You could drive along Smith Street in Providence countless times and never take a turn onto Holden Street. And if you never turn onto Holden, you aren’t going to find your way to West Park Street or Jewett Street.
It would be worth the extra minute or two, the next time you are driving into or out of the city.
Because if you took that turn, you’d see that the Providence Renaissance – the one that moved a river, developed a hotel and convention center and built Waterplace Park – is in fact stretching into the neighborhoods.
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By Emilio DiSpirito IV License Partner | Engel & Völkers Oceanside Leader | The DiSpirito…
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You just have to know where to look.
One place to look is this corner of Smith Hill, just on the other side of Route 95 but still a short walk to downtown. There is a renaissance here in full swing, thanks in part to Frank and Monica Hopton and an extended family that is busy transforming a string of historic properties into bed and breakfasts.
Frank and Monica own the State House Inn at 43 Jewett Street. A three-story neo-Colonial home built in 1889, it opened as a bed and breakfast in 1990.
“We knew good things were going to happen,” said Frank.
It took a while. The first couple of years were lean. But good things did happen.
Parents from Providence College, Brown University, RISD and other schools discovered the place. And so did the business community, filling in those weekday nights.
As downtown progressed, so did the Hoptons’ budding business empire.
Frank and Monica opened the What Cheer Bed and Breakfast at 73 Holden Street in 2000. It too, has been a success. And now, the couple, along with Kenneth Parker (Monica’s father, who ran bed and breakfasts on Nantucket) and Michael Integlia, is embarking on their most ambitious move yet.
Two more properties in the neighborhood are being converted into B&Bs, thanks in large part to Bank of Newport and the capital city’s office of economic development. The multi-million dollar project will involve a complete renovation of the Mowry-Nicholson House, a gorgeous Victorian property at 57 Brownell Street, and the Christopher Dodge House, a stately looking brick structure at 11 West Park Street. The Mowry-Nicholson House was on the Providence Preservation Society’s list of top ten endangered properties before it was purchased by the Hoptons and the Christopher Dodge House was one of the first houses to receive a permit under a new building code designed to streamline the permit process for renovating older buildings.
The new B&Bs should open early in 2003. All four properties will be marketed under the State House Inns’ name. There will be one front desk and reservations system. When the renovations are complete, there will be a total of 43 rooms and suites. Most rooms at the B&Bs run a bit below the downtown hotel rates. The State House Inn, for example, ranges between $129 to $159 a night, based on double occupancy and depending on the time of year.
Frank Hopton is confident the new B&Bs will match the success of their predecessors.
“The bed and breakfast is a natural niche,” he said. “We knew then there was room for us.”
And now the city is nicer. There is more to see. More to do. The formula that worked over a decade ago remains in place.
“We get a real mix,” he said. “There are parents from the colleges, but also a lot of business people. They’ve been the keys to making this work. Weekends…they almost take care of themselves. Business people are filling in during the week. We’re developing the new properties with the businessperson in mind. There are going to be desks in every room and high-speed Internet access.”
Frank Hopton is quick to point out that this corner of the city is a proud one.
“We feel we are a part of a renaissance of a neighborhood that started before we got here,” he said. “The neighbors here all care about the neighborhood.”
He mentions St. Patrick’s Church and its elementary school up the street. It is a parish that is very active in the community. He knows most all of his neighbors. People see what he is doing and it looks good for the neighborhood.
Yes, the renaissance is alive and well on the outskirts of downtown. Just take that turn off Smith Street, onto Holden. And you’ll see for yourself.
