That Land Cleared Off Post Road? 20 Houses Planned

If you've traveled on Post Road north of Wickford Village lately, you've probably noticed the tract of land that's been cleared of trees behind the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce building. It's the future home of Harbor View Estates, a 20-home housing development that will indeed, at least for those homes higher up on the slope, have harbor views.

Tony Fiori is the developer. His company, Worden's Pond Builders, also built the Wickford Cove Condominiums on Prospect Avenue. 

Three of the 20 Harbor View houses will be classified as "affordable housing," that is deemed affordable to those with a median household income in North Kingstown. So, while most of the houses will probably be sold in the $500,000 to $600,000 range, the estimated price for the three affordable houses will be about $350,000 (the exact price has yet to be determined by Rhode Island Housing).

The lower-priced houses will look the same as the other houses from the outside, but will be a little smaller and have fewer interior bells and whistles, Fiori said. The affordable houses will be deed-restricted. In other words, when the owner goes to sell the house, it must stay within the affordable housing price range.

Fiori said the houses will feature first-floor master bedrooms, a popular item these days.

The town's engineering department allowed for the property to be clear cut because of how the storm water basins need to be constructed, according to the Planning Department.

Construction will start this winter, Fiori said. It's going to take a little longer because of all the ledge on the site. He said the houses will probably go on sale by fall 2014. 

As for the two structures on the property now, both will be demolished. The larger one – perched atop a pile of ledge, granting a spectacular view – was a single-family home at one time, but it has been vacant for many years and vandals have done extensive damage.