Stop Wasting Abandoned Property holds beam signing at 1077 Westminster - affordable apartment building

Providence, RI Stop Wasting Abandoned Property (SWAP) was joined by governor Dan McKee, lieutenant governor Sabina Matos, mayor Brett Smiley and city council president Rachel Miller along with members of the RI General Assembly, funders, architects, contractors and neighbors for the beam signing and tour of 1077 Westminster, a new five-story mixed-use affordable apartment building. The ceremony marks an important step in providing new housing that is affordable for families at all income points, including up to nine units available for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“The demand for affordable apartments in our neighborhoods has never been so critical,” said SWAP’s executive director Carla DeStefano. “SWAP has received a very warm welcome from the West End with this development of 100% affordable apartments in a mixed- used building,” “This property — long known as 321 Knight, once a blighted lot — now stands as something entirely different: a symbol of progress, possibility, and what can happen when a community commits to change,” said president of SWAP’s board of directors Miguel Quezada “Today, we celebrate what’s been transformed — and sign our commitment to what comes next.” The $21 million development on a formerly blighted lot at 321 Knight St. will include 41 affordable apartments with commercial and non-profit community space on the first floor. The apartments on four upper floors include 13 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, and 9 three- bedroom units.

All the units in the building will be income-restricted, from 30 to 80% of the area median income (AMI). The housing is for the “workforce” of R.I., especially those with children who may find themselves unable to afford today’s rentals despite working in jobs such as education, health care, hospitality, fire and law enforcement.

“Housing production is a top priority of mine, and under my administration, permitting for housing has increased 150%,” said governor McKee. “For 50 years, SWAP has been living up to its name — Stop Wasting Abandoned Property — by preserving, rehabilitating and building housing for low- and moderate-income families. We are proud to have awarded nearly $8 million in funding including to support their latest project at 321 Knight Street, which brings new, affordable housing opportunities where they are needed most.” (*note state funds through RI Housing and the Executive Office of Housing) “Converting urban blight into dense, affordable housing is our only path through our affordability crisis, and no one does that better than SWAP. Today’s groundbreaking brings us one step closer to a more affordable Rhode Island,” said lieutenant governor Matos. “I especially commend SWAP for supporting Rhode Islanders with long-term care needs by creating specialized units for individuals with developmental disabilities.”

“In Providence we are taking bold actions to tackle the housing shortage head-on and transform vacant, blighted properties into safe, accessible homes for our neighbors,” said mayor Smiley. “We put in the work to streamline the development process of new homes and through targeted investments in affordable housing construction we’re ensuring the success of projects like this across the city. I’m incredibly thankful to governor McKee and our partners at SWAP for their efforts and investments in turning this vacant lot into 41 new units of affordable housing.”

“This is an exciting day for the neighborhood and city. A lot that has been underused, an eyesore, and a safety hazard for far too long is transforming before our eyes into 41 affordable new homes,” said Providence City Council president Rachel Miller. “I am proud and grateful for our ongoing partnership with SWAP and their tireless efforts to increase access to safe, healthy, affordable homes in the city.”

The RI General Assembly has set as one of its priorities the need to provide stable affordable housing. At the beam signing, leadership recognized the new 1077 Westminster as an important step in achieving that goal. “Rhode Island’s housing crisis is affecting every corner of our state and every segment of our communities. We need to act with urgency, pursue every possible solution, and embrace innovative approaches to affordable housing,” said senator Jacob Bissaillon, (D- Dist. 11, Providence, chair, RI Senate Committee on Housing & Municipal Government. “This mixed-use development is exactly the kind of project I am proud to support because it creates not just housing, but community that will help strengthen the neighborhood.”

“Families and seniors are struggling to keep up with rent and housing needs. This project that will turn a blighted piece of land into 41 affordable apartments will have a transformative effect for not only the people that will live here, but also for the City of Providence,” said rep. Scott Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence). “It will bring hope and stability to this neighborhood.”

“LISC is proud to support SWAP and the development of 1077 Westminster,” said Jeanne Cola, senior executive director at LISC/NEF. “1077 Westminster is an important multi-use development that has affordable units for households with a range of incomes, family sizes, and abilities. The project will help address the needs of Rhode Islanders already living in the West End community.”

“We’re proud to support SWAP in the development of 1077 Westminster St., a property that adds to the numerous developments that we have financed in Providence,” said Carol Ventura, CEO & executive director of RIHousing. “SWAP’s development will provide 41 new affordable apartments for Rhode Island families while revitalizing a blighted property. We congratulate Carla and the team on this new development.”

Building on a pilot SWAP successfully rolled out last year, 1077 Westminster will include apartments for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. West Bay, an organization which provides person-centered supports in ways that promote community inclusion, personal power, and self-expression Is partnering with SWAP on the initiative. West Bay’s executive director Casey Gartland said, “We know that safe affordable homes are important for all members of our community. We are looking forward to this project as it will allow us to further invest in living situations for people with IDD unique to their wishes and needs. Partnering with SWAP is an opportunity to demonstrate this aspect of our mission.” Those gathered celebrated the contribution 1077 Westminster will make in transforming the neighborhood and demonstrated their support by signing one of the building’s beams. It is anticipated the construction will be completed by May 2027.