The Ade Bethune House is rising on Bristol Ferry Road in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and recent drone photography confirms the building’s exterior is nearly complete, with siding installation in its final stages. Phase 1, which includes the new Portsmouth Senior Center, is on track to open in November, with the 54 senior apartments scheduled to follow later this year.
Five years in the making, this project emerged from a partnership between the Town of Portsmouth, Church Community Housing Corporation, and the Portsmouth Senior Center to address two pressing community needs at once: the town’s aging, code-deficient senior center and a critical shortage of affordable housing for older adults. The result is a three-story building at the site of the former Anne Hutchinson School that weaves 54 age-restricted affordable apartments together with a modern, fully programmed senior center — sharing amenities and creating a hub for programs, supportive resources, and social connection.
Every unit is designed with universal design principles and durable, low-maintenance materials to support accessibility and long-term affordability. The site plan minimizes impervious surfaces to preserve green space, incorporating rain gardens and bioswales for stormwater management. Upon completion, the project will increase Portsmouth’s affordable housing stock from 2.75% to 3.45%, advancing the town toward its goal of 10% affordable units.
Named for the late artist and social activist Ade Bethune, the building represents more than bricks and mortar — it is a community resource designed to ensure that Portsmouth’s seniors have a safe, accessible, and welcoming place to live, gather, and thrive for generations to come.