2025 Preservation Reward Program
We are delighted to announce that this year’s Preservation Reward Program will give a monetary reward to one extraordinary preservation project.
Shri Yoga Studio and Service Corps, 390 Pine Street
Alison Bologna had an idea to use the practice of yoga to not only heal people, but also to revitalize an urban neighborhood. By now everyone in Pawtucket has heard of, and many have seen, the result of Alison’s plan, and can say with certainty that healing is indeed happening at the corner of Conant and Pine Streets.
Alison’s idea became a reality when she partnered with PCF Development, another organization on a mission to strengthen Pawtucket’s neighborhoods.
Together they renovated a long-vacant building that had once been the headquarters and office for the Conant Thread Company, founded in 1868 by Hezekiah Conant. The Conant mill complex occupies 50 acres and was once Pawtucket’s largest employer.
The complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Many of the buildings have since been destroyed by fire, but the office building is one of the few that have been spared, and it miraculously still had much of its original historic integrity.
Alison and PCFD renovated the building to accommodate the yoga studio, eight rental apartments, a food pantry, and an art studio. Alison has created a website where you can get all the details of this outstanding preservation project. We suggest perusing the historical archives page!
This project is a stunning example of how preservation and progress can happen at the same time. With creativity and dedication, old buildings beautifully accommodate current needs.
The Shri Studio contributes to Pawtucket in several ways – affordable housing, food security, artistic pursuits, community enrichment, and human wellness.
This handsome old building was given a new life, and in return it will continue sharing with us the valuable stories that are infused within its bricks and in the unique historical artifacts that were so generously incorporated into the current design and decor.
We are more than thrilled to offer our congratulations and gratitude to Alison and the PCFD team for this wonderful gift of preservation!