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Federal, state & local officials cut the ribbon on new townhouses that exemplify rural smart growth in North Smithfield
North Smithfield, R.I. (Nov. 2, 2012) – Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman David Cicilline and Governor Lincoln Chafee joined Rhode Island Housing, NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley and their community partners for a ribbon cutting ceremony at Marshfield Commons, which is 38 new townhouse-style homes in 18 buildings.
“Marshfield Commons is a terrific project every way you look at it: the new development will provide 38 Rhode Island families with a place to call home and will help revitalize the neighborhood by preserving open space and common areas. Its construction also provided badly needed jobs for Rhode Island workers,” said U.S. Senator Whitehouse. “I’m proud of the great partnership between city, state, and community organizations that allowed this project to move forward.”
“I was honored to take part in this morning’s ribbon cutting at Marshfield Commons celebrating new affordable housing and helping to create jobs here in Rhode Island,” said U.S. Representative Cicilline. “As we work together to get our economy back on the track, it is important that we work together to ensure that every Rhode Islander has a safe and affordable place to live.”
Located on Mechanic Street in North Smithfield, the new affordable homes are on 6.3 acres of land near the Village of Slatersville. The creation of these homes supported more than 150 jobs in the construction and real estate development sectors. In addition, these new homes contributed to ongoing work to ensure that North Smithfield continues to be a thriving community.
“This kind of innovative collaboration among many entities within our state and beyond put approximately 150 Rhode Islanders back to work. It also enhanced an already existing neighborhood with smart growth ideas by clustering the new homes and maximizing open space,” Governor Chafee said. “Marshfield Commons is good news for North Smithfield and for Rhode Island, as it adds to the stability of an important neighborhood.”
Due to its severely distressed condition, the former home was demolished, and the new structure was designed to resemble the original—with some 21st century upgrades—a solar panel system to provide ‘green power’ to the development’s site lighting and well. Some of the original fireplace hearthstones have been incorporated into the site’s landscape.
Marshfield Commons includes a small community center for an afterschool program for the children of residents and the surrounding neighborhood. “The support of the Town of North Smithfield has been instrumental in bringing Marshfield Commons to fruition,” said Joe Garlick, Executive Director of NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley. “The town’s permitting for these homes was approved in record time, and the town’s support for CDGB funding for the project was critical.”
“Partnerships like this one are integral to solving our state’s affordable housing crisis and economic downturn by putting Rhode Islanders back to work while creating vibrant communities with good homes, ” said Richard Godfrey, Executive Director of Rhode Island Housing. “I commend NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley, the Town of North Smithfield and their partners for such a wonderful KeepSpace approach to the creation of nice homes that are affordable to working Rhode Islanders near the center of Slatersville with its public transportation and key neighborhood businesses and services.”
Among the key funding sources that ensured the creation of these homes is assistance from Building Homes Rhode Island (BHRI), which was voter-approved in 2006 and created nearly 6,100 jobs. The last of the BHRI funding has been awarded but there is another referendum, Question 7, on Tuesday’s ballot. Voting “Yes” on Question 7 would bring key investments in safe, healthy affordable homes.
“Marshfield Commons has successfully leveraged State Building Homes Rhode Island (BHRI) funding with various other sources, creating affordable homes for residents of our state,” said Michael Tondra, Chief/Executive Director, Office of Housing and Community Development/Housing Resources Commission (HRC).
Fifty percent of the homes will have rents at 50 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), and the balance will have rents at or below 60 percent AMI. All of the homes have driveways, decks and/or patios and yards built around a central green. There are one one-bedroom, 17 two-bedroom and 20 three-bedroom apartments.
“Marshfield Commons may have experienced significant delays without the critical predevelopment funding that was provided by LISC. Building strong neighborhoods and healthy communities is what we are all about. LISC is pleased to be a partner in creating with NWBRV homes Rhode Islanders can afford. These homes are a perfect example of investments in neighborhoods that work toward LISC’s vision of building sustainable communities, places of choice and opportunity, for all Rhode Islanders,” said Jeanne Cola, Executive Director of R.I.’s Local Initiative Support Corporation (RI LISC).
The new development is located on the site of the former Dr. Metcalf Marsh House built in 1820. According to the R.I. Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission’s local historic and architectural resource survey, “Dr. Marsh was active in the social, intellectual and religious life of the community. Concerned about unequal legislative representation as well as the matter of extension of suffrage, Marsh was an active supporter of Thomas W. Dorr’s movement in the 1840s.”
Marshfield Commons includes social services, and among the programs offered will be job and literacy training, and healthy, human and financial counseling. These services are made possible through a collaborative process with the Town of North Smithfield, Family Resources Community Action, the property manager and staff of NBRV, said Joe Garlick, the Executive Director of NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley.
The lenders and funders of Marshfield Commons included: Navigant Credit Union/Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, Bank of America Merrill Lynch/Rhode Island Housing, Bank of America/Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, R.I. Housing Resources Commission BHRI, Town of North Smithfield/RI Statewide Planning Housing & Community Development/U.S. HUD, NeighborWorks America (overhead support) and NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley.
NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley (NWBRV) is a nonprofit community development corporation serving Northern RI. NWBRV has been a leader in innovative housing and community development projects for the past 20+ years. NWBRV has developed over 350 units of affordable rental, home ownership, and over 40,000 square feet of neighborhood commercial and community facilities in Northern Rhode Island.
Rhode Island Housing: Together with its partners, Rhode Island Housing works to ensure that all people who live and work in Rhode Island can afford a healthy, attractive home that meets their needs. Rhode Island Housing uses all of its resources to provide low-interest loans, grants, education and assistance to help Rhode Islanders find, rent, buy, build and keep a good home. Created by the General Assembly in 1973, Rhode Island Housing is a privately funded public purpose corporation.
