Article by Alok Sachdeva


Recent History

Due to both the building's magnificence and its location in downtown Providence, debate concerning the programmatic evolution of the incomplete and vacant Masonic Temple has been controversial. Urgency in dealing with the fate of the building increased with renovations to the train station and the coming of the Providence Place Mall. There are essentially two options: seek "creative reuse" of the building by transforming it into commercial, office, or institutional space; or demolish the existing building for commercial, residential, or hotel space.

In an August 3, 2001, news brief from of the Office of the Governor of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Governor Lincoln Almond announced that Algen Construction and Development had secured a $38.7 million loan from New York-based M.K.D. Capital Corp. "to develop a 216-room luxury hotel in the abandoned Masonic Temple building in downtown Providence" (1). Allan Goldfarb of Goldfarb Properties said, "When completed, the hotel will become one of the architectural signatures of Providence. Our architects, Brennan Beer Gorman, are among the premier hotel specialists. Their design is historic, yet urbane and elegant. We have a restaurant lined-up and are in discussions to bring a famous full-service spa to the hotel" (1).

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