Ivy Place brings new life to an East Providence main street - by Roberto DaSilva

The former Bomes Theater at 164 Taunton Ave. was demolished in 2008 after decades of vacancy. Its demolition left a gap in the streetscape of the Taunton Ave. corridor that would remain for approximately 15 years. Today, this site is home to the new Ivy Place development by non-profit, affordable housing developer, NeighborWorks Blackstone Valley. This new construction is contributing to the ongoing revitalization of one of the city’s main thoroughfares, just feet away from city hall and several local eateries and other small businesses.

Ivy Place consists of 13 owner-occupied units that are deed restricted for 99 years to remain affordable for first-time homebuyers. Four of these spaces are “live/work” units which also include commercial storefronts facing Taunton Ave. for affordable small business opportunities. The development’s design by Union Studio Architecture incorporates traditional facades and building layouts that fit into the commercial streetscape of Taunton Ave. as well as the residential streetscape of Ivy St. The property is located in the waterfront district where the city’s waterfront commission oversees a streamlined development process. 

Occupation of the units was delayed for a time due as the city and developer addressed an issue related to taxation. City ordinances required the entire mixed-use property to be taxed at a commercial rate, which had the result of canceling out affordability for eligible buyers. The city worked to amend its ordinances in a novel way to enable the live/work units to split their tax burden evenly with the square footage residential portion taxed at the residential rate, and the commercial portion taxed at the commercial rate. Funding of Ivy Place is supported by a number of sources including the Rhode Island Housing Investment Fund, Federal Home Loan Bank, Bank of Boston and BankRI. The East Providence Waterfront Commission also contributed nearly $750,000 from their affordable housing fund.         

The Ivy Place development serves as an excellent example of affordable housing as economic development. This infill development revitalizes a long vacant property on one of the city’s most important main streets and provides additional revenue for municipal services. New home ownership and business opportunities will be created for local residents which will contribute to their long-term financial security. The development shows East Providence’s leadership in housing development, as we continue to build and redevelop blighted properties.

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