The Village at Manville breaks ground, bringing 72 new affordable homes to Lincoln

Joined by funding partners and developer Connolly and Partners, LLC, federal, state, and local officials celebrated the start of construction

MANVILLE, RI – Connolly and Partners, LLC, and RIHousing were joined today by Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman Gabe Amo, Governor Dan McKee, local officials and funding partners to mark the groundbreaking for The Village at Manville. The 72-unit building cluster will be located beside St. James’ Church, the original seller of the land.

“Strong, healthy, thriving communities need an adequate supply of housing options for everyone. I am pleased to deliver federal financing for this project, which will transform a vacant site into 72 new, affordable units in Lincoln. The Village at Manville is a testament to the private-public partnerships necessary to ensure people of all income levels can live, work, and put down roots here. It will be a great addition to a wonderful neighborhood,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee who created the national Housing Trust Fund (HTF), which contributed $1,174,331 to the project.

“Rhode Islanders are among the hardest hit by the nationwide affordable housing supply crunch,” said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. “Our American Rescue Plan, together with federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and other federal investments, has been put to work providing 72 families a stable, affordable place to call home and helping ease cost pressures in the market.”

“Building more affordable housing is key to providing economic security for all Rhode Islanders,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “Thanks to RIHousing’s dedicated work and public-private partnerships across all levels of government, I celebrate the groundbreaking for these 72 new units of affordable housing that residents in Lincoln will soon be able to call home.”

“My Administration is committed to increasing housing options in every community across our state—and that means investing in developments like The Village at Manville,” said Governor Dan McKee. “From launching the state’s first-ever Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to passing a historic $120 million housing bond and creating our Housing 2030 plan, we’re putting families and their futures first. The homes at The Village at Manville are a strong example of the progress we’re making.”

Comprised of three residential buildings and one community center, all 72 units will be affordable for individuals and families earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Eight of these units will be set aside for households earning up to 30% of the AMI – for a family of three that’s $30,900. These units will be supported by Section 811 vouchers through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program, which ensures housing affordability, support, independence, and accessibility for program participants. RIHousing administers the program on behalf of HUD. Voucher holders pay 30% of their income to rent and utilities and receive supportive services from Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals-approved providers.

The Village at Manville joins an increasing number of affordable housing developments in Lincoln – like Lincoln Lofts, which opened in 2020 with 45 units. Including The Village, 130 new units of housing are currently in the pipeline for the town; they are supported by State Fiscal Recovery Funds (SFRF), among other funding sources. Together, these development activities are contributing to a significant increase in housing stock – the majority of them affordable — in an attractive, sought-after community, at a time when Rhode Islanders face a difficult housing market.

“We’re making real, substantive progress on addressing Rhode Island’s housing crisis. I am very pleased that towns like Lincoln are embracing the need for more affordable housing,” said House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-23, Warwick). “Families who meet the threshold for ‘affordable housing’ are working families – teaching assistants, health care aides, public safety professionals, and more. They are the backbone of our communities and deserve to live in the area they serve.”

“Rhode Island’s housing crisis impacts people in every corner of our state, and it threatens the health and economic well-being of every community,” said State Senator Jake Bissailon, D1 – Providence. “The Villages at Manville will provide critically needed units in the Manville neighborhood and help ease the lack of access and affordability in the area. Additionally, its mixed-income approach and inclusion of various amenities makes it an example of the kind of development we need throughout our state. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing & Municipal Government, and on behalf of President Lawson and my colleagues, I commend the many partners who made this project possible.”

“The Village of Manville project represents a significant investment in the future of our community, providing 72 much-needed units of affordable housing for families and individuals who want to call Lincoln home,” said Lincoln Town Administrator Philip Gould. “This development reflects our continued commitment to housing opportunities for all. I want to thank Rhode Island Housing, Connolly and Partners, and Governor Dan McKee for their leadership and support. I also deeply appreciate the efforts of Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, as well as Congressman Gabe Amo, for their strong advocacy and continued investment in communities like ours. This is a proud moment for Lincoln and a meaningful step forward for Manville.”

Financing for The Village at Manville comes from multiple sources, including SFRF and the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), both administered by RIHousing. The Governor and General Assembly’s historic investment of over $322 million of SFRF into housing and homeless programs has been critical in the effort to increase affordable housing across the state, creating new rental and homeownership opportunities. The federal LIHTC has been another important resource in the development of affordable homes, offering tax incentives to developers and investors and providing an additional funding stream to encourage companies to invest in affordable housing in Rhode Island. Additional construction financing was also provided by Bank of America Rhode Island as well as the Town of Lincoln.

“Connolly and Partners, a First Hartford company, would like to thank RIHousing and Bank of America for their efforts in the successful financial closing of the Village at Manville,” said John Toic, President of First Hartford Realty Corporation. “This is a significant investment in Rhode Island that will benefit the surrounding communities, residents, and environment. Furthermore, this allows Connolly and Partners to continue our ongoing commitment to the development and preservation of affordable, high-quality, safe, and accessible housing.”

“The Villages at Manville exemplifies the goals of Housing 2030—delivering affordable housing options across the income spectrum through innovative public-private partnerships, the strategic use of federal resources, and the repurposing of underutilized land to meet urgent housing needs,” said Rhode Island Secretary of Housing Deborah Goddard. “Housing is where it all begins, and if we don’t get housing right, we won’t get the rest right—but we’re getting housing right.”

“Bank of America Community Development Banking is pleased to provide a construction loan and tax credit investment to help finance much-needed affordable for families in Manville,” said Bank of America Rhode Island President Kevin Tracy. “The Village at Manville is a great example of the impact we can make through public-private partnerships to support the communities where we work and live.”

“RIHousing is proud to be a supporter of The Village at Manville, a development that will bring more affordable housing options to Lincoln,” said Carol Ventura, CEO & Executive Director of RIHousing. “We were happy to provide essential funding for this project and remain firmly committed to investing in affordable housing opportunities across Rhode Island.”

The Village at Manville is the first development in Rhode Island for Connolly and Partners, a subsidiary of First Hartford Realty Corporation. Their other communities are in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Delaware.