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Sandywoods Farm Arts Community

Tiverton, Rhode Island
Date 2011
Size 50 affordable units in 28 buildings, 24 market-rate houses, a community center, mixed-use studios, galleries, and retail on 28 acres
Client Church Community Housing, Inc.
Awards
  • CNU New England Chapter Urbanism Award, 2007 American Planning Association Rhode Island Chapter Award Mixed-Use, 2009
  • Multifamily Executive MFE Award Merit Award for Best Re-Use of Land, 2011
  • GrowSmartRI Smart Growth Award Outstanding Smart Growth Project, 2012
  • Boston Society of Architects John Clancy Honor Award for Socially Responsible Housing, 2013

Sandywoods Farm is a unique arts and agricultural community designed to combine affordable rental and market-rate housing with a working farm, mixed-use retail, and a studio, gallery, and performance space for artists. It takes a multi-use approach that fosters a strong community identity and includes 50 affordable cottages for rent. The project preserves 147 acres of land for a working farm, open space, and community gardens. Due to the compact planning of the neighborhood, the remaining site was donated to The Nature Conservancy.

A community “Grange Hall” serves as the venue for theater performances, potlucks, cooking classes, and other group events. Power is provided for nearly all Sandywoods residents by a 250 kW wind turbine on site. Working with a local nonprofit developer to bring the project to fruition, Union created the master plan and designed the buildings that populate this unique, agri-arts community.

Mixed-use street with apartments above galleries.Image by Union

Views of a cottage and the neighborhood viewed from the farm and preserve.
Sandywoods Center for the Arts, a community center, arts venue, and gallery
Sandywoods Center for the Arts, a community center, arts venue, and gallery. Image by Union.
Residents gardening at the community farm
Family walking back to the neighborhood from the farm