Architect seeks design change for Cherry & Webb building

ERIC ZUENA, an architect with ZDS Architects, has presented plans to the Providence Downtown Design Review Committee to add a second entrance door on the left side of the Cherry & Webb building at 275 Westminster St. / PBN PHOTO/MARY MACDONALD
ERIC ZUENA, an architect with ZDS Architects, has presented plans to the Providence Downtown Design Review Committee to add a second entrance door on the left side of the Cherry & Webb building at 275 Westminster St. / PBN PHOTO/MARY MACDONALD

PROVIDENCE – While office space in the Cherry & Webb building, at 275 Westminster St., is largely leased, the retail tenants at street level are empty and the spaces historically have had trouble keeping businesses because of the size, according to architect Eric Zuena, of ZDS Architects.

In an appearance before the Providence Downtown Design Review Committee on Monday, Zuena presented plans for adding a second entrance door on the left side of the building, which would provide access to the upper floors for tenants and allow him to reconfigure the first-floor interior space.

Now, the building has a main entrance and a vestibule facing Westminster. Both would remain under the plans.

Commission members asked the applicant to return next month with additional information on the design. The renovations are not being done for the needs of a particular tenant, Zuena said.

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The building is owned by a limited liability company associated with former Providence Mayor Joseph R. Paolino Jr., who purchased it for $2.4 million in February 2014, according to city records.

Mary MacDonald is a staff writer for the PBN. Contact her at macdonald@pbn.com.

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