The History of The Smith Building
View down Eddy Street facing south at the future site of the Smith Building
The Smith Building, erected by Edwin A. Smith, a local real estate developer in Providence, is designed by Martin &. Hall Architects and built by Hartwell and Kingston contractors.
The Luau Hut, a popular Tiki Bar, opens in the basement of Luke's Restaurant at the Smith Building.
The building is purchased by Anthony C. Paolino Inc, a RI investment firm, from Incorporated Estates of Providence, a group headed by the Jackson family. It is the first time the building has been sold since it was built in 1912.
The property is sold by Arnold Kilberg to RKNG Realty Trust out of Massachusetts.
The building sits largely vacant with Luke's restaurant operating out of the ground floor.
RKNG voluntarily goes into receivership on the property to delay an impending auction.
A foreclosure sale is announced and the building is advertised as for sale at public auction.
The Smith Building is sold at auction to Cornish Associates on behalf of the Coalition for Community Development who then sold the building to Smith-Keen Partners, who plan for the renovations to the property.
The City approves the request by Smith-Keen Partners to abandon the short portion of Fulton Street adjacent to the Smith Building.
The Coalition for Community Development (CCD) led by the team at Cornish breaks ground on the rehabilitation project.
The Smith Building opens with over 20 apartments leased at the time of opening.
Cornish completes the renovations of the Smith Building.
