First Bristol Corporation and Paolino Properties Partner to Develop Homewood Suites by Hilton in Downtown Providence, Rhode Island

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

USA, Providence, Rhode Island. November 28, 2018

Joint Venture Partners First Bristol Corporation and Paolino Properties are nearing completion of a $30 million Homewood Suites by Hilton “All-Suites” Hotel at 5 Exchange Street in the heart of downtown Providence.

The six-story, 120-room extended stay hotel is located at the once-vacant lot at the intersection of Exchange Street and Memorial Boulevard. Working together, First Bristol and Paolino Properties were able to purchase property acquired from the Providence Redevelopment Agency. The property, vacant for fifteen years, was necessary to make the project viable. The hotel is expected to be completed in early 2019 and is anticipated to generate more than $900,000 annually in Property and Hotel Sales and Room Tax revenues.

“For years, developers have tried to build on this site, which was once part of the Providence River,” said Joe Paolino, Managing Partner, Paolino Properties. “Working with Jim Karam and his team at First Bristol, we were able to creatively solve issues that other parties faced to make the project viable.”

Chief among the obstacles was an unstable base due to geotechnical issues and large pieces of old concrete and granite, which created soils susceptible to differential settling. The developers preloaded the site to mimic the constructed building, and created compaction to minimize future settling after construction. Further, they used rapid RAM compaction, which sends vibrations to close air pockets in soil below grade to further reduce settlement.

First Bristol and Paolino Properties also garnered support from the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, securing a 15-year Tax Incremental Financing agreement. It also received a 10-year tax stabilization agreement from the city of Providence, both of which were necessary to make the project possible.

“First Bristol Corp. and Paolino Properties have a long track record of developing first-class projects and staying actively engaged in the communities we serve,” said First Bristol CEO Jim Karam. “Our goal with this hotel, our second in Providence, like our other developments throughout New England, is to build a property the city and the entire region will be proud of.”

Many of the hotel's design elements, including the building façade, were approved by the Capital Center Commission and designed to complement the historic buildings surrounding Kennedy Plaza and the future transportation hub, all of which are within walking distance of the property.

The hotel will have an on-site parking garage with lifts, so that each space can accommodate two vehicles, maximizing space; a meeting room for up to 100 people; an extensive fitness center; a dining room with complimentary breakfast; and 120 suites, all with fully applianced kitchens.

“Our suites are built to mimic apartment-style living,” said James Karam. “We offer all of the comforts of home plus the conveniences of hotel amenities, from security to the fitness center to grocery delivery.”

The building is energy-efficient, featuring high-grade insulation systems, energy-efficient boilers, and through-wall HVAC systems (PTACS) with state-of-the-art energy management controls throughout the building, which includes thermostats in each room that sense when a room is occupied and adjusts the temperature accordingly.

“The addition of Homewood Suites to the city's hotel offerings will contribute to Providence's success by increasing the number of available rooms and attracting more events to the city,” said Jeff Karam, Vice President, First Bristol Corporation. “The hotel will also help to meet the demand for family-friendly accommodations for Providence's 25,000 college students, as well as the increasing number of tourists.”

First Bristol Corporation and Paolino Properties are among New England's premier real estate development firms, engaged in the acquisition, development, construction, rehabilitation, and management of office, retail, and hotel properties throughout New England.