East Providence’s “Center City Apartments” development goes above and beyond - by Roberto DaSilva

The city of East Providence is excited to see one of its most substantial residential developments breaking ground. One Neighborhood Builders, one of Rhode Island’s leading nonprofit affordable housing and community development organizations, has begun construction of its Center City Apartments affordable housing development. Center City Apartments is transforming a vacant, three-acre blighted parcel on Taunton Ave. into 144 affordable apartments.

ONE Neighborhood Builders is developing Center City Apartments through an innovative collaboration with homelessness service provider Crossroads Rhode Island, foster care empowerment organization Foster Forward, and statewide human service organization Family Service of Rhode Island. The development includes the renovation of an existing vacant and blighted four-story building that was formerly used as an assisted living facility and college dormitory. Two additional four-story buildings will also be constructed on either side of the existing building. The project’s amenities include a resident lounge and library with complimentary Wi-Fi, a wellness room, community rooms, and green space. The development’s scope also includes extensive improvements to the city’s existing infrastructure that will benefit the community and surrounding neighbors. These include stormwater management to mitigate flooding issues, hundreds of feet of replaced water pipe along Taunton Ave, streetscape improvements including new lighting and trees, and improvements to the existing RIPTA bus stop.

Center City Apartments goes above and beyond the state’s minimum income requirements for affordable housing developments. All of the 144 units will be rented to low-to moderate-income households. Forty percent of these units will be reserved for the most economically vulnerable families making under 30% of the area median income. These units will be designed as “permanent supportive housing,” which pairs housing with case management and supportive services provided by the project’s service partners.

The development has been funded through a variety of sources including a $3 million loan through the Rhode Island Foundation, a $3.5 million loan from a non-profit organization, LISC, and a $2 million earmark through senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse. The city of East Providence contributed $154,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds towards ONE Neighborhood Builders’ purchase of the property. The city also successfully applied for an RI Infrastructure Bank grant to fund public infrastructure necessary to serve the project.

Center City Apartments will have a transformative impact on the surrounding area. For years this stretch of Taunton Ave. has been defined by this blighted structure. This investment will generate new revenue for local businesses and improve the economic outlook for households who will benefit from affordable and safe housing. A development of this scope is not only a benefit to East Providence but to the region as a whole, as the effects of the current housing crisis are felt throughout the state. The development is one of several new housing developments throughout the city including affordable units. The project reflects the city’s commitment to providing additional housing options to give every resident the chance to live with dignity and security.

Roberto DaSilva is the mayor of the city of East Providence, R.I.