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City of Providence
City of Providence Zoning Ordinance
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§ 606

DESIGN STANDARDS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION

606 DESIGN STANDARDS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION All new construction, including additions of 5,000 square feet of gross floor area shall be approved by the permitting authority and regulated by these standards. The purpose of these standards is to preserve the urban fabric of Downtown Providence and ensure that new construction complements the historic character and architectural integrity of existing structures. The following are minimum standards for all new construction:

  • A. Building Height and Massing

    1. Buildings shall be at least three stories in height. The permitting authority may grant a waiver to allow a building of two stories. (Figure 6-5)

  • 2. Building height and massing shall relate to adjacent structures. (Figure 6-5) This provision may be waived by the permitting authority.

  • 3. Ground floors shall be a minimum of 12 feet from floor to ceiling to enhance the pedestrian streetscape, regardless of the overall building height. However, the first-floor height of additions may align with the first-floor height of the existing building. (Figure 6-5)

  • 4. On both A and B Street facades, buildings over six stories shall have a recess line of at least ten feet above the third story and below the seventh story. The recess line should relate to the form of any buildings adjacent to or across the street from the building. The permitting authority may grant a waiver to allow a building in excess of six stories not to have a recess line if it is determined that the building can exist compatibly with neighboring buildings. In such cases, a transition line may be required. (Figure 6-5)

    • B. Building Materials

      1. The primary exterior finish materials on the facade shall be brick, limestone, sandstone, granite, terra cotta, cast stone, glass, metal, painted wood, cement-based composites, phenolic resinbased composites, or other similar material.

  • 2. The use of non-durable materials such as vinyl and other similar products is prohibited on the first floor and discouraged on upper floors.

  • 3. Exterior insulating finish systems (EIFS) is permitted on the ground floor by waiver from the permitting authority. An application for waiver under this subsection shall be approved provided that the following conditions are satisfied: a. Only EIFS that include an integral air and moisture barrier is permitted.

    • b. So that it is impact resistant, for areas up to 8 feet above grade, the EIFS shall include a base mesh layer weighing a minimum 20 oz./sq. yd., followed by a second mesh layer weighing a minimum of 4 oz./sq. yd. For all areas exposed to direct impact higher than 8 feet above grade (such as balconies), the use of a single layer of reinforcing mesh with a minimum weight of 12 oz./sq. yd. is required.

    • c. The material shall be an aesthetically-appropriate facsimile of stone, brick, stucco, metal panel, or other traditional building material.

    • d. Removal or covering of historic features in order to install EIFS shall be prohibited.

    • C. Entrance Design

      1. Buildings shall have their main entrance from a sidewalk on an A Street, or if the building has no A Street frontage, on a B Street.

  • 2. Buildings shall be designed to have multiple entrances, with no more than 35 feet between entrances. This provision may be waived by the permitting authority.

    • D. Façade Design

      1. Building facades shall be built within a build-to zone of between zero and eight feet from the street line. Such facades shall occupy this build-to zone for at least 80% of each lot frontage of the property. These provisions may be waived to create court yards, wider sidewalks, open space, and/or outdoor seating. It is preferable that such areas contribute to a planned network of connected pedestrian and bike ways and parks. These provisions may also be waived to create accessory parking areas along B Streets developed in accordance with Section 604.G.4. (Figure 6- 6)

      • a. Where the lot frontage is curved, the facade shall follow. The permitting authority may grant a waiver to permit the building to be built on the chord or the tangent.

  • 2. A building facade shall have a transition line. Transition lines shall be designed in proportion to the overall height and mass of the proposed building to create a distinction between upper and lower stories. Transition lines shall relate to existing adjoining buildings (Figure 6-7). This provision may be waived by the permitting authority.

    • E. Fenestration Design

      1. All building facades shall provide areas of transparency equal to at least 70% of the wall area, between the height of one and 12 feet from the ground, of each building facade. This provision may be waived by the permitting authority. (Figure 6-8)

  • 2. Blank walls shall be separated by areas of transparency of at least three feet in width. This provision may be waived by the permitting authority. (Figure 6-8)

  • 3. Upper story façade shall provide areas of transparency equal to at least 35% of the wall area of the story. For parking structures, the area of transparency may be met with windowless openings. This provision may be waived by the permitting authority. (Figure 6-8)

  • 4. Windows shall only be composed of clear or lightly tinted glass. Highly reflective window coatings are prohibited.

    • F. Parking Structure Design The following design standards apply to the construction of new parking structures, and may be waived by the permitting authority.

  • 1. Parking structure openings which face any street shall be horizontally and vertically aligned. (Figure 6-9)

  • 2. Parking structure access ramps shall not be exposed on A Street facades.

  • 3. Parking structure facades shall conceal from view the entirety of all parked vehicles from view of a pedestrian from within the portion of right-of-way of an A Street abutting the property containing the parking structure. (Figure 6-10)