Historic Warwick building to house homeless, disabled

May 22--PROVIDENCE -- The rehabilitation of a landmark house in Pawtuxet Village, which will now be used to house homeless people and individuals with disabilities, will be celebrated at a ceremony Monday in Warwick.

The house at 69 Fair St., Warwick, built around 1820 for the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry, was once the centerpiece of a 12-acre fairground, and was used to host state fairs and cattle shows until 1848. During the off-season, the exhibit hall was used for school and religious activities.

Today the 2 1/2 -story Greek Revival building sits on a nearly one-acre hilltop site.

Ten apartments have been built in the nearly 200-year-old exhibit hall, known as Fair House, by the House of Hope Community Development Corporation. The $2.5-million project has been supported by the City of Warwick, Rhode Island Housing, state and federal funds, and neighborhood preservationists.

The new residents will live there independently but a case manager will have an office in the building to provide access to support services.

Laura Jaworski, executive director of House of Hope, said the Fair House development "adds to the availability of affordable housing; it re-establishes the presence of the house in the community; and it preserves an important part of Rhode Island history."

Fair House is the third House of Hope project that combines affordable housing and historic renovation. Five apartments opened in 2012 at the George Galen Wheeler House, next door to Fair House, at 57 Fair St.; and six units are situated in House of Hope's headquarters complex, at the Thomas Wilbur Homestead, 3188 Post Rd., Warwick.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, followed by tours of Fair House.

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