Preservation Society of Pawtucket lecture to focus on alternative uses for vacant mill buildings

PAWTUCKET – The potential downside in conversion of mill redevelopment into residential housing will be presented next week, as the assistant city planner in Woonsocket, Rui Almeida, gives a lecture on whether it is instead encouraging suburban blight.

The Preservation Society of Pawtucket will host Almeida, who is also an architect. His lecture will concern alternate uses for vacant mill buildings instead of conversion to luxury lofts.

The conversion wave, which has created high-rent lofts in Pawtucket and other cities, represent ambitious undertakings for developers. The monthly rents typically exceed $1,000 for single-bedroom spaces.

Almeida argues that luxury lofts draw residents to cities such as Pawtucket who normally would not live there. But it is also housing that the existing taxpayers cannot afford.

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“He asks the question, ‘Is mill conversion helping rebuild a city through an influx of fresh blood, or creating a larger problem with gentrification?’ ” according to the program overview.

The lecture at 5:30 p.m. June 27 will be held at The Visitor Center, 175 Main St., Pawtucket.

Mary MacDonald is a PBN staff writer.