Transforming Communities

In 1975, when urban neighborhoods across the country were being blighted by fires and the exodus of residents to the suburbs, a pioneering group of residents in Providence formed SWAP.

Making A Difference

Barbara Fields

Barbara Fields

Barbara Fields dedicated 40 years to housing advocacy, believing it's foundational for strong communities. Her work with organizations like SWAP, LISC, HUD, and RIHousing reflects her enduring commitment to safe, affordable homes, a mission she continues in semi-retirement.

Read about Barbara
Barbara Sokoloff

Barbara Sokoloff

Barbara Sokoloff's expertise has been vital to SWAP, offering guidance on finance and development. From her city planning roots to her consulting firm, she champions affordable housing, highlighting the critical role of government support in facing future challenges.

Read about Barbara
Peter Borgemeister

Peter Borgemeister

Peter Borgemeister's journey with SWAP began with a personal quest for affordable housing, evolving into a dedicated commitment. He transformed historic buildings into homes, prioritizing community and detail. His architectural vision, rooted in SWAP's values, addresses both preservation and future housing needs.

Read about Peter
David Karoff

David Karoff

David Karoff transformed SWAP into a pioneering affordable housing developer, fostering a diverse construction crew and building community power. His vision extended to housing for those with mental illness. Today, he reflects on Rhode Island's housing challenges, stressing the need for sustained effort and leadership.

Read about David

Over the years, one house, then one street, then one neighborhood were reclaimed by an innovative homesteading program that brought a home buyer and a house in need of rehabilitation together. Today, SWAP continues to transform communities. Through historic restoration and new construction, SWAP creates affordable rental apartments and homes for sale. SWAP's current focus is on developing mixed-use residential and commercial spaces and creating newly vibrant commercial corridors.

Collage of new happy home owners holding up sold signs or keys.

Homes for People

SWAP takes a multi-pronged development approach that offers a wide range of housing opportunities for both rentals and home ownership. We have townhouses that provide an attractive and colorful streetscape of homes for owners. We work with potential buyers and funders to create affordable opportunities for new homeowners- including building two-family homes that allow homeowners to earn extra money from rent. SWAP has restored homes in older neighborhoods to create both homes for sale and multiple apartments for rent, and we have rescued blighted vacant lots to build rental units and homes for sale that continue to reflect the community's sense of place.

Bridgham TownhousesRibbon cutting on a new neighborhood development. Courtyard at dusk in the Maplewoods development
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Southside Commercial Corridors

A strong neighborhood includes markets, safe gathering spaces, access to public transportation, and affordable housing, all within walking distance. This is especially true for Providence’s South Side and the critical Broad Street Commercial Corridor. The Broad Street revitalization provides retail and community space, expands neighborhood businesses, and creates affordable apartments. The Commercial Corridor also provides vital access to public transportation for residents and businesses. SWAP has developed over 20,000 square feet of small business and community commercial space with apartments above, creating a vibrant neighborhood and community along Broad Street.

500 Broad Street before showing shuttered stores. 19 Elmwood after with commercial on the street front, apartments above, and townhouses in back.1043-1045 Broad St. Retail on the ground level with apartments above.
500 Broad Street after. Street level shops with apartments above.
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Historically renovated duplexes into apartments. Brick on the ourside.

Historic Preservation

Over the past 50 years, SWAP has been committed to developing in ways that preserve traditional neighborhoods and respect current and historic elements while also considering community needs, including family size, culture, and income. The development of historic and new buildings has resulted in the comprehensive rebuilding of a mixed-use community that serves as a catalyst for neighborhood rebirth.

The time of year is the fall. Off to the right is a small tree with yellow leaves. To the left is a restored historic Victorian home showing the front porch and front windows. Close up of a renovated Victorian bay window.Two renovated houses. One is pink the other is blue.
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Walkable Neighborhoods

South Providence is an extremely walkable neighborhood with schools, hospitals, shopping, a cultural and recreation center, and thousands of job opportunities within walking distance. SWAP has worked to enhance the traditional neighborhoodscape with street trees and its beautiful window box program. Working with many partners, it has revitalized the historic Grace Cemetery and created a small park to honor the neighborhood’s war veterans.

Sign of various businesses at 500 Broad St.Corner shop.500 Broad Street showing a plaza with tables that have umbrellas.
Two people walking away from the camera along Broad Street. There are shops on the left.
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SWAP has invested over $200 million dollars in Providence’s South Side, combining neighborhood revitalization, historic renovation, and adaptive reuse. The result: new inclusive affordable housing and holistic community revitalization. The revitalization respects the traditional fabric, scale, and history while encouraging business growth in areas that are walkable and have access to transit. The investment over the past 50 years has stabilized the region, promoted community pride, and proven to be a solid investment.

SWAP: Waging War Against Urban Blight

SWAP has had a positive impact on the community, increasing the tax base, decreasing building abandonment, stabilizing property values, and fostering a sense of community among homeowners. The program's success is attributed to its grassroots approach and the cooperation between community members and city officials.

Affordable Housing and Community Investment since 1975

Over 1,500 homes were saved from demolition in blighted neighborhoods throughout Providence as part of SWAP’s founding “homesteading” program.” SWAP matched blighted houses with urban pioneers who were required to participate in renovating the house that would become their home. SWAP maintains records of the addresses of all of the homes revitalized under this program. In 1993, the homesteading programs gave way to the Community Development Corporation (CDC) based model of affordable housing production.

Nearly
1,500

Homes sold — and still counting

Nearly
700

Apartments built or renovated — and still building and renovating

Nearly
25

Neighborhood commercial spaces in mixed-use buildings created – with strong demand

Nearly
$200,000,000

Invested with more to come!

The Next 50 Years

The core mission remains unchanged

There are no plans to change SWAP’s core mission. What has worked for 50 years can continue to work moving forward. Our focus on delivering high-quality, affordable housing will never go out of style.

Read more about the next 50 years
Maplewoods development at dusk. The building is in the backgorund, the parking lot in the middle, and the entrance to the parking lot in the foreground.

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