Historic Providence Rooming House Restored as Transitional Housing

Copley Chambers, built in 1913, joins National Register of Historic Places after transformation

Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:39pm

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A historic rooming house in Providence, Rhode Island that was built in 1913 and later turned into housing for young adults transitioning out of foster care has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Broad Street building, known as Copley Chambers, is a well-preserved example of 20th-century rooming houses that provided affordable short-term rentals for urban workers.

Why it matters

The preservation of Copley Chambers highlights the importance of adaptively reusing historic buildings to address modern housing needs. By repurposing the rooming house as transitional housing, the project has breathed new life into an important piece of Providence's architectural and social history.

The details

Copley Chambers originally operated as a rooming house, with commercial space on the first floor and around 41 small, shared-bath residential rooms above. Residents, who paid $5.75 per week, were typically young, single workers employed at nearby companies like the American Screw Company and Rhode Island Hospital. After World War II, the building fell into disrepair and closed in 1975. Decades later, it was redeveloped into 26 apartments that still feature the original layout and materials.

  • Copley Chambers was built in 1913.
  • The building closed in 1975 following a series of code violations.
  • In 2024, Copley Chambers was redeveloped into 26 apartments for young adults transitioning out of foster care.
  • The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 27, 2026.

The players

Copley Chambers

A historic rooming house in Providence, Rhode Island that was built in 1913 and later turned into housing for young adults transitioning out of foster care.

Rhode Island State Preservation Office

The state agency that announced the addition of Copley Chambers to the National Register of Historic Places.

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What they’re saying

“Copley Chambers is a good example of 20th-century rooming houses that were built to address the growing population of people working in cities who wanted to live in short-term rentals.”

— Rhode Island State Preservation Office

What’s next

The redevelopment of Copley Chambers into transitional housing for young adults is expected to continue providing much-needed affordable housing options in Providence.

The takeaway

The preservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings like Copley Chambers demonstrates how old structures can be repurposed to meet modern needs, while also preserving important pieces of a city's architectural and social heritage.