Providence, RI City officials showed great enthusiasm when approving the development of a new mixed-use building at 551 Chalkstone Ave. designed by the team at David Sisson Architecture (DSA). The project will add 23 residential units and an additional commercial unit to the Smith Hill neighborhood. The new apartments will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom units.

The building, meeting the criteria for a Minor Land Development in the city, will make use of a 4,100 s/f vacant C-2 corner lot at the intersection of Chalkstone Ave. and Camden Ave. Where four stories and a height of 50 ft. is permitted by right, the design team was granted permission to increase to five stories with a height of 55 ft. This was made possible by including a 700 s/f commercial unit on the ground floor. Storage and bike parking amenities will be located in the basement. Parking was not required as the lot measures less than 10,000 s/f.

DSA founder and principal architect, David Sisson, AIA, LEED AP said, “This is the type of project the state of Rhode Island and the city of Providence have shown that they want to see more of: working within the zoning ordinance and the comprehensive plan to maximize the use of these small city lots and bringing more quality housing to the market. We are grateful for and motivated by the commission’s swift approval and the city’s support for this development.”

David Sisson Architecture is a full service professional architecture firm based in East Providence. With decades of experience in both commercial and residential architecture, DSA has become a trusted partner for multifamily developers in New England, delivering quality design for projects of all sizes from duplexes to communities over 400 units. Whether an historic adaptive reuse or new construction project, from small city lots to raw suburban land, the DSA team prioritizes service, creatively designing solutions for clients that often exceed their goals and expectations, and always looking for ways to add value.