From Robert Whitcomb’s “Digital Diary,’’ in GoLocal24.com

Excel Academy, a new charter school in Providence, will be housed in part of the former St. Joseph’s Hospital.  (Reminder: Charter schools are a kind of public school.) Meanwhile, the city’s School Department plans to renovate other parts of the old hospital for a separate K-8 public school.

Many big stores are closing, and hospitals  are shrinking as more and more care, including surgery, is performed on an outpatient basis. Thus  more and more space will be available for reuse to address growing or brand-new needs

I’ve sometimes   thought that the Providence Place mall would be a nice, completely all-weather college campus.