Creating affordable housing for Rhode Islanders 

Today in Rhode Island, too many families can’t find a safe, warm place to live.

WDC’s proposed Breakneck Hollow development will help solve that problem by creating 44 units of quality rental housing in Lincoln. RI state law requires that cities and towns strive to reach the goal of having 10% of their housing stock be affordable. This law is in response to the fact that every town has residents from a variety of income levels, but not every town has housing in reach for its lower income residents. Providing affordable housing for lower income families ensures that all residents have access to safe quality housing without having to leave their communities.  

Not unlike the state as a whole, Lincoln has come up short when it comes to affordable housing. Today, the percentage of housing units in the town that are affordable is only 6.78%, virtually unchanged for the last 17 years- despite 533 housing units having been built in town since then. Lincoln simply is nowhere near it’s goal of making 10% of its housing affordable.

By providing 44 units of housing, Breakneck Hollow not only helps families, it also helps the Town of Lincoln meet its 10% housing goal. Unlike most new developments that designate 10% or less of their housing units as affordable, Breakneck Hollow is 100% affordable, meaning that all 44 units count toward the goal.

In addition to building much needed homes, the development will preserve over 9 acres of open space in Lincoln, including sensitive wetlands impacted by a septic system from a neighboring property.  

The proposed septic infrastructure also includes an expansion and improvements to the existing YMCA sewer system which is shared by Stone Creek Condos. The current system is aging, with unwanted infiltration in the town’s pipelines. Breakneck Hollow would create a second pump station and provide backup pump capacity. 

The Breakneck Hollow will also include improvements to Breakneck Hill Road. Traffic studies have confirmed what everyone knows -- Breakneck Hill Road is busy and dangerous at times. Through the widening of the road and creation of a turn lane, cars will be able to safely pull out of the main flow of traffic to turn into the development, but more importantly onto RT-146 North. This will allow through traffic to move safely, instead of backing up and inviting cars to attempt to go around on the shoulder. Spurred on by the discussions around Breakneck Hollow and our offer to build the turn lane, RIDOT has now scheduled the installation of a traffic light at the RT-146 offramp. This will further increase the safety and functionality of Breakneck Hill Road.

Breakneck Hollow will help 44 families who are looking for affordable housing in Lincoln and ensure that the town moves closer to the 10% affordable housing goal.