We are pleased to announce the purchase of 41 Pekin St. by a first-time homeowner!  41 Pekin St is the first step in Smith Hill CDC’s revitalization of the Pekin St. Historical District.  This home-ownership opportunity was funded by The City of Providence, Rhode Island Housing and the RI Housing Resources Commission.  We could not be happier with this project, as it has taken one of the most deteriorated properties in the area and created a beautiful home.  Another great feature of this sale is that it has brought a friendly new family to the neighborhood!  Stay tuned for more information about the next phase of this work, Visions II!

Click here for more information about this project

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Smith Hill is about to witness some serious tree plantings.  Smith Hill CDC co-sponsored and was awarded a Neighborhood Street Tree Planting Award from The Providence Neighborhood Planting Program which will result in close to 50 trees planted on the sidewalks along Bath St., Goddard St. and Candace St. in front of  the Library.

We would like to also take this opportunity to inform residents about two great non-profit organizations working in Providence that help neighborhoods and individual residents acquire high-quality, inexpensive (or free!) trees for side walks and private property.

Trees 2020 is an initiative with an ambitious goal: to plant and care for 40,000 new trees across Providence’s 25 neighborhoods over the next 12 years. By planting 40,000 trees, Providence can increase its tree cover to 30%.  Trees 2020 will make low-cost trees available for purchase to encourage you to join the effort and plant a tree.

The Providence Neighborhood Planting Program (PNPP) is a street tree planting and maintenance partnership between the Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Street Endowment, the City of Providence and the residents of Providence.  Since 1988, The Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Street Tree Endowment has matched Providence Parks Department funds to provide sidewalk preparation, new soil, trees, and tree delivery at no cost to Providence residents who apply and receive a Neighborhood Street Tree Planting Award.

Posted in Community Activities, Help for Residents, Smith Hill News | 1 Comment »

Lydia Stein’s Smith Hill CDC sponsored HousEART project on 16 Bernon St. has been nominated for a 2009 New England Art Award by the prestigious New England Journal of Aesthetic Research, in the category of “Public Exposure Art” which includes public performance, sculpture, street art, etc…  This regional competition is further evidence that the HousEART community-based, public art project has been successful in its efforts at shifting the paradigm of vacant houses in our neighborhood from just another example of urban blight to one of positivity.  Smith Hill CDC would like to thank Lydia Stein for all of her hard work in the summer of ‘09 as well as all the neighborhood residents that helped her on this truly impressive and unique project.

We will announce the results of the competition as soon as we hear.  However, we already consider this validation as a win.  For more about the 2009 New England Art Awards, please click here. To learn more about HousEART, please click here.

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The U.S.. Census is recruiting people interested in temporary, full time and part time jobs.
All people interested need to take a basic skills test before being considered for employment.

U.S.Census 2010 test times in the Smith Hill Community:

Smith Hill Community Library, 31 Candace St.

February 1, 2010 at 1:30pm
February 4, 2010 at 10am.

and

every Monday at 1:30pm and Thursdays at 10am  until mid March.

Lillian Feinstein Senior Center
1085 Chalkstone Ave

February 2, 2010 at 3pm
(Please Call (401) 228-0920 to schedule a test)

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The Childhood Lead Action Project, in partnership with the Healthy Kids Collaborative (HKC), is working to make one area of Smith Hill lead-safe! We are currently enrolling eligible property owners in a free program to reduce lead hazards in your home.

Lead hazard reduction work is underway in an area of Smith Hill identified as a “hot spot” for lead poisoning where many young children have been at risk for lead poisoning over the years.  A primary source of lead poisoning is deteriorating lead-based paint that is commonly found in older residences. Lead poisoning can permanently damage children’s brains resulting in learning, language, and reading disabilities and behavioral problems such as hyperactivity.

(more…)

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