.php?neighborhoods=1 . dead .
  8. Web site: Institute at Brown for Environment and Society | Brown University.
  9. Web site: Daytripper's Guide: Providence . 2007-04-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070503161044/http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/daytrip/providence.html . 2007-05-03 . dead .
  10. Web site: Citywide Green . 2007-04-15 . 2007-09-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928104139/http://www.citywidegreen.org/parkFinder/neighborhoods.php?neighborhoods=24 . dead .
  11. Web site: Providence Monthly Magazine . 2007-07-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070625060804/http://providenceonline.com/eastsidemonthly/cover.html . 2007-06-25 . dead .
  12. https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Gano+Street%2C+Providence%2C+RI Google Maps
  13. Web site: Freedom: From dream to reality, facing a tough path.
  14. Note: affluence was assumed to correlate with high property values, low unemployment, and high income.
  16. Web site: Providence RI Relocation Guide - Learn all about the East Side of Providence, RI, home of Brown University . 2007-12-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071029154552/http://www.providenceeastside.com/public/page.do?page.ID=57616 . 2007-10-29 . dead .
  17. Web site: Providence Neighborhoods: Mount Hope. Providenceri.com. 2007-09-22.
  18. http://www.providenceri.com/CityCouncil/Ward_Maps/target0.html ward1.jpg
  19. http://www.providenceri.com/CityCouncil/Ward_Maps/target2.html ward2.jpg
  20. http://www.providenceri.com/CityCouncil/Ward_Maps/target1.html ward3.jpg
  21. Web site: RI Supreme Court - FAQ's . 2007-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070921225810/http://www.courts.ri.gov/supreme/faq.htm . 2007-09-21 . dead .
  22. Web site: The Miriam Hospital . 2007-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070406021649/http://www.lifespan.org/tmh/ . 2007-04-06 . dead .
  23. Web site: Butler Hospital, Providence Rhode Island : About Butler Hospital . 2007-04-16 . 2007-04-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070406080308/http://www.butler.org/body.cfm?id=555555 . dead .
  24. http://www.ppsri.org/ Providence Preservation Society
  25. http://www.projo.com/ri/providence/content/HO_benefit0520_05-20-07_Q25K059.2833313.html Benefit Street, an enduring elegance | Providence | Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal
  26. Web site: History. Central Congregational Church. 23 September 2006.
  27. http://www.fbcia.org/ First Baptist Church in America
  28. http://www.savecollegehill.com/ Welcome to College Hill, the historic heart of Providence
  29. http://www.risp.state.ri.us/history/ Rhode Island State Police: History
  30. News: We are Providence: The H.P. Lovecraft Community. Bilow . Michael. July 27, 2013. 2013-08-04. Motif. Providence, Rhode Island.

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