EAST PROVIDENCE — The renovation of the historic Odd Fellows Hall at the Warren Avenue basin in the Watchemocket Square district remains in the offing, though its progress has been slowed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

City Planning and Economic Development Department Director Bill Fazioli said the aim of the Odd Fellows Hall owners, Indigo Holdings LLC, continues to be converting the building into office and retail space.

To date, the exterior of the hall has been stabilized, broken window panes have been replaced, shingles painted and the roof has been repaired. In addition, Indigo recently purchased the mixed use structure abutting the hall on Warren Avenue.

Long in search of a buyer, the city finally sold the 140-year-old Odd Fellows Hall to Indigo Holdings for the sum of $1 back in August 2019. The company, headquartered on Wampanoag Trail, expressed interest in the two-and-a-half story, 12,000 square-foot building during a Request for Proposal process initiated by the city earlier in 2019.

The purchase and sales agreement between the parties allows the hall to qualify for East Providence’s tax stabilization program, establishing a single assessed value for five years. The city also had on offer a $100,000 interest-free loan to Indigo in order to conduct necessary and immediate repairs to the hall, which was built in 1889 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In addition, the agreement allows Indigo Holdings to participate in the city’s commercial loan and commercial micro-loan programs, both giving the developer access to low interest funds. As well, the Odd Fellows Hall is in the city’s federally backed, tax incentivized “Opportunity Zone.”

Mr. Fazioli said the pandemic has impacted the timeline of the project. He continued, “Like many other developments in the works, COVID-19 is a factor on its progress and when funding is available. The owners are engaged, but it’s difficult to assess the immediate future of the project at this point.”