The company that owns the so-called “Superman Building” in downtown Providence said Friday that it remains committed to redeveloping the property, even after the recent death of the company’s president.
In a statement, High Rock Development announced that the Massachusetts-based company will now be led by its legal counsel, Michael Crossen, and that he will oversee projects, including the future of the building at 111 Westminster Street near Kennedy Plaza.
Following the death of company head David Sweetser in July at age 70, Crossen says High Rock still plans to make the iconic Superman structure into a residential building, with efforts accelerating in 2026.
The most recent plan for reusing the “Superman Building,” which has been vacant since 2013, was presented in 2022. Meant to serve as a cornerstone to development in downtown Providence, the redevelopment received a pledge of about $60 million in tax credits, loans and forms of public financing. The original plan scheduled the project to be completed this year.
High Rock provided few new details on Friday, but Crossen said the company is “fully committed” to the project.
“All of the pieces remain in place and nothing has changed with the financing plan,” Crossen said in the statement. “This complex project will get off the ground and provide hundreds of jobs, housing opportunities and a long-term economic benefit for Rhode Island’s economy.”
The Public’s Radio’s Jeremy Bernfeld contributed to this story.
