PORTSMOUTH — The Roger Williams University Baypoint Inn and Conference Center at 144 Anthony Road in Portsmouth has been sold to Reed Development Corp. of Middletown for $4.5 million, marking the end of the university’s 15-year ownership of the former hotel property.

The sale price was confirmed by Dr. John King, Roger Williams University’s vice president for student life.

Roger Williams University acquired the property in 2010 for nearly $5 million, purchasing what was then a hotel and conference center. 

Originally built in 1969 as a Ramada Inn, the site served travelers for decades and was considered a well-known roadside lodging option on Aquidneck Island. An 80-foot-high Ramada Inn sign towered over Route 24, and a swimming pool was added in 1971. 

Over time, RWU repurposed the tired old structure for student housing, administrative offices, and academic programming, renaming it the RWU Baypoint Inn and Conference Center. For years, Baypoint functioned as a residential community for sophomores, offering hotel-style living complete with private bathrooms, dining facilities, fitness space, and common areas.

The entrance to the Roger Williams University Baypoint Inn and Conference Center on Anthony Road, which was recently sold to Reed Development Corp. of Middletown. The property was originally built in 1969 and was a Ramada Inn for many years.

RWU’s statement

According to a statement from RWU provided by Kelly Brinza, the university’s news and media relations manager, the decision to vacate Baypoint aligned with long-term planning goals aimed at improving students’ living experience by consolidating undergraduate housing on campus.

“Roger Williams University announced discontinuing the use of the Baypoint facility two years ago in January 2024 as part of our campus master plan to enhance the student experience,” the statement read. “During that spring semester, all employees, transportation, and programs that were previously managed at this location were integrated into RWU's Bristol campus. 

“Our campus master plan and academic master plan were thoughtfully designed in tandem to support RWU’s commitment to investing in our academic spaces and student spaces that will provide a modern education and a high-quality learning environment that prepares our students for future success.”

During the 2024–25 academic year, the Baypoint facility continued to be used for administrative offices and courses, including programs operated by the School of Justice Studies’ Justice System Training and Research Institute. The Board of Trustees Buildings and Grounds Committee had been exploring future options for the property before the sale.

University officials emphasized that proceeds from the sale are legally restricted. According to RWU, funds from the transaction must be used for university facility and capital investment projects and cannot be applied to day-to-day operational expenses.

Future plans unclear

The buyer, Reed Development Corp., is a Middletown-based real estate firm founded in 1981 by Robert Reed. The company develops and manages a range of residential and commercial projects across the region. 

Reed also owns Middletown Self Storage on Aquidneck Avenue, and in March 2023, the Middletown Planning Board approved an application for an additional four-story, 17,000-square-foot self-storage facility on Valley Road.

Several calls placed to Reed Development Corp. seeking comment on future plans for the Portsmouth property were not returned. As a result, the intended use of the former Baypoint facility remains unclear. However, given the company’s involvement in self-storage developments, there has been speculation the Anthony Road property could be redeveloped for similar use.

Town Planner Lea Hitchen said she was aware the property had been purchased by Reed Development, but that no one has yet approached the town regarding any plans for the lot.

“We’ve been eyeballing that as well and waiting for the transaction to hit, but that’s all we know,” she said Tuesday.