As Providence Foundation marks 50 years, envisioning the city’s future: ‘Our biggest advantage is authenticity’
The Providence Foundation is celebrating its 50th anniversary tonight with a soiree at The Reserve on Dorrance, so I wanted to check in with executive director David Salvatore about his vision for the next five decades.
Salvatore, a former City Council president, has been on the job since July 2024, and a lot has been happening in downtown Providence. He discussed tonight’s event and offered his thoughts on some of downtown’s most pressing challenges.
Question: What should we expect from tonight’s celebration?
Salvatore: Tonight is a celebration of the people and partnerships that have shaped Downtown Providence over the past 50 years and of the Foundation’s role in that story. You’ll see longtime leaders alongside the next generation of innovators and community voices. Together, we’ll reflect on transformative projects like moving the train tracks, relocating the Interstate 195 bridge, and creating a vibrant downtown neighborhood. And we’ll look ahead with that same energy, focusing on expanding housing opportunities and advancing a modern transit system that grows our economy and reduces climate impacts.
You’ve been on the job now for more than a year. What’s the No. 1 thing you’ve learned?
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The biggest thing I’ve learned is just how deeply people care about this city. Everyone has an opinion about downtown, including how it should grow, what it should look like, how it can thrive. That passion is a huge asset. It means we don’t have to manufacture buy-in: People are already invested. The challenge, and the opportunity, is channeling that energy into collaborative action.
Downtowns everywhere are competing for talent, residents, and visitors. What’s Providence’s biggest competitive advantage right now, and its biggest vulnerability?
Our biggest advantage is authenticity. Providence isn’t trying to be someone else. It’s walkable, it’s historic, it’s creative, and it has a scale that makes it approachable. We’ve got a food and arts scene that punches way above our weight. The vulnerability is that we can’t take any of that for granted. If we don’t keep investing in safety, housing, transit, and activation of public spaces, we risk losing the momentum we’ve built.
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If the Superman deal falls apart again, what’s Plan B for the building?
Superman has to be part of downtown’s future. The plan is housing and creating hundreds of new opportunities that will light up the building and spark economic growth. This landmark can’t stay dark; it’s central to our story and our skyline.
What’s the most creative idea you’ve heard so far for rethinking the mall — even if it sounds a little out there?
The most creative idea is likely the one we haven’t heard yet. Providence has a long history of bold, imaginative projects, and I want to make sure we keep the doors open to all possibilities. I look forward to hearing innovative proposals for the future of this space, while also continuing to build on our relationship with the current mall operators and the future buyer(s).