Newport, RI Rhode Island real estate brokerage Lila Delman Real Estate International has earned the Rhody Award for historic preservation from the state’s Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission for its investment in a 232-year-old Providence landmark. The award was presented to owners Melanie Delman, John Hodnett, and Pamela Delman during a banquet at Rosecliff.

This is the third Rhody Award the company has won for its preservation efforts, which is unprecedented in Rhode Island. In 2010, Preserve Rhode Island honored Lila Delman Real Estate International with a Rhody Award for restoring its offices in Newport and Narragansett.

“Location is everything in the real estate business, and no one knows the value of an eye-catching property better than Melanie Delman,” said Valerie Talmage, executive director of Preserve Rhode Island.

Lila Delman Real Estate International purchased the 369 South Main Street building – the former Earle Warehouse, built in 1784 – and restored it with modern amenities to create the brokerage’s new Providence office.

“We are thrilled to be receiving the Rhody Award for the third time and this year for our efforts in the restoration of our Providence building. Our buildings are special and located in special Rhode Island communities,” said Melanie Delman, president of Lila Delman Real Estate International.

Lila Delman Real Estate International worked with Michael Abbott of Northeast Collaborative Architects and Jeremy Sherer, president of Suburban Renewal Inc., the general contractor.

The Rhody Award for Historic Preservation honors Rhode Island’s community leaders who invest in the preservation, restoration and sustainability of key structures around the state.