Paolino plans to convert former St. Joseph’s hospital into housing for homeless

JOSEPH R. Paolino Jr., is shown in front of Paolino headquarters at 100 Westminster St. in Providence. He said he bought the former St. Joseph's hospital building and plans to convert it into housing for the homeless.  / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
JOSEPH R. Paolino Jr., is shown in front of Paolino headquarters at 100 Westminster St. in Providence. He said he bought the former St. Joseph's hospital building and plans to convert it into housing for the homeless. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Updated 2:33 p.m.
PROVIDENCE – Businessman and former Providence mayor Joseph R. Paolino Jr. announced on Monday that he plans to convert the former St. Joseph’s hospital building in South Providence into housing for the homeless.

The building would house homeless veterans and other homeless people in the Providence community, Paolino said during a telephone interview.

Paolino said he doesn’t know yet whether the housing would be completely free for inhabitants.

“This is the first step of a very long journey to try to put the various social service agencies and the financial pieces together on this,” Paolino said.

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Paolino said he bought the building on Dec. 28. He said he could not disclose the purchase price because he signed a confidentiality agreement with the sellers.

City property records list the building’s owner as Prospect CharterCare LLC.

CharterCare will be a tenant in the building and provide health care services to the building’s inhabitants, Paolino said.

“We are excited by the opportunity to expand our network of pediatric and adult primary care, as well as specialty health services, including the state’s busiest pediatric dental program, to an even greater population through the creation of much needed affordable housing,” said CharterCare spokesman Otis Brown.

The building, located at 21 Peace St., was assessed in 2016 at nearly $49 million, and the 2.34-acre parcel it sits on was assessed at nearly $3.5 million, according to property records. The nine-story brick building was built in 1960.

The building needs to be renovated, Paolino said.

Paolino said he has not yet taken preliminary steps to see how much renovations would cost.

Asked whether he will be seeking help from the city and the state for renovations, Paolino said that would be part of future discussions but he’s “not at that stage yet.”

“A lot of this is unchartered waters, but I have to start somewhere,” Paolino said.

Paolino is the owner and managing partner of Paolino Properties and chairman of the Providence Downtown Improvement District.

In September, Paolino unveiled a host of proposals aimed at reducing the number of panhandlers downtown. The plan, which called for an increase in police presence among other things, evoked outcry from those in opposition, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island.

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