All News & Events

With remote work trending upward, South County real estate market is hotter than ever

The state of Rhode Island received $1 million in Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) grants meant to render financial aid to residents of public housing. East Greenwich and Narragansett are set to receive a combined $141,512 of the monies, which will be used to continue extant FSS programs in the towns through 2020.

HousingWorks RI delivered a presentation to the town council Monday to implore the town to consider better avenues of increasing access to affordable housing. Brenda Clement, director of HousingWorks RI, addressed the council in an effort to drum up support and highlight the tumultuous future that likely await towns that do not prepare for increased housing in the present.

The Planning Board continued an ongoing review of an affordable housing project that is anticipated to receive a comprehensive permit.

A proposed affordable housing project on South County Trail continues to be considered by the Planning Board.

Monday night the two Democratic candidates for state senate District 35 (East Greenwich, North Kingstown, Narragansett, South Kingstown) Bridget Valverde and Gregory Acciardo, met for a public forum.

They’re sometimes known as “in-law apartments” or “granny flats.” But Rhode Island law gives them a more formal name: accessory dwelling units. On Jan. 1, 2017, a change in state law went into effect, allowing owner-occupants of single-family homes to build these units by right for senior relatives ages 62 or older. Previously they were allowed by right only for disabled family members. Since the law changed, some residents have made inquiries about accessory dwelling units, according to local building and zoning officials. But only a small number have apparently gone ahead with plans to build them.

Several Rhode Island towns are facing negative impacts after being notified in late July that many of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications for local programs and agencies will not receive the funding they typically see. Locally, six social services programs applied for a total of $136,702 to fund several projects in the area, and after the meeting in late July, East Greenwich, along with many other towns across the state, were notified that none of their applications from the Plan Year 2016 will receive funding.

As East Greenwich continues to become a popular destination to shop, eat and live, one developer is creating what he thinks is a much-needed place to live; one bedroom condos for purchase on Main Street.