Updated luxury condo in historically preserved building in Cranston
Royal Ridge Luxury
Apartment Complex
Circa 1965
The Royal Ridge luxury apartment building was built in 1965 at a time when the local “captains of industry” were becoming snowbirds, selling their large stately homes in Dean Estates and spending a large part of the year in warm and sunny Florida. They weren’t ready to leave their families and friends permanently, and still wanted to keep an eye on their thriving businesses, so renting luxury was the new option, and Royal Ridge was considered to be THE place.
The Mansolillo family of builders understood their neighbors well and built the Royal Ridge luxury apartment in Glen Woods (Neighborhood of the Week, Projo 3/5/17) building to suit their needs. There was another luxury apartment building, Wayland Manor, located on the East Side of Providence, but the Mansolillo’s knew that Cranstonians were just that—loyal and committed to their community—so much so that the descendants of those “captains” continue to reside in the area today, enjoying the metropolitan suburbs of Chapel View, Garden City, Dean Estates, and Glen Woods.
The apartment building opened with a fabulous, majestic lobby with floor to ceiling windows, a grand chandelier, and hand painted murals on the walls that reflected the art of the time. The basement of the building became a ‘social club” of sorts, with one very successful businessman building a kitchen, and filling the space with full-sized, hand painted shuffleboard areas, a pool table, dart boards and a table for some legendary card games. His wife wouldn’t allow him to smoke his cigar in the residence, so he started the club in the basement.
Years later the building was purchased by Joseph Paolino, Sr., and in 1978 they chose to capitalize on the new trend in owning condominiums. Every renter in the building purchased their own unit, and a professional company has managed it since, dedicated to the preservation of Royal Ridge and its rich history in the community.
The social club décor and signs of the basement games are still there, but now residents can walk out the front door to Chapel View and Garden City Center to enjoy the social aspects of the community—fine dining, boutiques, coffee shops, and a host of holiday activities and nightly entertainment. The original murals were restored to their former glory by RISD artist, Amy Ryan, in 2017.
There are 24 units in Royal Ridge with only one of them rented. A transformation is occurring with older residents transferring ownership to first time home buyers and downsizing baby boomers looking for all the urban lifestyle benefits but with the comfort and community of an established neighborhood. Unit 17 is a large 2 bedroom/2 bath residence which has been completely remodeled with all of the finest finishes, and offers the modern amenities of today’s lifestyle…open floor plan and new kitchen with stainless appliances perfect for entertaining, a larger master suite with walk-in closet, and a private terrace.
Stats: 1100 square feet, storage galore, assigned parking
Price: $269,900, taxes $2,893, condo fee $297/mo.
Contact: Lisa Pagano, Albert Realtors, (401) 447-9505