Major Waterfront Project in East Providence Expected to Break Ground Later This Month

A major project in the development of East Providence's waterfront is moving forward and expected to break ground later this month. 

Tockwotton Home has lined up financing for the $53.2 million expansion and relocation project the non-profit is planning on Waterfront Drive in East Providence, according to a news release.

Tockwotton Home plans to move its current operations in Providence and build a state-of-the-art assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing home on 12 acres that the non-profit has purchased in East Providence.

“In recent years, our ability to adapt to the changing needs of seniors has been constrained by the historic physical structure in which we reside,” Tockwotton Home Executive Director Kevin McKay said in the news release. “With a new site, we’ve been able to start from scratch and let needs dictate design. We’re looking forward to breaking ground at the end of this month.”  

The non-profit has contributed contributed $10.5 million dollars of owner equity to the project, raised money from private donors, including the Champlin Foundations and generated the rest through tax-exempt bonds.

“This is a critical project for the [East Providence] waterfront district,” East Providence Planning Director and Executive Director of the Waterfront District Jeanne Boyle said in the release. “The building design is beautiful, and construction of this new community will be a catalyst for other development in the city.”

The project has been long in the planning. Tockwotton Home bought the land on East Providence's waterfront in 2004, according to the release. As part of the project, Tockwotton Home is also donating 1.7 acres of land as a payment in lieu of taxes for a waterfront public park. 

The project is expected to create more than 600 construction jobs and add 36 permanent health care jobs to the non-profit's current staff of 65, according to the release.  

The new facility is expected to serve 156 residents. The groundbreaking is scheduled for June 24.