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America’s Oldest Mall Is Saved By Transforming It Into 48 Cozy Low-Cost Micro-Apartments
Ever wanted to be locked in a shopping mall when you were a kid? Well, now you can LIVE in one if you’re based in Rhode Island. The Arcade providence, America’s first indoor shopping mall that was build in 1828, has been repurposed into a residential structure with 48 low-cost micro-lofts since it fell into decline in the late 20th century. The mall was transformed at a cost of $7 million by Northeast Collaborative Architects
Starting at $550 a month, residents can rent a one-bedroom unit from 225-800 sq. ft. Each apartment contains a kitchen, full bath with shower, built-in beds, seating and storage. There are no stoves in the units as they are designed for the people who lead busy lifestyles but the tenants can eat at freshly designed restaurants on the ground floor and enjoy vibrant evenings in a shared lounge. There’s also a shared laundry facility and a bike storage room as well as parking garage across the street. Would you live in such an apartment?
More info: arcadeprovidence.com (h/t: mymodernmet)
RELATED:
Built in 1828, America’s oldest shopping mall in Rhode Island was struggling to fill its commercial spaces and was doomed to be closed
But then Northeast Collaborative Architects came along and transformed it into a residential space at a cost of $7 million
The historic building now has 48 low-cost micro-lofts
Starting at $550 a month, residents can rent a one-bedroom unit from 225-800 sq. ft.
The apartments are based on the top two levels
There are no stoves in the units as they are designed for the people who lead busy lifestyles
But the flats contain full bath with shower
And they have cozy bedrooms with built-in beds
As well as tiny living rooms
The tenants can live a vibrant life with 17 retail stores and restaurants kept on the ground floor
This is how the mall looked in the old days
Watch the video here:
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What do you think ?
Cody Eriksen 9 years ago
I live in an old Grain Mill that was shut down over 40 years ago, been set ablaze, firefighters and Police were ordered to never go in if there was an emergency because of the state it was in. Needless to say it was in Skid Row. Now the place has been rebuilt and has loft apartment that are all different. I think re-purposing buildings like this is AWESOME!! I'm a history nut so it's even cooler to see all the old machinery that they had in the mill set up like a really cool museum or even the architecture of this old mall would be outstanding. Hell, Europe has been doing it forever.
* alienmindtrick * 9 years ago
I commend him for his vision and wish him success. I'd love to see more people in more places do something like that. As for a lack of stove, that's not a problem, either. My young college-aged 2nd cousin has a tiny studio apartment in downtown Atlanta and bought a decent portable (countertop) induction cooktop for about $60. I've cooked on it teaching him how to cook a couple dishes and it works well. Use the microwave to steam fresh or frozen veggies. Use the cooktop to cook rice, couscous, or another grain or seed in large batches, then freeze it into smaller batches for nuking later. Use the cooktop to cook an entree, you've got a meal in no time with little mess and little fuss. Apparently his new thing to cook on his cooktop is plantains.
Yvonne Bernal 9 years ago
Quality is NEVER an accident. Preservation isn't only about saving the building... it's about saving a whole community.
Amanda Panda 9 years ago
This is actually pretty awesome! Glad they were able to restore a piece of American history and repurpose it. Wish they did that with other architectural works!
Kitty Carroll 9 years ago
They have a dishwasher but no stoves? Who would want that arrangement?
Lyone Fein 9 years ago
I think they should have just put in more shelves instead of that dishwasher.
Load More Replies...
MiloW 9 years ago
Low cost buahaha : ) wonder what this "low cost" is... maybe low cost in terms of preparation, not for sale...
Lyone Fein 9 years ago
$550/month is low cost anywhere....even in my small Ohio town of 3500 people. But in a bigger city, that is an amazing price.
Load More Replies...
Cody Eriksen 9 years ago
I live in an old Grain Mill that was shut down over 40 years ago, been set ablaze, firefighters and Police were ordered to never go in if there was an emergency because of the state it was in. Needless to say it was in Skid Row. Now the place has been rebuilt and has loft apartment that are all different. I think re-purposing buildings like this is AWESOME!! I'm a history nut so it's even cooler to see all the old machinery that they had in the mill set up like a really cool museum or even the architecture of this old mall would be outstanding. Hell, Europe has been doing it forever.
* alienmindtrick * 9 years ago
I commend him for his vision and wish him success. I'd love to see more people in more places do something like that. As for a lack of stove, that's not a problem, either. My young college-aged 2nd cousin has a tiny studio apartment in downtown Atlanta and bought a decent portable (countertop) induction cooktop for about $60. I've cooked on it teaching him how to cook a couple dishes and it works well. Use the microwave to steam fresh or frozen veggies. Use the cooktop to cook rice, couscous, or another grain or seed in large batches, then freeze it into smaller batches for nuking later. Use the cooktop to cook an entree, you've got a meal in no time with little mess and little fuss. Apparently his new thing to cook on his cooktop is plantains.
Yvonne Bernal 9 years ago
Quality is NEVER an accident. Preservation isn't only about saving the building... it's about saving a whole community.
Amanda Panda 9 years ago
This is actually pretty awesome! Glad they were able to restore a piece of American history and repurpose it. Wish they did that with other architectural works!
Kitty Carroll 9 years ago
They have a dishwasher but no stoves? Who would want that arrangement?
Lyone Fein 9 years ago
I think they should have just put in more shelves instead of that dishwasher.
Load More Replies... MiloW 9 years ago
Low cost buahaha : ) wonder what this "low cost" is... maybe low cost in terms of preparation, not for sale...
Lyone Fein 9 years ago
$550/month is low cost anywhere....even in my small Ohio town of 3500 people. But in a bigger city, that is an amazing price.
Load More Replies... Related on Bored Panda
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