Westend Site Research

Naomi Ono Kern

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West End Neighborhood Project

Site Research

The West End is a lower-income neighborhood in southwestern Providence, Rhode Island. It has a poverty rate of 28% (1.4x the Providence figure), and less than one third of adults hold a bachelor’s degree. The average household size is 2.6 people. 36% of households are headed by a married couple, while a near-equal 35% have a female head. 85% of residential structures are multi-unit, and 85% of all occupied units are rented, not owned, by residents. Nearly half of residents are Latin American immigrants, and the median age is 33.

(Data from US Census ACS 2023 5-year Estimates)

Tree canopy and air temperature are inversely correlated throughout Providence. Relative to the rest of the city, the West End ranks lower in canopy and higher in temperature. (List data sources here)

Existing conditions: Households per structure, fencing

Existing conditions: Ground surface, building footprints

The selected block features extensive paving and fencing, as well as sparse and uneven tree canopy. Heavy paving exacerbates urban heat and increases local stormwater runoff. Fencing between plots delineates clear boundaries of ownership, precluding the creation of spatial opportunities for shared responsibility between neighbors. Most structures are multi-unit residential, indicating a high percentage of renters and medium-dense population.