551 Chalkstone Ave Providence, RI
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A private developer purchased a small urban lot with just over 4,000 square feet and commissioned our firm to maximize the site for residential units. Always aligned with our clients’ investment goals, we took on the challenge and envisioned a modern building housing 23 apartment units and an additional 700 square foot commercial unit, along with basement storage for the residents. By including commercial space on the first floor we were able to design to a height of 5 stories, though it required a special permit. Each floor includes a mix of studio, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. By designing bays that overhang the property line we were able to add additional space to the units, while adding depth and breaking up the mass of the building.
The project faced significant challenges due to the small lot size and the space taken up by the electrical transformer, which was required by the utility company to be located in the front - typically a valuable area for residential use. They also mandated that no part of the building could hang above the transformer. Additionally, the sloping nature of the site posed difficulties for designing ADA-compliant entrances. To address this, the first floor slab had to be stepped down four times, incorporating interior ramps to ensure accessibility. The project was received with great enthusiasum by the city and was approved.
The project faced significant challenges due to the small lot size and the space taken up by the electrical transformer, which was required by the utility company to be located in the front - typically a valuable area for residential use. They also mandated that no part of the building could hang above the transformer. Additionally, the sloping nature of the site posed difficulties for designing ADA-compliant entrances. To address this, the first floor slab had to be stepped down four times, incorporating interior ramps to ensure accessibility. The project was received with great enthusiasum by the city and was approved.