KITE Architects Inc. co-owner Christine West has served as chair of the Providence City Plan Commission since 2012, overseeing the approval process for preliminary and master plans for local residential and commercial real estate projects.
The commission’s meeting on Jan. 18 was West’s final meeting as chair and a member of the commission, as she is stepping down to pass the baton and let other voices be heard as part of the commission. At the end of the meeting, she was celebrated and congratulated for her service to the community by fellow commissioners. She spoke with Providence Business News about her time on the commission and the Providence real estate market.
Expanding Women’s Health in Newport
South County Health has expanded its award-winning Center for Women’s Health to Newport, offering a…
Learn More
PBN: What are your thoughts on the level of apartment construction we’ve been seeing recently in Providence, how much does the city need and what’s the trajectory of the city’s residential real estate market for 2022?
WEST: Despite what may seem like a lot of housing in the pipeline, it is a drop in the bucket compared to demand. The 2020 census showed us that Providence’s population was already booming over the last 10 years. The pandemic accelerated that as people have fled larger cities and discovered our city’s high quality of life and unique charm.
PBN: Based on your experience as the former longtime chair of the Providence City Plan Commission, what are some of the biggest challenges the city is facing when it comes to zoning and making sure residential growth here is done in a way that’s smart?
WEST: I would define “smart” as growth that redevelops vacant and underused land within our walkable urban neighborhoods rather than sprawl that consumes valuable greenspace outside the city.
The zoning rewrite in 2014 unlocked a lot of property for redevelopment by removing some parking and density constraints, but further edits to add a multifamily zone seems like a common sense move for the near future. We don’t actually allow four-plus-unit buildings except in commercial zones, and we are still low-density compared to many American cities.
PBN: Often, at commission meetings, we’ve heard concerns about the needs for more “affordable” or low-income housing. What do you make of this, and is it true that Providence needs more housing geared toward low-income renters?
WEST: Housing affordability has already reached crisis levels in Providence and that is only going to get worse based on numerous studies and market data showing rising rents and low supply. I am very concerned that low- and middle-income households are getting pushed out of the city due to skyrocketing rents and unattainable home purchase prices.
We need more housing at all levels so that high-income people do not gobble up all the current supply, and dramatically more city and state efforts – whether financial or regulatory – to increase the supply of subsidized units.
PBN: What aspect of architecture are you most interested in right now and why?
WEST: I am fascinated with how our human brains respond to our surroundings, and what research can tell us about making better buildings. Every day there seems to be a new study underscoring how important our buildings are to our health and well-being – not just air quality but daylight, way finding, size of rooms, color, material and pattern.
PBN: What kinds of projects are you involved with in the private sector as a principal and co-owner at KITE Architects?
WEST: We are busier than ever with several local corporations who are rethinking their offices post-COVID, some large affordable housing efforts, a new culinary training center in the Providence Public Library, schools and institutions like Brown University who are investing in the student experience, and developer-led projects to create new industrial and makerspace. It’s terrific range and is always interesting.
(UPDATE: Adds a line in the second paragraph explaining why Christine West is stepping down from the Providence City Plan Commission.)
Marc Larocque is a PBN staff writer. Contact him at Larocque@PBN.com. You may also follow him on Twitter @LaRockPBN.
