The Residences at Riverside Square

Vibrant, urban, affordable housing fosters community revitalization through the total transformation of a vacant industrial site.

The Residences at Riverside Square is an infill housing project in East Providence, Rhode Island, providing 16 affordable rental apartments for extremely low- to moderate-income households, including three units for youth aging out of foster care. Known locally as “the Old Vamco Site,” the long-vacant property, once plagued by hazardous chemicals from a jewelry finishing operation, has been remediated. The site is adjacent to the East Bay Bike Path and close to neighborhood businesses and a bus stop, promoting convenient, low-cost, and low-carbon living.

The building maintains the street edge while offering privacy through a landscape buffer. Parking is hidden at the rear, accessible via a dead-end street. The design complements the historic fabric, transitioning smoothly from the commercial area to the north to the residential neighborhood to the south. Traditional building forms combined with modern details provide high density without overwhelming the neighborhood. Each townhouse has a covered stoop and fenced yard, while walk-ups share front and rear entries among six neighbors.