PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — State and Providence city leaders gathered Monday for the “topping off” ceremony of one of Rhode Island’s newest hotel projects.
A crane lifted the last steel beam into place for an 8-story, 120-room Hilton Homewood Suites Hotel. The $28 million hotel is located in downtown Providence at Exchange Street and Memorial Boulevard.
“We are excited that this project is moving forward as it is an important component for the urban revitalization of our city’s downtown,” Joseph Paolino, managing partner of Paolino Properties said of the project. “The creation of hundreds of jobs is really something we are proud of, and investing in our local communities is a priority for Paolino Properties and First Bristol Corp.”
Mayor Jorge Elorza said the hotel completes the development around Kennedy Plaza. He said it’s a sign of growth in the city.
“What we’ve constructed, what we’ve created, is a city on the rise and that is exactly what Providence is,” Elorza said. “People want to be in Providence. We see that manifested in so many different ways. We have at least 60 projects either under construction or in the pipeline and we know that there’s more on the way as well.”
The project generated more than 200 construction jobs and will create several permanent jobs once the hotel is officially open in Fall 2018.
