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Caroline Street

Public Housing Developments (continued)

In the late 1960s, the New Bedford Hotel, a neglected and unused shadow of itself, was saved from destruction by a combination of fortuitous circumstances. A product of New Bedford's prosperity and prestige of the early part of the twentieth century, the New Bedford Hotel is valuable historically. The Federal Urban Renewal programs of the 1960s targeted sections of New Bedford for demolition and reconstruction. The Hotel was within the boundaries of one of these areas, but was spared the wrecking ball. Instead it underwent extensive exterior repair and interior renovation, converting its use from hotel to housing and reconfiguring its guest rooms to elderly housing apartments.

This building is one of three elderly high rise apartment buildings owned and managed by the New Bedford Housing Authority. (The other two are Boa Vista Apartments and Tripp Towers.) The former hotel is now known as the New Bedford Hotel Apartments.

In the last few years, the New Bedford Hotel Apartments have undergone further exterior and interior repairs, including window replacement . The repairs have benefitted the residents as well as retaining the historic character of the building.

Once a great whaling port, New Bedford is well-known for its fine harbor and great fishing industry. From many vantage points throughout the city one can see the harbor. Situated in the city's south end directly across the street from the harbor is Tripp Towers, one of our elderly housing developments. Tripp Towers is a ten story building with a spectacular view of the city's harbor. An interesting side note on the design of Tripp Towers: the community space is located on the top floor - a very thoughtful touch by the architect.

Our elderly housing developments include more than the three high rise sites. These other sites, as with their high rise cousins, are also being renovated to meet the continuing needs of our senior citizens. Hillside Court, for instance, has been recently renovated with new exterior siding and interior remodeling. The work inside includes combining some undersized studio apartments into useful larger apartments. The changes have been well received, and have dramatically improved the appeal of the development.

With the increase in the life span of the general population, and the rising medical costs for all, our society in general and public housing in particular face many important problems. Recognition of the desire and need for our elderly citizens to live independently as long as possible, the Authority is participating in programs to provide supportive living services for elderly residents.

Hoping to generate a successful model for the future in addressing these needs, the Authority's Caroline Street Apartments has been extensively remodeled. Using HOPE VI money from HUD, the assistance of the City of New Bedford and innovative financing, Caroline Street now provides a comfortable living setting with on-site supportive services. The original community space has been transformed into a modern Community Center. There nutritional, medical,living and recreational needs are addressed - for our residents and the surrounding neighborhood as well.

Follow the link to Caroline Street to see for yourself what has happened there.

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Material Copyright © 2003 New Bedford Housing Authority