The Providence City Plan Commission voted unanimously Tuesday night to adopt some zoning ordinance changes based off of the city’s new comprehensive plan. Broadly speaking, the zoning changes would allow greater density in most neighborhoods in Providence, with the exception of Blackstone and some pockets of the West side. While the comprehensive plan is a […]
zoning
Posted inHousing, Politics, The Weekly Catch
Races to watch in Tuesday’s state primary, how local zoning rules stifle housing production, and more
Rhode Island lawmakers are taking aim at the state’s housing shortage by passing laws and increasing funding to expand inventory. But local zoning laws that vary between cities and towns are often a barrier to building. We take a look at the political tug-of-war between state and local officials over the housing crisis from our series Zoned Out. Also, Rhode Island’s state primary election is this Tuesday. Political reporter Ian Donnis highlights a few key races to watch. Plus, we look back at the thriving arts scene in Providence in the 1990s, and how the old mill buildings of the city’s industrial past made that possible. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inHousing, Local
As state lawmakers look to boost housing, zoning remains a pitched political battle in Rhode Island
Standing on Broad Street in Cumberland, Jennifer Hawkins looks up at the former St. Patrick’s Church. Hawkins leads the nonprofit developer ONE Neighborhood Builders, which is renovating the vacant church building and turning it into housing. ONE Neighborhood Builders originally planned to build 44 low- and moderate-income apartments, but that number has increased thanks to […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Housing, The Weekly Catch
The invisible legacy of racially restrictive housing covenants, Providence schools outlook, and more
Buried deep in residential property records across Rhode Island lies an ugly truth: old restrictions in deeds that prohibited people of color from buying a given home. We hear from our own Nina Sparling about how racist restrictions in housing deeds helped shape where Rhode Islanders live today. Also, Providence public schools will remain under state control for another three years. Political reporter Ian Donnis gives us his take on the news, and a few highlights from the week in Rhode Island politics. And we have a studio session from The Whelks, an acoustic trio defined by their three-part harmonies, and a shared love of early country, swing, and Rhode Island. Plus: Our picks for what to do this week.
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Aug. 30, 2024
You love it when Peter Farrelly sneaks in a Rhode Island reference. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** STORY OF THE WEEK: Running for […]
Posted inHousing, Local
A Massachusetts law requires some towns to add more multi-family housing. Will it work?
As Rhode Island continues to search for ways to increase its housing stock, a new law in Massachusetts is requiring cities and towns across the state to change their zoning regulations to allow more multi-family housing. The MBTA Communities Act, which was signed into law in 2021 but goes into effect this year, requires communities […]
Posted inHousing, The Weekly Catch
How zoning stifles housing production in Rhode Island, a celebration of Guatemalan culture, and more
Rhode Island has faced a housing shortage for decades, and despite efforts to address it, the problem is getting worse. Today, thousands of people in Rhode Island are homeless, thousands more homeowners and renters are living in unsecure conditions, and home prices continue to skyrocket. The state needs to build more housing, but one of the biggest factors stifling that process is zoning. It’s the focus of our new series, Zoned Out. Also, we visit New Bedford’s Patio de Comidas, a summer-long celebration of Central American cuisine. It culminates this weekend with the Festival Tipico de Guatemala. Plus: A look back on the week in Rhode Island politics with political reporter Ian Donnis, and our picks for what to do this week.
Posted inHousing, Local, South County Bureau
How large-lot zoning contributes to Rhode Island’s big housing shortfall
The corner of Gardiner and Ten Rod Roads in Exeter looks a lot like a place to take a hike. It’s wooded, quiet, and abuts 26 acres of densely grown trees. “It certainly would make a great nature preserve,” Colin Penney, executive director of South County Habitat for Humanity, said on a recent visit to […]
Posted inHousing, Local
HousingWorks RI’s Brenda Clement on addressing zoning challenges at the local level
Housing costs in Rhode Island continue to explode, thanks in part to a lack of supply. One reason there isn’t enough housing: local zoning laws limit what can be built where. For our series Zoned Out: How local zoning hurts efforts to solve Rhode Island’s decades-long housing shortage, The Public’s Radio’s Dave Fallon interviewed Brenda […]
Posted inHousing, Local, Metro Desk
What Providence’s proposed zoning changes would mean for your neighborhood
The City of Providence’s Planning Department has released a new map showing proposed changes in growth and density in the city under its draft comprehensive plan. According to the city’s Planning Department, the proposed changes are meant to accommodate more people. Over the last Census period, the city’s population increased by 7%, and the city […]
