Adaptive Reuse at U-Haul Moving & Storage of East Providence

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740 N Broadway East Providence, RI 02914
(Under Overpass-N Side, across from Devaney tire)

(401) 434-8470

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(401) 434-8470

740 N Broadway
East Providence, RI 02914
(Under Overpass-N Side, across from Devaney tire)

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Office Hours

Mon-Thur: 7 am - 7 pm
Fri: 7 am - 8 pm
Sat: 7 am - 7 pm
Sun: 9 am - 5 pm

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Free towing inspection
Propane pay at pump
24 hour customer return
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Adaptive Reuse in East Providence, RI at U-Haul Moving & Storage of East Providence

Building History

The Colonial Navigation Company, a shipping company based in New York City, had a steamship line known as the Colonial Line. This particular line of ships would transport passengers and their cars between Providence, Rhode Island, and New York City during the 1930's. Frank Dunbaugh was founder and president of the Colonial Navigation Company, and subsequently the Colonial Line, and was directly competing with the New England Ship Company who owned the New Haven Railroad.

The Colonial Navigation Co. was focused on iron and steel vessels which could provide low-cost travel for its customers, often lacking the luxury features of more prestigious ship lines. The lack of superfluous extravagance, meant trips were extremely economical, a savings that could be passed onto the customer and was extremely popular. Despite this advantage, Frank Dunbaugh faced setbacks and competitive operational conflicts with the New England Ship Co. for many years. The company's small size allowed the business to successfully keep operations afloat during the great depression.

In 1939, Frank Dunbaugh died at the age of 82. He had an eclectic work history of cattle raising, owning and operating a grocery business in the west, and finally creating the CNC. After Frank passed, his son Joseph B. Dunbaugh took over the company as president. Coastal commercial shipping became increasingly dangerous during World War II, predominately due to German U-boats, so the U.S. government requisitioned the Colonial Line. Once the war ended, Joseph Dunbaugh decided he would not continue with the Colonial Line’s service. Despite the loss of the Colonial Line, the Colonial Navigation Company is still in business with different types of vessels.

The 740 North Broadway building was built in 1920 and originally used as a warehouse for the Colonial Line. The most recent occupant was a lawn & garden retail store until U-Haul acquired the property for adaptive reuse in 1976. Adaptive reuse building conversions allow U-Haul to promote infill development to meet citizens’ needs while preserving the natural resources and land normally required for new construction. Adaptive reuse also allows resources to be focused on integrating environmentally thoughtful features into the existing building rather than creating waste in the form of demolition and using valuable resources for new construction.

Environmental Impact

Serving U-Haul customers since 1976, this facility was built through adaptive reuse of an abandoned building. Adaptive reuse promotes infill development in an effort to strengthen communities, with the following benefits achieved at this site:

700 tons of metal manufacturing & transportation prevented
2,583 tons of new concrete pours avoided
3,294 tons of construction and demolition debris prevented

Energy-efficiency and waste-reduction programs at this facility provide the following estimated benefits each year for the East Providence community:

34,102 kWh annual energy savings
3,865,562 lbs greenhouse gas emissions prevented

Steel Production 700 tons (635 tonnes) of steel manufacturing and delivery saved to date
Energy 34,102 kWh annual energy savings
Concrete 2,583 tons (2,344 tonnes) of new concrete pours avoided to date
Emissions 3,865,562 lbs (1,753,407 kgs) of greenhouse gas emissions prevented
Landfill Debris 3,294 lbs (2,989 kgs) of construction debris prevented