Councilman John Goncalves Statement in Opposition to Brook Street Demolition at Brown University

Providence, RI – Brown University may soon be advancing plans for a new economics building on Brook Street, between Benevolent and Charlesfield Street. Today, I’m joining neighbors next to the proposed site in raising serious concerns about the future of this historic residential area.

We have seen this pattern before. When the Brook Street dorms were built, many of us worried about the precedent it would set. Today, those concerns are becoming reality, with continued expansion into our residential neighborhoods, often referred to as institutional creep.

At the heart of this issue are four existing homes that Brown is proposing to demolish to make way for this new economics building that, given its scale and massing, will inevitably overwhelm the surrounding homes and fundamentally alter the character of the neighborhood. These homes are part of the fabric and history of the neighborhood. Once they are gone, they are gone for good. We are asking Brown to pursue restoration and adaptive reuse instead of demolition.

This is also about being a good neighbor. If Brown truly loves Providence, it should respect the character, scale and voices of the community that surrounds it.

We remain committed to a constructive dialogue but we are clear in our position: these homes should not be demolished.

John Goncalves

Councilman, Ward 1

Providence City Council