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PAWTUCKET, RI — In a major step toward transit-oriented growth, the Pawtucket City Planning Commission has approved plans for three new housing developments adjacent to the Pawtucket–Central Falls MBTA station. These projects, at various stages of planning and development, are poised to bring nearly 335 new residential units to the rapidly evolving station district.

• 125 Goff Avenue
  A preliminary plan for a 140-unit residential building on property just steps from the station.
   
• 258 Pine Street
  A final plan approval has been granted for a 179-unit mixed residential development located along the station parking lot.
   
• 210 Conant Street
  Concept plan approved for a smaller 15-unit project on the opposite side of the tracks.
   

Together, these developments total approximately 334 new housing units planned within walking distance of the transit hub

The station, opened in January 2023, now serves as a critical node for both regional rail and local RIPTA bus service. With daily boardings surpassing 700 by March 2024, ridership is steadily increasing. State and city officials have already begun expanding station infrastructure, including a 275-space parking expansion opened in early 2024 and plans for an indoor passenger facility.

These residential projects are part of a broader push to support sustainable growth through transit-oriented development. A strategy aimed at reducing car dependency, encouraging pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, and revitalizing underutilized land.

Local voices reflect both optimism and caution. Reddit users report a profound sense of change: 

“Tons of previously abandoned or decrepit buildings being turned into apartments, and a whole community popping up around the station.” (REDDIT)

 Concerns around gentrification also pervade community conversation: 

 “These things have a way of growing in a less controlled manner… It would be great if they dedicated some of the tax money generated by these projects to rent‑controlled apartments for long‑time residents.”  (REDDIT)

Pawtucket’s population has stayed relatively steady in recent decades, hovering between 71,000 and 81,000. Now, as former industrial and mill sites convert to housing, the city appears poised for a new chapter.

These developments contribute to an expanding urban core positioned between Providence and Boston along the Northeast Corridor. Drawing interest from both long-time residents and newcomers. 

The approvals of these three projects signal momentum in Pawtucket’s growth strategy. By clustering new housing near transit access, both the city and its developers are betting on a future of denser, more walkable neighborhoods. The challenge ahead will be ensuring that new growth benefits both newcomers and longtime residents, balancing revitalization with affordability.