In addition to what everyone else has said:

1. There is only a small proximity around South Station or Back Bay where you’d want to look for a job. Any further and you’re looking at another 20-30+ mins on bus or train in Boston.

2. The night schedule really sucks. They reduced the schedule during COVID and have yet to really add anything back in. Only one train an hour goes all the way to Providence, and if you miss the 9:40pm you’re stuck in the city.

3. There could be a ton of traffic driving Johnston to a closer to Boston commuter rail stop, I know people do it but not sure how much it helps you time wise.

I’d call the one in Providence by India Point Park. They have a ton of merch, pretty sure I saw a shucker, but that was 2-3 months ago.

Borealis, Nitro Bar, and someone else I believe. All local to some extent

“One of the city’s few largely Black neighborhoods getting filled up with “progressive” businesses and entities”

Your intention in this is clear.

It’s an oversimplification used to polarize it as “bad” rather than understanding the context in which the space exists and operates.

Referring to Red Ink Community Library as “the socialist bookstore” really undercuts any hint of valid criticism you have in commenting on gentrification.

The poke shop is owned by an Asian woman. The library team has an Indian man on it and has many cross cultural and community events. The bakeshop is partly owned by a Jewish woman.

Is the area being gentrified? Yes. Is it white “progressive” capitalists? Not entirely, and in none of the examples you provided.

I love the food and drink at Slow Rhode, it’s a pretty small place and has a variety of small plates and full entrees to choose from. There are a ton of bars and breweries within 1-2 blocks to extend the night as well (The Avery, Moniker, Bayberry).

The Sims area is also a nice place to spend a Saturday morning/afternoon. They have the farmers market year round, there’s a coffee shop, and across the street ISCO Spirits and Revival Brewery.

You’re equating consumable and commodity goods with housing. A low end car could be $20k to buy. A low end condo would still be $150-200k to buy.

As much zoning regulations exist that prevent like a 3 family going into where a 1 family is today, there have been massive amounts of apartment complex development over the past decade throughout Providence, Rhode Island, and Southern MA. Developers are already building to excess and none of it is affordable.

Even so, not sure why there would be opposition from the city/state to take over land not being used to build more housing. Seems like you’re just really pro private development.

They won’t build affordable housing is the problem. And banks won’t finance affordable housing is the problem.

Rhode Island, and Providence specifically, has seen probably the most amount of large scale apartment complex development in decades. Most of it is unaffordable to the average person (even if there are a few “low income” units included).