Center City Apartments, architect's rendering

Predevelopment – Estimated completion: summer 2026 (funding dependent)

This transformative project is unique: it is a development of scale featuring 144 affordable apartments spanning three buildings along Taunton Avenue in East Providence, and it is a project that intentionally integrates supportive housing for persons who have experienced long-term homelessness into a larger residential community.  

Two new, four-story buildings will be constructed on either side of an existing four-story structure that will undergo a complete renovation; All together, the development will revitalize what is currently a vacant and blighted 3-acre parcel of land. 

Approximately 40% of the apartments will be Permanent Supportive Housing, reserved for persons who are experiencing homelessness or at the highest risk of homelessness. These apartments will provide high-quality, service-enriched housing to families through an innovative partnership with Crossroads Rhode Island, Family Service of Rhode Island, and Foster Forward. These social service agencies will have on-site offices within the development.  

The remaining units will be available to individuals and families who fall under 80% Area Median Income bracket.  

Taunton Avenue Development BEFORE

FAQs 

Who will live in this apartment community?   

Apartments will be leased to households who have a range of annual incomes. Leases are for a minimum of one year and we hope all residents will enjoy living in the community for many years.  

  • Approximately 40% of the apartments will be “Permanent Supportive Housing” for extremely low-income households earning less than30% of area median income.  
  • The remaining 60% of the apartments will be for low- to moderate-income households earning 60-80% of area median income.  

The findings of our fiscal impact study indicate less than 25 school-aged children will reside at the development. Our fiscal impact study is available to the public for review.  

What is the Taunton Avenue Collaborative 

The Taunton Avenue Collaborative, formed in 2022, represents an innovative partnership between four highly effective and respected nonprofit organizations that share a commitment to ensuring all Rhode Islanders enjoy safe, healthy, and affordable housing. Together, we sought to purchase and transform the long vacant and blighted property along Taunton Avenue. The four organizations include:    

  • ONE Neighborhood Builders, a nonprofit community development organization with more than 35 years of experience in affordable housing and community development. 
  • Foster Forward, an East Providence-based nonprofit that empowers lives impacted by foster care.   
  • Family Service of RI, a nonprofit with a mission to advance equity, opportunity, and hope in the community through a comprehensive array of community-based, wraparound services.  
  • Crossroads Rhode Island helps homeless and at-risk individuals and families secure stable homes.   

What is your proposed parking arrangement? 

The preliminary plans approved conform with current zoning, and meets the 1:1 parking ratio; Center City Apartments will include 145 parking spaces and  is located on a RIPTA bus line with a covered bus stop directly in front of the existing building at 350 Taunton Ave.   

Who will be responsible for ongoing management and maintenance of the development?  

ONE Neighborhood Builders, who owns more than 450 high-quality apartments across Providence and East Providence. We are an active and present landlord that works in tandem with a property management firm, Peabody Properties, to provide full-time maintenance and leasing services for our developments.   

What amenities and services will be provided at Center City Apartments?  

The development will feature a welcoming lobby with staff to accept packages and provide a security presence. Proposed resident amenities include private greenspace, courtyards, and three season porches, resident library lounge with complimentary Wi-Fi, onsite laundry facilities, and offices for leasing, property management and social service providers. Access control will be offered via a fob-key system.  

How will Center City Apartments benefit East Providence and the surrounding neighborhood?  

Our development will transform a blighted vacant property into a vibrant, campus-like, mixed use community. The renovations and new construction will have a transformative impact on the surrounding community of East Providence by increasing property values and generating new revenue for local business.   

How does the project align with the City’s Comprehensive Plan?  

The proposed development promotes East Providence’s Comprehensive Plan through job creation, new housing, mixed-use development, economic growth, streetscape and infrastructure improvements, sustainable and environmentally friendly improvements, and more.  Please reference our Comprehensive Plan Consistency Report for a more detailed analysis.   

When will Center City Apartments be completed?  

We expect to secure and close all permanent financing in late 2024, and the 18-months of construction will commence shortly thereafter.  We anticipate beginning leasing apartments in the fall of 2026. 

What supportive services will the Taunton Avenue Collaborative Partners provide at Center City Apartments?   

Residents will have access to on-site and free supportive services provided by trained and experienced staff. Examples include: money management and financial literacy training and match savings accounts to help families with economic self-sufficiency; job preparation and career coaching through Foster Forward’s Works Wonders program that provides soft skill training, one-on-one coaching, job search and application support, connections to vocational training and credentialing, supportive work experiences, and connections to educational pathways such as higher education and GED; and comprehensive housing based case management.   

About the Taunton Avenue Collaborative Partners 

ABOUT ONE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDERS:   

ONE Neighborhood Builders (ONE|NB) is a nonprofit community development leader that improves lives across Rhode Island by building homes and connecting communities. They use their 35 years of practical experience in the housing and community development fields to test new ideas and challenge entrenched systems. ONE|NB is the convening entity of Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone (CPO-HEZ), a place-based collective impact initiative of more than 60 stakeholders across the nine neighborhoods of Central Providence. CPO-HEZ advances the shared vision for greater health and economic equity in the 02908 and 02909 zip codes.   

ABOUT CROSSROADS RHODE ISLAND:  

Founded in 1894 as Travelers Aid, Crossroads is the state’s leading provider of housing and services for those experiencing homelessness. Last year, Crossroads provided nearly 4,000 men, women and children with shelter, housing or housing-related services. To meet the growing need for affordable housing, the local non-profit is in the process of creating 300 permanent supportive apartments in Providence and owns and manages more than 375 permanent supportive apartments statewide.  

ABOUT FAMILY SERVICE OF RHODE ISLAND: 

Family Service of Rhode Island (FSRI) is a statewide human service organization which annually impacts more than 20,000 Rhode Islanders of all ages—especially those with low-incomes. We achieve our mission – of advancing equity, opportunity, and hope in our communities – through our 300+ person highly trained/diverse team of care experts delivering 40 different programs which advance well-being. FSRI’s locations include three offices and a school (Mount Pleasant Academy) in Providence; four treatment homes for youth in Smithfield, North Smithfield, and East Providence; and we have an affiliate family shelter, Lucy’s Hearth, in Middletown.  FSRI team members regularly work with or within partner sites (e.g. police departments, schools); communities (e.g South Providence Health Equity Zone); and with families in their homes, as they need us. 

ABOUT FOSTER FORWARD: 

Foster Forward’s mission is to empower lives impacted by foster care. The organization provides an integrated suite of programming for foster youth transitioning to adulthood including housing development and support, financial literacy and asset building, career exploration and workforce development, therapy and wellness, and mentoring.