David Salvatore’s vision for downtown Providence–Rhode Map

Former Providence City Council president David Salvatore has his first board meeting today as the executive director of The Providence Foundation, the 50-year-old nonprofit that advocates for a prosperous downtown.

With downtown Providence gearing up for another major transformation — including revamping Kennedy Plaza and a sudden shift in the commercial real estate market — I asked Salvatore to answer a few questions about his vision for the Foundation and the role he wants to play in shaping the discussion. 

Q: The Providence Foundation is almost like the chief lobbyist for downtown, but in your role, you have a lot of competing interests to try to bring together. What’s your vision for the foundation?

Salvatore: I am happy to be the chief lobbyist for downtown, as you see it, and excited to work with many others committed to this place. What happens in the downtown, as the core of our capital city, benefits the entire state. Realizing this, the vision for the Foundation is clear: “To create a strong, vibrant and prosperous downtown by advancing bold and visionary initiatives.”  The Foundation’s advocacy helped move rivers, build the Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial Bridge, and moved I-195. The competing interests you mention came together as one voice to make these things happen. I know they will continue to come together to ensure the best outcomes for Providence. 

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Q: You’re a former City Council president, so you have a deep understanding of the needs of downtown from a government perspective. What’s something specific that the mayor and the council can do to address the dwindling commercial real estate market now?

Salvatore: I understand the pressure on our elected officials relative to the budget. My advice is to keep investing in the downtown — through funds and through smart policy.  

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The downtown is transforming, and it would be smart to double our efforts to ensure its future success. We have a housing crisis and now we have open office buildings. Let’s figure out the best way to add more residents to our 25th neighborhood. The policies around commercial tax rates, tax incentives and tax credits — especially those programs that have proved to successfully draw investment, must be reinvigorated. The Foundation is happy to be of service.

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Q: The foundation has always been part of the discussion when it comes to moving the RIPTA buses out of downtown. What would the ideal version of Kennedy Plaza look like for you?

Salvatore: The ideal Kennedy Plaza would reflect the vibrancy of Providence.  We are fortunate planners of the past gave us a park central to many impressive buildings including City Hall and the Federal Court. Once host to Houdini and John F. Kennedy, Kennedy Plaza is the first impression for many. Let’s work together to get a modernized bus hub positioned in a spot that makes sense for riders and transit options. This is also our moment for a true reinvigoration of this space as a welcoming gathering place for residents and visitors. 

Q: Mayor Brett Smiley said last week that the owner of the Superman building needs more than $10 million to close a funding gap for the redevelopment of that skyscraper. What’s your understanding of what is happening with that property?

Salvatore: Superman has been a topic since my days in the City Council and it looms over the city as the tall, empty building seen by all. We need the Superman to become a mixed-use building as the effects of its locked doors on Kennedy Plaza and the Westminster Street corridor are profound. We are in a housing crisis and the owners’ plan for housing seems smart.  How we get there financially is a difficult story, but the successful rehabilitation of this building sooner rather than later is instrumental to the health of downtown’s future. We will work with all the officials to try to find the most viable solution.   

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Q: Last question for you. Providence Place Mall has high occupancy rates, but the future of malls everywhere is murky. What needs to happen with the mall?

Salvatore: Providence is not the only community navigating post pandemic shopping habits and changes in the retail environment. Malls across America are getting creative around these large spaces that create economic and recreational opportunities in a thriving city. Regular communication with the mall owners and manager will ensure that we are ahead of what is happening there. I am confident that Providence will put a solid solution in place.