Jennifer Hawkins

PROVIDENCE — With a decision that will have a direct impact on at least one significant new housing development proposal planned in East Providence, Jennifer Hawkins has announced she is departing the positions of president and chief executive officer for ONE Neighborhood Builders. Hawkins will remain in those roles through September 2024.

Though the move was announced in a press release on July 1, the ONE Neighborhood Board of Directors was informed in early June. A search committee was promptly established, leading to the selection of Bridge Partners Executive Search to lead the nation-wide quest for the organization's next leader.

Janet Albert, Partner at Bridge Partners. A position announcement will accompany the official launch of the search in the coming weeks. The board anticipates appointing the next president and CEO this fall.

Hawkins has held both positions since May 2017. She has worked for the organization for nearly 11 years, previously serving as the Associate Executive Director.

“Jennifer has been the visionary and champion of ONE Neighborhood Builders, advancing the organization’s mission in ways that many could not have imagined,” said Lorraine Lalli, the organization's board chair, who is also Associate Dean of Student Life and Operations at Roger Williams University School of Law.

Lalli continued, “We are immensely grateful for her constant drive to disrupt the status quo and present creative solutions to some of our state’s most pressing issues. Her innovation has created a strong foundation for the organization and provided us with a robust balance sheet, deep community relationships and partnerships, a passionate staff, and a remarkable pipeline of affordable housing developments.”

Hawkins can count a handful of projects in East Providence, either completed or in the process of being started, as among her achievements.

The latest of those being "Center City Apartments" at 340, 350 and 354 Taunton Avenue, a $65 million endeavor to construct 144 units over the three lots which is expected to house 280 residents upon full occupancy.

The project only just was awarded 9% and 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit allocations and ancillary funding through Rhode Island Housing’s Consolidated Funding Round. It was among the final hurdles needed to be cleared to fund construction. One-third of the apartments will be reserved for households experiencing homelessness in partnership with Crossroads Rhode Island, Family Service of Rhode Island and Foster Forward.

The effort did hit one recent bump in the road when the East Providence City Council voted down ONE Neighborhood's application to access to the city's 10-year tax incremental financing scheme. At the time, Hawkins said not being able to utilize the TIP plan would likely mean the project's anticipated completion date would be moved back from 2026 to 2027.

In 2023, ONE Neighborhood completed the redevelopment of the "Residences at Riverside Square" apartment complex. Working through the city's Community Development Block Grant program, the 16 one- and two-bedroom apartment complex on Bullocks Point Avenue, included three units providing housing for youth transitioning out of foster care through another partnership with Foster Forward.

Among ONE Neighborhood's initial forays into the city came with the redevelopment of "Sutton Place." The organization renovated the existing 36 apartments spread over two buildings, containing 14 studio and 22 one-bedroom units.

“Leading ONE Neighborhood Builders has been the most rewarding and enriching experience of my career. In addition to the transformative growth and impact of our work, I’m incredibly proud of the organizational infrastructure that has been built including an exceptional executive leadership team, a skilled board of directors, and a highly competent staff that are all united in their commitment to our work,” said Hawkins. “I’m eager to take time off to reflect on my 25 years of experience within the housing and community development fields across Rhode Island, Boston, and New York, and consider how my next professional endeavor can best contribute to larger systems change and generate enduring housing justice.”