Adelaide Revitalization Project | 27 Whitmarsh | 51 Mitchell | The Historic Homes at Parkis Ave

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Adelaide Revitalization Project

Summary:
The revitalization of The Melrose Apartments into the new Adelaide Apartments and Adelaide Homeownership Project represents the vision and hard work of residents and neighborhood organizations in the Elmwood section of Providence, Rhode Island.  The effort transformed a dilapidated public housing project, previously wrought from magnificent Victorian era houses and run into the ground, into beautiful affordable housing for 47 families, including 5 first-time homeowners. Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services is proud to have successfully brought these significant historic buildings back to life as quality affordable housing, in the process making major strides towards revitalizing this important neighborhood in the rich historical fabric of Providence.

181 Adelaide Avenue, before and after GENS renovation:

Site and Property Description
The Adelaide Apartments (formerly known as The Melrose Apartments) and Adelaide Homeownership Project are located in fifteen buildings scattered along both sides of Adelaide Avenue between Elmwood Avenue and Niagara Street in the Elmwood neighborhood. Three additional buildings nearby were subsequently added to the project at 20 Sackett St., and 5 Price St. These three blocks of Adelaide Avenue and nearby Sackett Street were originally developed at the turn of the century with two and three story, frame, single- and multi-family residences. In 1982, the fifteen buildings were renovated into 46 apartments, ranging from two units per building to seven units per building. The units are evenly distributed among one, two and three bedroom apartments. In general, the exteriors of the buildings were in poor condition and various states of disrepair, and the interiors ranged in condition from poor to fair. The site is within a National Register Historic District andconsequently one of the main goals of the project was restoration of the exteriors of the buildings to near-original condition. Landscaping and streetscape improvements were carefully attended to and designed in character with the historic setting.

Project Objectives 
The two primary objectives were 1.) To remove blight from the neighborhood by redeveloping properties that have been allowed to deteriorate and therefore have had a negative impact on surrounding properties; and 2.) Develop decent affordable housing for low/moderate income families.

Impact on Residents
Low/moderate income individuals and families benefit by increased availability of decent affordable housing. Neighbors of the properties benefit by no longer living near deteriorating properties. Increasing ownership opportunities creates more community unity and investment. The immediate beneficiaries will in turn spread the positive influences to the Elmwood neighborhood, to the surrounding neighborhoods and to the city of Providence by the enhanced housing conditions of its workforce and citizenship.

The Castillo Family, first time homeowners through the GENS Adelaide Homeownership Project, at their renovated home:

Click here to dowload the complete project description and details

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27 Whitmarsh

Front entryway of 27 Whitmarsh before and after GENS renovation:

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51 Mitchell

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