Who we are

We are a non-profit organization striving to provide information, services, and resources for all residents of College Hill.  We seek to continually improve the quality of life in the neighborhood by solving issues effectively and constructively, working with community representatives to achieve results.

CHNA is involved in...

Institutional development:  CHNA representatives participate in the Brown University Working Group that meets quarterly in a constructive forum to discuss institutional development, community issues and creative solutions.

Community Activism: The first neighborhood “summit” was organized and hosted by CHNA on Nov 11, 2009 at Edward and Mary Bishop's Waterman Street home. This event marked the first meeting of the leaders of nine neighborhood and community groups in the Providence area. It was a chance for these representatives to meet and greet in an informal forum to discuss issues that affect area residents and potential solutions. Ideally these summits will continue to be held a few times throughout each year and the number of groups represented will grow in number. These events serve to encourage a stronger sense of community and voice among the groups as a whole.

Planning Department and Comprehensive Plan:  CHNA has participating actively in the development of the city's updated Comprehensive Plan, which includes the College Hill/Wayland/Fox Point and Waterfront planning charrettes.
Parking task force:  CHNA was a participating member of the Parking Task Force findings and recommendations. We are working with Brown University and the Traffic Engineering Department of Public Works to ensure that parking and traffic problems are vastly improved on College Hill.

Graffiti:  CHNA's graffiti task force has worked with the city, a variety of area schools, groups, and individuals to provide education about graffiti prevention and removal. The task force worked directly and made strides on graffiti removal throughout College Hill. Our intent in 2010 is to partner with the Lt. Ryan and the Providence Police Department to create stronger and more effective penalties for committing the crime. Please see our Updates and News page for more information.

Historic Building Advocacy:  In the past it had joined West Broadway Neighborhood Association in bringing court actions to prevent the demolition of the historic downtown police and fire building. CHNA also participated in the citywide working group for development of an updated policy for demolition of historic structures. As a result, demolition protections for some historic structures have been improved. Additional proceedings by the city on this issue are anticipated, which should result in greater demolition protections for a broader population of historic structures.

Waterfront Preservation:  CHNA has assisted Fox Point Neighborhood Association and Friends of India Point Park in their efforts to save the former Shooters property on the waterfront for public use and to preserve and optimize the waterfront property.

Overnight on-street parking:  In November 2007, CHNA sponsored a community forum on the subject of overnight on-street parking. A pilot program is operating in several areas of the city. If you are interested in establishing a pilot program, please contact >>>

Many of these subjects will continue well into 2010.  If you would like to help us with one or more of these issues, or if you would like us to help with an issue of interest to you, please let us know.  Your participation and support are always greatly appreciated!

College Hill Neighborhood Association (CHNA) was officially started back in 1984, making it perhaps the oldest neighborhood association in the City.  As recalled by its first president Pat Sullivan (then Zesk), a local attorney and mother of two, the group was motivated by several specific concerns at the time…overcrowded and noisy student rentals, a dangerous and unsightly park on Brown Street, the proliferation of Thayer Street liquor licenses…as well as a more general desire to simply improve the quality of life on College Hill.  Among some of the earliest board members were state representative Fred Lippitt, city councilman Mac Farmer, Gus Anthony, Judy Benedict, Jaffa Davies and Mary Moore. The early organizers were quite thorough and hands-on during those first days.  Pat remembers the group going to every house armed with questionnaires to insure that they identified and addressed all the most pressing concerns of the neighborhood. Jaffa recalls loading her kids’ wagons with leaflets and distributing them door-to-door.  “It’s gratifying to see that the organization continues to fight the good fight on behalf of the residents of this wonderful area of the City.”