Providence Place to replace J.C. Penney with more parking, small retail space

AS PART OF A $20 MILLION UPGRADE, Providence Place owner General Growth Properties will install new landscaping on the mall's Francis Street frontage. / COURTESY PROVIDENCE PLACE
AS PART OF A $20 MILLION UPGRADE, Providence Place owner General Growth Properties will install new landscaping on the mall's Francis Street frontage. / COURTESY PROVIDENCE PLACE

PROVIDENCE — The owner of Providence Place mall plans to replace two levels of the vacant J.C. Penney Co. retail store with additional parking, part of an estimated $20 million renovation package that also will modernize the parking payment system for the mall.

The R.I. Commerce Corp., which owns the land beneath the mall, approved the proposal in its meeting Monday afternoon. As land owner, its permission was required for any modifications to the mall.

The plan put forward by mall owner General Growth Properties will create 150 new parking spaces, replacing the first two levels of the JC Penney store. In a brief presentation to the board, Commerce RI COO Darin Early said the mall was responding to stress in the market for mid-sized retailers. The PowerPoint slide prepared by his staff said the mall owner had not been able to secure another tenant after JC Penney departed in 2015. The Plano, Texas-based retailer had entered the mall in 2006, after the departure of Lord & Taylor. It occupied 120,000 square feet among its three floors.

Under the proposed redevelopment, the third floor of the retail store will remain available for a small retail lease.

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In other modifications, the mall owner will replace the current ticket dispensing payment system, located inside the mall, with a digital payment system within the parking levels. The exterior of the building will include a new digital board indicating how many spaces are available, according to Commerce RI documents.

The entrance to the mall parking area off Francis Street will be modified, and landscaping installed.

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