PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Joseph R. Paolino, Jr., CEO and Managing Partner of Paolino Properties, today announced the donation of four parcels of land comprising Peace & Plenty Gardens at the former St. Joseph’s Hospital campus to Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT), ensuring the property’s permanent preservation and continued use as a community garden serving South Providence residents.
Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley joined Paolino, Southside Community Land Trust Executive Director Margaret DeVos, gardeners and community members Monday to celebrate the donation and permanent protection of one of South Providence’s longest-standing community gardens.
Completed on August 31, 2026, the donation transfers ownership of the four parcels, which have a combined assessed value of $576,000, from Paolino to SCLT, securing the garden’s future under SCLT’s permanent ownership and stewardship.
The transfer fulfills a commitment made by Paolino as part of the recent sale of the former St. Joseph’s Hospital property and ensures that Peace & Plenty Gardens will remain dedicated to community gardening, food production, education and neighborhood stewardship in perpetuity.
Established more than 30 years ago, Peace & Plenty Gardens has become a vital green space in South Providence, serving neighborhood residents, local growers and community organizations. The garden has long provided opportunities for urban agriculture, environmental education and community connection while helping advance food security in the surrounding neighborhood.
“Today marks the fulfillment of a promise,” said Joseph R. Paolino, Jr., CEO and Managing Partner of Paolino Properties. “Peace & Plenty Gardens represents the very best of what community spaces can be, a place where neighbors come together, families grow healthy food and generations build lasting connections. We made a commitment that this garden would be permanently protected, and I am proud to see that promise realized.”
“In real estate, and in life, I always strive to leave things better than I find them,” Paolino continued. “Ensuring that this land remains a community resource forever is something I am particularly proud of. Southside Community Land Trust has been an extraordinary steward of this space, and there is no organization better positioned to ensure its continued success for decades to come.”
“Peace & Plenty Gardens is a wonderful example of what makes Providence neighborhoods strong: residents coming together, caring for the places they call home and creating something that benefits the entire community,” said Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley. “I want to thank Joe Paolino and Paolino Properties for making this commitment to South Providence and Southside Community Land Trust for the work they have done here for decades. Permanently protecting this land ensures that future generations will continue to have a place to grow food, build community and enjoy green space right here in their neighborhood.”
Southside Community Land Trust’s connection to Peace & Plenty Gardens dates back to 1989, when the organization first began leasing the garden from St. Joseph’s Hospital.
“Southside Community Land Trust began leasing the community garden from St. Joseph’s Hospital in 1989. Joe Paolino was the Mayor of Providence at that time,” said Margaret DeVos, Executive Director of Southside Community Land Trust. “When he purchased the hospital property in 2017, almost 30 years later, we suddenly saw a bright new future, one where the garden could finally be protected for generations of gardeners and community members. That future is now, thanks to Joe’s thoughtful and generous decision to donate the garden to our organization.”
The donation represents a significant investment in the long-term health and vitality of South Providence and reflects Paolino Properties’ ongoing commitment to supporting neighborhood-based organizations and community assets that strengthen Providence.
“Cities thrive when development and preservation work hand in hand,” Paolino added. “As Providence continues to evolve, it is essential that we protect the spaces that bring people together and contribute to the health and vitality of our neighborhoods. We are honored to play a role in securing the future of Peace & Plenty Gardens and look forward to seeing it continue to flourish under Southside Community Land Trust’s leadership.”
With the transfer complete, Southside Community Land Trust assumes permanent ownership and stewardship of the property, ensuring that Peace & Plenty Gardens remains a treasured community resource for generations to come.
About Paolino Properties
Paolino Properties is a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated real estate investment, development, and management company. Led by Managing Partner Joseph R. Paolino Jr., Paolino Properties is one of the largest family-owned commercial real estate companies in New England, managing over 40 properties at a total of nearly 3 million square feet. With a diverse portfolio of retail, commercial, residential, and hospitality properties, the company has experience in partnering with a wide-ranging client base in Providence and beyond. In addition to 100 Westminster Street, a Class A office building where the company is headquartered and which is a part of the iconic Providence skyline, Paolino Properties owns The Beatrice hotel and a variety of Class A and Class B commercial properties, retail shopping centers, high-end residential developments, a world-class marina in Newport, and more than 1,000 parking spaces within the city of Providence.
About Southside Community Land Trust
Southside Community Land Trust works with people in economically challenged urban neighborhoods where fresh food is scarce and who want to grow their own food. Through community gardens, urban farms, education and other programs, SCLT works to expand access to healthy food and strengthen communities throughout Rhode Island.