GUESTS:

Secretary Deborah Goddard, Rhode Island Executive Office of Housing

Eva Erlich, Vice President of Development at Trinity Financial

This episode dives into a real-world case of rebuilding community and creating sustainable affordable housing—focusing on Newport Heights. With insights from housing experts, we explore how innovative financing, strategic preservation, and thoughtful design can transform public housing and inspire broader change.

Key Topics:

The history and success of Newport Heights as a Hope Six redevelopment project
How refinancing tools like RAD enable long-term sustainability
The twin importance of preservation and new development in meeting housing needs
Challenges and strategies for aging public housing infrastructure
The role of partnerships among government, private sector, and community stakeholders
The broader housing supply problem and solutions through production and preservation

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and overview of the conversation
00:35 - Background on Newport Heights’ transformation from Tonomy Hill Public Housing
01:24 - The significance of Hope Six and RAD in housing redevelopment
02:13 - The impact of good design and refinancing on longevity
03:38 - Trinity’s role and financial approach in housing projects
04:36 - Resident involvement and community connection post-renovation
05:13 - Balancing reinvestment in existing infrastructure versus new projects
05:57 - The importance of preservation amidst funding challenges
07:09 - Addressing aging properties and renovation strategies
08:03 - Cost considerations and long-term affordability
09:24 - Early planning and proactive refinancing efforts
10:12 - The frequency of preservation discussions across Rhode Island
11:29 - Ongoing projects and Trinity’s portfolio strategies
12:30 - Broader outlook on Rhode Island’s housing market and supply issues
13:39 - The necessity of balancing preservation with new housing production
14:55 - Final thoughts on using successful projects as a blueprint for change

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