NEWPORT, R.I. — With a statewide housing bond on Tuesday’s ballot, a new report from the research group HousingWorks RI uses Newport’s North End as one example of what earlier bonds have paid for.
The report says the Newport Heights development, 81 rental homes spread over 30 buildings and first built in 2003, was preserved and had its affordability extended with bond help. The development also won nearly $4 million for rehabilitation in the state’s latest housing award round this spring. Nearby, the report also cites Hammett Court in downtown Jamestown, where a former commercial building now holds 12 affordable, accessible apartments.
Statewide, the group counts five voter-approved housing bonds since 2006 that helped build or save roughly 5,600 homes in 33 of Rhode Island’s 39 cities and towns, with about 84% of them affordable. The two newest, Building Homes RI in 2021 and Housing 2030 in 2024, backed more than 1,600 homes and drew over $860 million in other money. Nearly $103 million of the $120 million in Housing 2030 had been committed by August.
HousingWorks RI, which is based at Roger Williams University, backs the new bond and argues more money is needed to keep projects moving.
Housing is also a theme in the Newport City Council race. At-large candidate Meagan Landry, answering a candidate questionnaire, said the city can add density in the right places to make room for teachers, first responders and service workers. She said a large Newport Housing Authority parcel off Hillside Avenue has builders ready to start but is stalled for lack of money, and she wants vacant commercial buildings in the North End rezoned for workforce and senior housing.
Polls open Tuesday, Nov. 3, for both the state bond questions and the local council races.
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