A DESIGN RENDERING of the two-building Sutton Place apartment development in East Providence, which was renovated by ONE Neighborhood Builders. / COURTESY ED WOJCIK ARCHITECT LTD.

EAST PROVIDENCE – The city became the seventh municipality in Rhode Island to reach the state’s 10% community goal for affordable housing with the opening of a 36-unit complex on Monday.

ONE Neighborhood Builders hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly rehabilitated Sutton Place apartment complex of affordable housing.

“When communities invest in affordable housing, they are investing in a stronger economy. We would not be in a position to open the doors of Sutton Place without strong support from our partners in government, from the federal delegation all the way to the local and municipal leaders in East Providence,” said ONE Neighborhood Builders Executive Director Jen Hawkins. “East Providence is now the seventh municipality in Rhode Island to reach the state’s 10 percent low- and moderate-income housing goal.”

The complex, located at 54 and 60 Sutton Ave., consists of two identical building. ONE Neighborhood Builders, a Providence-based community development nonprofit, purchased the property last year for $3.3 million and invested more than $6 million into its renovation. Funding came from Rhode Island Housing, the state Housing Trust Fund and the East Providence Waterfront Commission. To qualify for the apartments, tenants must be at or below 80% of the area median income.

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