Is housing the best possible use for the former St. Joseph’s Hospital property in Providence?

Paolino Properties LP announced Nov. 25 that the former St. Joseph’s Hospital property in Providence is for sale.

The historic property is listed by Cushman & Wakefield through its real estate auction platform Ten-X.

Paolino Properties acquired the 250,000-square-foot Peace Street property in 2017. It originally opened in 1892 as a hospital for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence.

In 2020, Paolino Properties proposed donating portions of the property to the city to develop into a public school for students in preschool through eighth grade. But those talks collapsed in 2022 when state education leaders said the renovations would be too costly.

Joseph R. Paolino Jr., owner and managing partner of Paolino Properties, is now proposing to redevelop the site for residential use.

Voters across the state recently approved a $120 million affordable housing bond.