Plan would turn St. Patrick's Church building in Cumberland into affordable housing units
There are plans in the works to use the historic St. Patrick's Church building in Cumberland and turn it into affordable housing. (WJAR)
CUMBERLAND, R.I. (WJAR) — There are plans in the works to use the historic St. Patrick's Church building in Cumberland and turn it into affordable housing.
But first, the remains of the Rev. Hugh O'Reilly and his monument on the side lawn have to be relocated.
St. Patrick's Church on Broad Street has been vacant for more than five years after merging with nearby St. Aidan's. It was originally built in 1861. However, with the ongoing housing crisis, the town of Cumberland reached out to the nonprofit ONE Neighborhood builders to see if they'd be interested. They are.
Milton Baxter is the nonprofit's director of real estate and general counsel. ONE Neighborhood has been in operation for seven years, developing affordable housing properties, after it came to be when Olneyville Housing and Community Works RI merged.
"We'll have about 20 units inside the church, and then the adjoining rectory building which is next door will be razed down to its existing foundation, and a new building will be built there," Baxter said.
A number of those units will be created for elderly residents that don't need assistance as offered in nursing homes.
Before the sale can go through, the remains of St. Patrick's third pastor who died in 1872 will have to be exhumed and relocated by the church to Mt. Cavalry Cemetery. It's believed O'Reilly's remains are right behind the monument that bears his name, just to the left of the once main entrance to the church.
"My understanding is they used some ground penetrating radar," said Baxter, to determine the exact spot. "The removal of Father O'Reilly I imagine will take a couple of days on site," once permits are obtained, and protocols are followed.
O'Reilly probably would be pleased at the plans for much-needed affordable housing.
"We're trying to line up all of our financing, which is a typical process during affordable housing development, with a number of funding sources that are providing financing for this," added Baxter, whose nonprofit has done more than 40 such projects over the years.
The $750,000 price tag for St. Patrick's that will be named "The Sanctuary at Valley Falls" might sound like a steal, but there will be a lot of work for the conversion and additions, including two floors inside what's now the main church building, with the second floor ceilings to be retained with the renovation.
"I'm very happy working with the town of Cumberland and their efforts to bring affordable housing and also to preserve such an important landmark of the town," said Baxter.
ONE Neighborhood hopes to close this summer, with a target completion of spring 2024.