The Wilkinson Building

The William Wilkinson Building was built in 1888. The five-story, brick sheathed structure has mid-twentieth century plate glass storefronts on the first story and is topped with a corbel cornice above the fifth story.

During the 1970’s and 1980’s, the building’s 1st and entire 2nd-story was covered in a stone and stucco sign for the Lerner department store, blocking all windows along the Westminster facade. To match the stylings of the times, the exterior was painted grey.

Following the years as Lerner department store the building sat vacant for nearly 20 years.

Purchased in 2001 by Cornish Associates, the Wilkinson Building renovations were completed in 2004. The project was led by the team at DBVW Architects. The renovated building has 2,500 square feet of commercial retail space on the 1st story while stories 2-5 are home to 12 apartments.

- Use
- Residential, Commercial
- Built
- 1888
- Project Completion
- 2004
- Architects
- DBVW Architects
- Commercial SF
- 2,500
- Residential Units
- 12

The History of The Wilkinson Building

PRE 1900 - WILKINSON BUILDING - PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY

c. 1880

The future site of the Wilkinson Building, on the south east corner of Westminster and Eddy streets.

1887

The William Wilkinson Building is built as a new modern home for the Edward C. Almy & Co. shop on the 1st and 2nd story, advertising leases available on the 3rd and 4th stories with the modern conveniences of passenger and freight elevators, front and back stairways and steam heat

c. 1888

The Wilkinson Building is completed, with Edwars C. Almy shop locating on the bottom 2 stories.

1934

Brown University Professor W.H. Monro bequeathes the University a 5/24 interest in the building ownership on the condition that $120,000 of the gift goes to endow a professorship in European History and $10,000 of the gift goes to the Pembroke College library.

1935

The Wilkinson Building is leased to the Lerner Shops of R.I. Inc.

1965

Anthony C. Paolino, Inc. buys the Wilkinson Building (Lerner Building) from Brown University and a number of heirs, who had owned the Building collectively since 1934.