Rhode Island Takes a Step to End Veteran’s Homelessness
June 23, 2015
Providence, RI (June 23, 2015) -- Rhode Island is celebrating projects charged with providing affordable housing for homeless and disabled veterans. These projects are part of a larger state effort called Opening Doors Rhode Island which aims to end veteran’s homelessness by December 31, 2015.
Blackstone Valley Development Corporation is collaborating with Veterans for Tomorrow, LLC, to renovate the vacant jewelry manufacturing building, Heaton and Cowing Mill. The project, known as “Veterans for Tomorrow,” will create 20 affordable homes for homeless and disabled veterans.
Saccoccio & Associates, an architectural firm located in Cranston, provided the project’s architectural design and consultation, historic restoration, and interior design.
"The building is designed to retain the character of the historic mill while providing comfortable living space with modern amenities," said Mark Saccoccio, Principal of Saccoccio & Associates. "The apartments are handicap accessible and the community space has been designed to accommodate job training and other veteran services."
The 13,590 sq ft building is located at 1115 Douglas Avenue, in Providence. Two and a half of the three floors will be residential with one efficiency suite and nineteen one bedroom units. A community room and job training center will also be on site.
Surveying, site engineering, and local/state permitting were provided by DiPrete Engineering.
“Veterans for Tomorrow is helping those who have served our country to rebuild their lives,” said Nicole Reilly, Senior Project Manager at DiPrete Engineering. “We couldn’t be more proud to have worked on this project.”
Other veteran housing projects include Operation Stand Down RI, which recently completed the construction of 10 affordable homes for veterans in Westerly, and Turning Point II, which recently completed construction of 14 affordable homes for veterans in Providence near the Veterans Administration Hospital.
Renovations on Veterans for Tomorrow are expected to be complete by October 2015.
ABOUT Saccoccio & Associates: Founded in 1973, Saccoccio & Associates is a leading Rhode Island Architecture firm. It has designed numerous schools, commercial sites, housing developments and public buildings in Rhode Island and Southern New England. For more information visit, www.sa-architects.com.
ABOUT DIPRETE ENGINEERING: DiPrete Engineering is a leading civil engineering, planning and surveying firm in New England. The firm has offices in Providence, RI, Newport, RI, and Boston, MA. www.diprete-eng.com.
