North Smithfield, R.I. – Crosspoint Associates of Waltham, Mass., has set in motion the transformation of Slatersville Plaza with the help of DiPrete Engineering.
Slatersville Plaza
Slatersville has served as a grocery-based shopping center for smaller-sized retailers for over 50 years.
After acquiring the 70,000sf building in June 2014, Crosspoint set out to implement its long-term vision that will tap into pent-up consumer demand by creating a new shopping experience.
Crosspoint hired DiPrete Engineering, a civil engineering, planning, and surveying firm, for its expertise in shopping center revitalization and design to provide a new perspective for the property. Together, the two implemented a plan that resulted in a more efficient parking layout benefiting both tenants and customers.
Large expanses of parking were broken up and made more inviting by creating landscape barriers between vehicular and pedestrian access ways. Energy-efficient lighting replaced outdated fixtures and shines bright over the freshly striped crosswalks and parking stalls to create a safer shopping experience for the community.
The final landscape plantings were installed in the spring, and Crosspoint has plans to continue to improve the physical appearance of the center’s storefronts and signage.
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Slatersville is home to Brigido’s Fresh Market, Village Paint & Decorating, Rite Aid, Bank of America, Salon 900, the Juice Box, North Smithfield Wine & Spirit, and more.
“Smaller shops – be they mom and pop retailers or national chains – are clamoring for unique, quaint space,” said Paul Connolly of Crosspoint Associates. “Shoppers are more focused on the experience and want to be in pedestrian scale environments. They are drawn to places with hearty landscaping, defined pathways, helpful signage, outdoor seating and more.”
“The goal of this project from an engineering perspective was to make sure landlord concerns were balanced with the demand of today’s customer,” said Sheryl Guglielmo, Project Manager at DiPrete Engineering. “Material selections were matched with the landlord maintenance plan and parking stalls and sidewalks were complimentary to tenant operations.”
“While many improvements have already been made, Slatersville has a lot of great potential that has yet to be tapped into,” said Connolly. “We are extremely excited by the progress seen thus far and are looking forward to the Shopping Centers final outcome.”
