East Providence encouraging developers to purchase, rehabilitate former Odd Fellows Hall building

THE CITY OF East Providence is trying to entice developers to purchase and rehabilitate the former Odd Fellows Hall, a cavernous former meeting hall on Warren Avenue. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which vacated the building in 1970, had a growing brotherhood when it commissioned the meeting hall in the 1880s. The structure later was used as a restaurant. / PBN PHOTO/MARY MACDONALD
THE CITY OF East Providence is trying to entice developers to purchase and rehabilitate the former Odd Fellows Hall, a cavernous former meeting hall on Warren Avenue. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which vacated the building in 1970, had a growing brotherhood when it commissioned the meeting hall in the 1880s. The structure later was used as a restaurant. / PBN PHOTO/MARY MACDONALD

EAST PROVIDENCE – The city of East Providence is trying to entice developers to purchase and rehabilitate the former Odd Fellows Hall, a cavernous former meeting hall on Warren Avenue.

The building is one of the last remaining structures that once dotted Watchemoket Square, the commercial center of East Providence before Interstate 195 was built in the 1960s, according to a Request for Proposals issued this week by the city.

The 6,098-square-foot building is owned by the city. The Planning Department, which is handling the RFP process, said the site has potential for conversion to a restaurant, cultural center or museum, live-work art studio, mixed-use development or apartment building.

Built in 1889, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and has many of its original architectural details. The second-floor meeting room, which is one of the most significant features of the structure, has unique molding, decorative brackets, large arches and iron tension rods, according to the RFP.

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The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which vacated the building in 1970, had a growing brotherhood when it commissioned the meeting hall in the 1880s. The structure later was used as a restaurant.

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