Providence, Rhode Island
The former Althea Street School and Asa Messer Annex, closed in 2012, was a dilapidated, unsafe eyesore in the West End of Providence. With a need to expand their services and a willing partner in the City of Providence who shared a vision for increasing access to quality early education programming, Children’s Friend took on the challenge to renovate and transform the building into a center of excellence housing Head Start, child care and pre-kindergarten programs. The costly project was made feasible by an array of funds, including a $4.3M federal Head Start grant, small donations and grants and private funding, all while navigating the unique challenges a historic building presents.
| Year Completed | 2019 |
| Construction Type | Adaptive reuse of existing vacant, masonry building with historic preservation |
| Total Development Cost | $6,900,000 |
| Sources of Funds/Capital Stack | Small Grants Federal Head Start Grants Donations Private Funding |
| Square Footage | 21,380 SF |
| # of Children | 126 |
| # of Classrooms | 7 preschool classrooms serving 3, 4 and 5 year olds |
| Construction Cost/Child | $54,761/child |
| Construction Cost/SF | $322/SF |