195 District

What 195 District does

195 District is a public redevelopment authority established by the State of Rhode Island under the I-195 Redevelopment Act of 2011 to oversee redevelopment of 26 acres of land freed by the relocation of Interstate 195 through Providence. Operating under a Commission-governed state-authority structure rather than as a private corporation, the district manages parcel disposition, building permitting, and development coordination for what it markets as Providence's Innovation District. Its core products are development parcels (ranging from 0.28 to over 5 acres), the Ground Floor Loan Program (offering below-market financing to activate ground-floor commercial spaces), and oversight of named projects including Point225 (a 195,200 SF office/lab/retail building anchored by Cambridge Innovation Center and Brown University), Parcel 1A, Parcel 2, Parcel 5, and Dyer Wharf (Parcels 14/15).

Revenue is generated through four transactional streams: one-time land parcel sales to developers, tiered application fees ($25K for projects under $50M, $50K for $50-100M, $75K above $100M), building permit fees set at 1.4% of construction costs inclusive of fire plan review, and managed lending income from the Ground Floor Loan Program. As of 2025, the district reports 15 projects completed, under construction, or planned, 2.1 million square feet of development, $830 million in third-party development investment, and nearly 7 acres remaining available. Customers are primarily real estate developers (Wexford, Urbanica, Ionic Development, CV Properties, Brass Rat/Stack+Co), with anchor tenants drawn from life sciences, higher education (Brown, Johnson & Wales), and innovation workspace (CIC). Marketing and distribution are conducted through a website portal, direct outreach, and social media channels, with no technology product, SaaS platform, or AI/ML capability disclosed.

Name

195 District

Legal name

195 District

Website

https://195district.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

195 District is a state-authorized public redevelopment authority managing a 26-acre innovation district in Providence, RI, created from former Interstate 195 land. It monetizes development parcels, building permits, and below-market loans while partnering with private developers to deliver life sciences, residential, and mixed-use projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Redevelopment & Real Estate Development

NAICS

Land Subdivision (237210), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Brokerage (Raw Land & Development Sites) (FSAEAJAD), Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs (FSALAKAO), Brownfield Redevelopment Due Diligence & Grant Support (EUAHAEAD)

Keywords

• Urban redevelopment
• Innovation district
• Commercial real estate
• Development parcels
• Life sciences cluster

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Land Sales and Development Rights: 195 District generates revenue through the sale of parcels to developers for commercial and residential development. Available parcels range from 0.28 acres to over 5 acres.
2. Building Permit Fees: Building permit fees set at 1.4% of construction costs, inclusive of fire plan review fees. As required by the I-195 Redevelopment Act of 2011, the state building official issues permits but fees are paid to the I-195 Redevelopment District.
3. Application Fees: Projects pay application fees within two days after Commission grants Final Plan Approval: $25,000 for projects under $50 million, $50,000 for $50-$100 million, and $75,000 for projects over $100 million.
4. Ground Floor Loan Program: Loan program offering flexible financing and below-market interest rates for vacant ground floor commercial spaces, helping lower initial costs to tenants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

195 District is a public redevelopment authority that manages 26 acres of former highway land in Providence, Rhode Island. It sells development parcels to real estate developers for commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects, charges building permit fees (1.4% of construction costs) and tiered application fees ($25,000-$75,000), and provides below-market financing through the Ground Floor Loan Program for ground-floor commercial tenants. The district has facilitated $830 million in development investment across 15 projects totaling 2.1 million square feet.

Product overview

195 District is Providence's Innovation District, a real estate development organization managing 26 acres of former Interstate 195 land redeveloped since 2011. The organization operates as a regulatory and development facilitation body rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include: available development parcels (with various sizes and statuses), a Ground Floor Loan Program providing below-market financing for commercial tenants, and oversight of multiple development projects including Point225 (office/lab anchored by CIC and Brown University), residential projects like Parcel 1A, Dyer Wharf, Parcel 2, and Parcel 5. The district focuses on high-quality housing and a growing life sciences cluster.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Development Parcels Vacant land parcels available for development in the 195 District, including various sizes ranging from 0.28 acres to over 5 acres with different statuses (available, sold, under agreement). For real estate developers and investors seeking to build in Providence's innovation district.
• Ground Floor Loan Program A loan program offering flexible financing terms and below-market interest rates for vacant ground floor commercial spaces in the District, designed to lower initial costs to tenants. For building owners and commercial tenants in the 195 District.
• Point225 A commercial building anchored by Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) and Brown University, featuring 195,200 SF of office, lab, and retail space including District Hall and Bayberry Garden. For life sciences companies, researchers, and innovation tenants.
• Parcel 1A Development A proposed 10-unit residential condominium building with 3,010 SF of retail and 800 SF of office space, including an offshoot of CIC. For residential buyers and commercial tenants.
• Dyer Wharf (Parcels 14 & 15) A three-phase master-planned development by CV Properties combining residential units and ground floor retail, with later phases including laboratory and commercial uses. For residential buyers, commercial tenants, and life sciences companies.
• Parcel 2 Development An approximately 170-unit development by Urbanica with retail and restaurant space, building amenities, and a public plaza. For residential tenants and commercial users.
• Parcel 5 Development A mixed-use project by Design Center Partners (Ionic Development and Wade Keating) with approximately 150 rental units, 25 condominiums, and 30,000 SF of design-focused retail space. For residential tenants, condo buyers, and retail tenants.
• 195 District Park A public park and pavilion within the 195 District that serves as a community amenity for district residents, workers, and visitors, supporting the innovation district ecosystem.
• Building Permit Services Building permit services provided through the state building official with fees set at 1.4% of construction costs, inclusive of fire plan review fees. For real estate developers building within the 195 District.

Quantifiable outcome

• $830 million in investment attracted to the district
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• Wexford Science & TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Developer of Point225, a commercial building anchored by Cambridge Innovation Center and Brown University. Total project cost of $70 million base building with 195,200 gross SF including office, lab, and retail space.
• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Anchor tenant in Point225, providing innovation workspace, meeting facilities, and community programming including Venture Cafe. CIC Providence operates the two-story District Hall public workspace.
• Brown UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnchor tenant in Point225 occupying top floors converted from office to laboratory use. Also adjacent land owner for Dyer Wharf development combining Parcels 14/15 with Brown University property.
• Johnson & Wales UniversitymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Center for Science and Innovation, contributing to the life sciences cluster development in the district.
• UrbanicamoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper and architect for Parcel 2, proposing approximately 170-unit development with retail and restaurant space.
• Ionic Development Co.moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner with Wade Keating for Parcel 5, proposing mixed-use project with approximately 150 rental units, 25 condominiums, and 30,000 SF of design-focused retail.
• CV PropertiesmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper for Dyer Wharf (Parcels 14 & 15), proposing three-phase master-planned development with residential, retail, and later phases including laboratory and commercial uses.
• Brass Rat and Stack + Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper partnership for Parcel 1A, proposing 10-unit residential condominium building over retail with offshoot of CIC.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University City Science Center (Philadelphia): A nonprofit operator of an innovation district adjacent to the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel. Comparable to 195 District in operating a planned innovation cluster with life sciences focus, university adjacency, and structured developer/institutional partnerships.
• Massachusetts Life Sciences Center: A quasi-public state agency that invests in life sciences infrastructure, capital projects, and innovation districts across Massachusetts. Comparable in mission and structure to 195 District's life-sciences-cluster development around Brown University and the Bowen Center.
• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Operator of innovation campuses that provide shared workspace, venture programming, and community building for startups and institutions. An existing anchor partner of 195 District at Point225, and directly comparable as a curated innovation-cluster operator.
• New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC): NYCEDC is a non-profit public authority that plans and executes large-scale urban redevelopment projects on behalf of New York City. It is highly comparable to 195 District as a government-led economic development entity that subdivides land, negotiates with developers, and uses public authority to catalyze private investment.

Broad incumbents

• Alexandria Real Estate Equities: A publicly traded REIT that develops and operates collaborative life sciences campuses adjacent to academic and research institutions. Comparable to 195 District's life sciences real estate strategy, though at much larger scale and as a private-sector operator rather than a public authority.
• Forest City Realty Trust (Brookfield Properties): Now part of Brookfield Properties, the legacy Forest City platform developed large urban mixed-use innovation districts (e.g., Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park, University Park at MIT). Comparable to 195 District in urban redevelopment scale and institutional adjacency strategy.
• Brandywine Realty Trust: A publicly traded office and mixed-use developer with a flagship urban innovation district (Schuylkill Yards in Philadelphia). Comparable to 195 District as a mixed-use innovation cluster developer, though as a private REIT rather than a state authority.
• Howard Hughes Holdings: A master-planned community developer operating large mixed-use districts (e.g., The Woodlands, Columbia, Seaport) with life sciences components. Comparable to 195 District in managing a multi-decade, mixed-use redevelopment program, though as a private operator.

Regional players

• Science Park Skåne / Swedish innovation districts: A regional innovation district operator in Sweden managing university-adjacent science parks and mixed-use development. Comparable in public-authority-style mission and innovation cluster development, though serving a different geography.

Emerging players

• Wexford Science & Technology: A specialized developer of university-adjacent life sciences and innovation districts (e.g., 3451 Market/One uCity Square in Philadelphia). An existing strategic partner of 195 District on Point225, and highly comparable in business model and lab/innovation focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/195district
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/195-district
• Instagraminstagram.com/195_district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 195 District