The Valley Breeze: ONE|NB approved for 47 affordable units near Central Falls City Hall

By Ethan Shorey
Valley Breeze Editor 

CENTRAL FALLS – ONE Neighborhood Builders, the company completing the transformation of the former St. Patrick Church property on Broad Street in Cumberland into 44 affordable housing units, also now has approval to build 47 units up the road in Central Falls.

On Jan. 4, the Central Falls Planning Board granted preliminary plan approval to 47 affordable apartments as part of the Broad Street Homes project near Central Falls City Hall, 30 of those to be located at the former Dunkin’ at 542 Broad St. next to City Hall, and another 17 across the street at the former police building at 499-511 Broad St., a structure designed by noted firm William R. Walker & Son. Walker was also responsible for designing numerous other prominent buildings in Pawtucket, Central Falls and elsewhere in Rhode Island.

ONE Neighborhood Builders has been working with Central Falls from the beginning on this project, said Executive Director Jennifer Hawkins, and the city has been very helpful during the process. She said both this and the Cumberland project are great examples of communities coming to them and asking what they can do to create more affordable housing.