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Rhode Island tackles housing shortage by making it easier to add rental units on to homes

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2 years ago

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Rhode Island tackles housing shortage by making it easier to add rental units on to homes


BOSTON — A new state law designed to streamline the process of developing accessory dwelling units – also known as “granny flats” or “in-law apartments” – is being hailed by advocates as a way to create affordable living spaces amid an ongoing housing crunch.

The law, signed by Democratic Gov. Dan McKee on June 25, lets homeowners create a single accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, on an owner-occupied property to encourage rental units that are likely to be more affordable than many other apartments.

Supporters said the measure will also allow homeowners to generate income to help them maintain ownership of their property, bringing more stability to the housing market.

To ensure Rhode Islanders benefit from the law, it bans the ADUs from being used as short-term rentals.

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The approach has been implemented elsewhere such as in New York, where Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced that $59 million was awarded to local governments and nonprofits to boost the housing supply by providing resources for low- and middle-income homeowners to build or improve ADUs.

In Massachusetts, House lawmakers approved a bill that would allow for the construction of one ADU of up to 900 square feet on properties in single-family zoning districts. A similar bill is before the Senate.

And in Boston, where housing costs have skyrocketed, Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu pledged in in January to make it easier for residents to create ADUs.

The Rhode Island law authorizes a homeowner to create a unit if they live in the building and the unit is for a disabled relative; if it’s within the existing footprint; or if the lot is greater than 20,000 square feet, provided that the ADU meets building codes, size limits and infrastructure requirements.

June Speakman, chair of the House Commission on Housing Affordability, said one driver of the housing crisis is the low construction rate in Rhode Island, which she said has the country’s lowest per-capita construction rate.

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“We need to be creative and be willing to allow construction of housing, particularly affordable, moderate and small units like ADUs,” Speakman said.

Supporters say the units can boost the amount of available and affordable housing while preserving the character of residential neighborhoods. Older adults in particular have looked to to ADUs as a way to downsize while remaining in their neighborhoods.

“Our cities and towns must have housing options that are suitable for differing incomes, ages and life stages,” said Catherine Taylor, AARP Rhode Island’s state director. “ADUs are an important way to accomplish this goal.”

A report released in December by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies found that as its population ages, the United States is ill prepared to adequately house and care for the growing number of older people.

The report said creative ideas are needed for people with fixed or dwindling incomes and with insufficient savings, including ADUs.

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Rhode Island

Spring And Summer Concert Guide: 10 Can’t-Miss Shows In Rhode Island

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4 hours ago

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March 9, 2026

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Spring And Summer Concert Guide: 10 Can’t-Miss Shows In Rhode Island


Whether with a stop on a national or international tour or a regional favorite, the spring and summer concert calendar is filling up in Rhode Island.

The Ravers, Newport’s reggae band, comes to Rhode Island in April. There are plenty of concerts in the area that will have you dancing all spring and summer long, including some regional favorites.

We’ve rounded up 10 concerts in Rhode Island that are worth getting on the calendar. And speaking of calendars: Are you planning an event this spring? Feature it, so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!

Here’s what you need to know about upcoming concerts:

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  • Candlelight: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles, March 20, Bishop McVinney Auditorium, Providence
  • Soulful Sounds in Pawtucket, April 3, Hope Events on Main, Pawtucket
  • Ravers Night! April 11, Newport Vineyards & Winery, Middletown
  • Corvettes — Doo Wop Revue, April 19, Courthouse Center for the Arts, Kingstown
  • “Dancing at the Forty Steps” – Newport Irish Heritage Month flagship event, March 29, the Forty Steps on Cliff Walk, Newport
  • Newport Classical: Yevgeny Kutik & Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, April 10, Newport Classical Recital Hall, Newport
  • Newport Classical: Zijian Wei performs Ravel and Liszt, May 8, Newport Classical Recital Hall, Newport
  • Newport Classical Finale: Amir Hoshang Farsi and Chelsea Wang, June 5, Newport Classical Recital Hall, Newport
  • An Evening With John Legend, April 26, Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence
  • Ani DiFranco with Special Guest Valerie June, May 8, Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence





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Boys And Girls Battle In Nearly 1,000 Wrestling Bounts At 2026 New England Championships

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16 hours ago

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March 9, 2026

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Boys And Girls Battle In Nearly 1,000 Wrestling Bounts At 2026 New England Championships


PROVIDENCE, RI — Hundreds of boys and girls from the six New England states competed at the 2026 CNESSPA New England Championships in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday and Sunday.

Boys from 176 high schools and girls from 125 schools participated in more than 960 bouts at the Providence Career & Technical Academy. The girls had 12 weight brackets while the boys had 14.

For the boys, Ponaganset High School in Glocester, RI, came in first with 128.5 points, Xavier High School in Middletown, CT, an all-boys Catholic school, came in second with 119 points, and Central Catholic in Lawrence, MA, came in third with 105.5 points. For the girls, Massabesic High School in Waterboro, ME, came in first, with 52 points, Salem High School in Salem, NH, came in second, and Woburn High School in Woburn, MA, came in third.

Find out what’s happening in Providencefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Boy Results

106-pound bracket: 1Samuel Floody (Scituate RI), 2Sam Winship (CENCTH), 3Josh Perez (XAV), 4Chace Armstrong (Ponaganset), 5Remington Grunhuvd (MSBC), and 6Matt Boucher (Timberlane).

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113: 1John Woodall (Franklin), 2Antoine Jackman (GRLOW), 3Cole Desiano (RDGF), 4Caden Hughes (PNGT), 5Reid Grandmason (Exeter), and 6Kylan Berry (BNYE).

Find out what’s happening in Providencefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

120: 1Zack Dixon (Xavier), 2Lucas Copper (CENCTH), 3Cole Lemovitz (Ponaganset), 4Dominic Simpson (Belfast), 5Logan Barry (Scituate RI), and 6William Accorsi (SOMS).

126: 1Nick Desisto (Tewksbury), 2Mael Pierre-Paul (BUNL), 3Brayden Boccia (MLFD), 4Cahota LaFond (COLC), 5Josiah Martins Semedo (N-B), and 6Jisup Shin (Weston).

132: 1Evan Boulard (MSBC), 2Robert Newton (Scituate RI), 3Derek Marcolini (MLFD), 4Dylan Meyers (RDGF), 5Aplollo Bellini (Ponaganset), and 6Zaphyr Musshorn (Xavier).

138: 1Lukas Boxley (LDYD), 2Kai Ly (MINN), 3Jason Ballou (ANDV), 4Jack Sauer (Franklin), 5Coleson Tully (Carver), and 6Asa Reis (Mt. Anthony Union).

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144: 1John Carrozza (RDGF), 2James Lally (SJP), 3James Rocco (BARR), 4Duncan Harrington (Mt. Anthony Union), 5Jordin Agosto (AGWM), and 6Evan Madigan (EDL).

150: 1Isaiah McDaniel (MIDD), 2Alex Lamarre (BC), 3Henry McElligott (HOLL), 4Dan Greaney (LEOM), 5Leo Moore (RDGF), and 6Nicholas Genin (NWTS).

157: 1James Tildsley (SHAW), 2Carnell Davis (Ponaganset), 3Antonio Arguello (NTWN), 4Daniel Woods (WELL), 5Anthony Lombardi (MTHP), and 6Ben Byrne (Nashua South).

165: 1Colby Vital (Ponaganset), 2Matt Pappas (BHEN), 3Evan Schibi (GLBT), 4Harry Marino (COND), 5Jacob Critchfield (Hollis Brookline), and 6Brady Ouellette (Noble)

175: 1Cyrus Jones (SHRN), 2Harrison Muller (Danbury), 3Vincent Rivera (Xavier), 4Rhys Dewar (CENCTH), 5Cooper Theriault-Dinielli (PLNV), and 6Adryan Urena (LSA).

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190: 1Sam Josey (SJP), 2Chase Catalano (XAV), 3Dylan O’Brian (FWRD), 4Logan Holmes (SHAW), 5Dante Richardson (CHSW), and 6Grady Pease (MDMK).

215: 1Matt Harrold (HAV), 2Owen Pavao (S-B), 3Shamus Pease (MDMK), 4Taiyo Gemme (OLWB), 5William Buffington (TAUN), and 6Merlin Smith (EDL).

285: 1Kaz Morosetti (NKNG), 2Brian Waller-Reitano (CENCTH), 3William Martinez (WLLS), 4Bishop Kearns (Bishop Guertin), 5Chris Levesque (OXFD), and 6Chase Galke (SHLT).

The full results for the boys are available here on Arena Flo Wrestling.

Girl Results

100: 1Ella Paris (Salem NH), 2Parker Theriault (Mattanawcook/PVHS), 3Sophia Gordon (SWIN), 4Riley-Anne Tarmey (TRIT), 5Abigail Garland (MTBL), and 6Hannah Perro (Noble).

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107: 1Sora Bukoski (Penobscot County Wrestling), 2Elsa Scott (SHRN), 3Maggie Campbell (Woburn), 4Amelia Hough (Milford), 5Kelsie Strong (MARSH), and 6Clara Reynolds (NMIL).

114: 1Allison Patten (PILG), 2Kennedie Davis (BR), 3Ava Gamberdella (BRNF), 4Addie Smith (VERG), 5Mia Annello (BILL), and 6Ella Libiszewski (LUD).

120: 1Jillian Blake (TRUMB), 2Hannah Dyckman (Bristol County/Dighton Rehoboth), 3Maleeah Rios (BC), 4Alanna Smith (CMHL), 5Lauren McAteer (WPO), and 6Monica Flores Romero (Fairfield Warde).

126: 1Adelina Tate (ELTC), 2Caitlin Castoldi (Woburn), 3Delaney Frost (Noble), 4Maisa Allen (OTV), 5Ashlynn Cummings (FLUD), and 6Luca Marshall (TCTY).

132: 1Madeline Ngo (Newton North), 2Alexia Coleman (Salem MA), 3Eliana Selerais (AMTY), 4Kaydn Hansen (MTBL), 5Kylie Biter (OXFD), and 6Faith Young (Middleborough).

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138: 1Adriana DeGroat (FRMG), 2Nevaeh Grunhuvd (MSBC), 3Winner Tshibombi (STRF), 4Keira Lynch (Salem NH), 5Daphen Nyan (Davies Career & Tech Academy), and 6Ania Konieczna (SHRN).

145: 1Sophie Grunhuvd (MSBC), 2Gabriella Kiely (STRF), 3Josephina Piel (NMIL), 4Gabriella Ramos (AGWM), 5Regan Murphy (Canton), and 6Hailey Isham (MT ABE).

152: 1Ava McGinnis (NOKO), 2Nmachukwu Okoli (BR), 3Zady Paige (BLFS), 4Rileigh Fagan (BP), 5Nora Demaine (Lake Region), and 6Mackenzie Lacoss (Spaulding).

165: 1Kaydence Atkinson (NBHS), 2Gabriella Mighty (STAM), 3Bethany-grace Dean (Bristol Eastern), 4Sadie Nadeau (Spaulding), 5Jordyn Reynolds (GLTS), and 6Stella Christopher (AGWM).

185: 1Kayli Morris (PLATT), 2Madi King (BBA), 3Madison Beauregard (Concord), 4Leanna Watson (Putnam), 5Emma Leonido (HANV), and 6Jillian Boncore (Alvirne)

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235: 1Jeily Euceda (NRWK), 2Hillary MacDonald (LAWR), 3Lillian Soper (BUCK), 4Elaine Pinto (DURF), 5Jadaliz Acosta (Bloomfield/Weaver), and 6Alei Fiatoa-Fautua (NPRO).

View the full results for the girls here.

Also Read

  • Dozens Of New Hampshire’s Wrestlers Will Compete In New England Championship Bouts In Rhode Island
  • Girls From Bedford, Concord, Londonderry, Salem, Other Schools Are Heading To New England Championships
  • Timberlane, Goffstown, And Bow Win NHIAA Division Championships: New Hampshire Wrestling Roundup
  • Concord High School’s Crimson Tide Wrestling Team Places 2nd At NHIAA Division I Championships
  • Timberlane Wins NH JV Tourney; Salem 4th, Milford 5th, Nashua North 8th, Bedford 10th: Wrestling Roundup
  • Concord High School JV Wrestlers Place 2nd At 2026 New Hampshire State Tournament
  • Bedford, Exeter, Salem Win Bouts | North Beats South In Nashua | More: NH Wrestling Results, Part 2
  • Londonderry, Milford, Portsmouth, And Souhegan Compete In The Final Bouts Of 2026: NH Wrestling Results
  • Concord Falls To Timberlane Regional High School, 44-27; Crimson Tide Wrestlers End Regular Season At 21-1
  • Exeter Hosts Quad | Portsmouth, Souhegan Compete At Invitational | Salem Takes 3 In MA: NH Wrestling Roundup
  • Concord Wrestlers Sweep 3 Other High Schools At Their Last Saturday Quad Of The Season
  • Winnacunnet, Exeter, Londonderry, Merrimack, Milford, And Portsmouth Post Wins: NH Wrestling Roundup
  • On Senior Night, Concord High School Wrestlers Cruise To A Win Against Nashua South, 68-9
  • Rhode Island’s Bishop Hendricken High School Again Wins NH’s Capital City Classic Wrestling Tournament
  • 9 Crimson Tide Wrestlers Place At Successful 35th Annual Capital City Classic Wrestling Tournament In Concord
  • Concord High School’s Crimson Tide Wrestling Team Nets The Blackbirds In Keene, 45-26
  • Capital City Classic Wrestling Tournament Celebrates 35 Years At Concord High School Saturday
  • Concord’s Wrestlers Continue Their Winning Ways With Victories Against Souhegan, Bow, And Plymouth
  • Londonderry, Merrimack, Portsmouth, Souhegan, And Salem Win At Weekend Wrestling Quads: NH Roundup
  • Bow, Exeter, Londonderry, Milford, Nashua North, And Souhegan Win Wrestling Matches: New Hampshire Results
  • Concord Wrestlers Beat Defending State Champions, Salem Blue Devils, 48-30
  • A Dozen Schools Battle On The Seacoast | Souhegan Takes 3 At Quad | Merrimack Duals: NH Wrestling Results
  • Crimson Tide Varsity Wrestlers Sweep 3 At Super Quad 2 In Concord; Others Rack Up Places At Tourneys
  • Bedford, Londonderry, Milford, Salem, And Souhegan Wrestlers Win Matches: New Hampshire Results
  • Concord High School’s Wrestling Team Beats Hollis Brookline, 54-22
  • Concord High School Wrestlers Sweep 6 Meets At First Super Quad Of The 2025-2026 Season
  • Salem Girls, Milford Boys Place 1st At Nashua Tourney | Londonderry Sweeps At Bow Quad: NH Wrestling Roundup
  • Concord High School Crimson Tide Wrestlers Crash Into Londonderry Lancers, 54-16
  • Concord Wins 2026 Minickiello Tourney; Souhegan 5th; Portsmouth 6th: NH High School Wrestling Roundup
  • Concord Boy Wrestlers Place 5th, Souhegan 7th; Salem Girls 2nd At 2-Day Maine Tourney: NH Wrestling Results
  • Crimson Tide Places 5th; Salem Girls 3rd At George Bossi Holiday Tourney: New Hampshire Wrestling Roundup
  • Central Catholic Places 1st, Shawsheen Tech 2nd, And St. John’s Prep 3rd At Historic Wrestling Tourney
  • Crimson Tide Beats Jaguars, 75-5, While Bedford, Salem, And Souhegan Notch Wins: NH Wrestling Results
  • Concord’s Crimson Tide Places 2nd At 2025 Salem Blue Devil Tournament: New Hampshire Wrestling Results
  • Wrestlers From 5 Schools Scrimmage At Concord High School In First Bouts Of The Season

Do you have a news tip? Email it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella’s YouTube or Rumble channels. Patch in New Hampshire is now in 217 communities — and expanding every day. Also, follow Patch on Google Discover.

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RI’s Civil War history reveals an overlooked soldier | Opinion

Published

1 day ago

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March 8, 2026

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RI’s Civil War history reveals an overlooked soldier | Opinion


Marta V. Martínez
 |  Guest columnist

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  • Amos (Ramos) Butler was a Mexican-born man who served in a segregated Black regiment during the Civil War.
  • His story highlights how 19th-century records often altered or erased the identities of immigrants and people of color.
  • Butler’s likely surname, Ramos, appears to have been Anglicized to Butler in official military documents.
  • Highlighting his story adds diversity to Rhode Island’s Civil War history for the nation’s 250th anniversary.

As Rhode Island joins the nation in marking its 250th anniversary, I’ve been asked a fair and important question: Why highlight Amos (Ramos) Butler? Why elevate one individual when there are so many well-documented figures already woven into our state’s history?

My answer is simple: because history is not only about what we have long remembered, but about what we failed to see.

I did not set out to find Amos Butler. I encountered him while researching Civil War records connected to Rhode Island: lists of names, enlistment dates, regiments. In those records, I found a man listed as “Amos Butler,” born in Mexico, who served in the 14th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery Regiment (Colored) during the Civil War. His name alone gave me pause. Amos is not a common Mexican name. That detail led me deeper into the archive, where questions of identity, language and recordkeeping began to surface.

What emerged was not a heroic legend or a tidy narrative, but something more historically instructive: a glimpse into how 19th-century bureaucracies recorded – or misrecorded – immigrant lives.

Amos Butler served alongside Black soldiers in a segregated regiment at a moment when the nation was redefining freedom, citizenship and belonging. His likely Spanish surname, Ramos, appears to have been Anglicized – or misunderstood – by the very system charged with preserving his service. That single alteration tells us a great deal about how people like him moved through official history: fully present and contributing, yet partially obscured.

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This is not about retroactively assigning modern identities or reshaping the past to fit contemporary frameworks. It is about acknowledging what the records themselves reveal. Civil War historians know well that military documents often flatten race, erase origin, and simplify identity. Butler’s story fits squarely within that established scholarship. What makes it notable is that it unfolds here, in Rhode Island.

State histories tend to emphasize regiments, battles and leadership. Far less attention is given to the individual enlisted men whose lives complicate our assumptions about who served and why. Butler’s story adds texture to Rhode Island’s Civil War narrative by reminding us that migration, race and service were already intertwined long before the 20th century.

The 250th anniversary of the United States invites reflection, not revisionism. Major commemorations have always prompted historians to revisit archives, ask new questions, and consider whose experiences were overlooked. But commemoration is also, at its best, an act of recognition. To name and remember people of color who lived, labored and served in earlier generations is not to diminish the past – it is to honor it more fully. Their lives are not footnotes to history; they are part of its foundation.

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We often say that history is written by those who leave records. But it is also shaped by how carefully we read those records – and whether we are willing to notice the irregularities, the misspellings, the lives that don’t quite fit our expectations.

Honoring Amos Butler is not about elevating one person above others. It is about acknowledging that the American story, and Rhode Island’s story within it, has always been broader and more diverse than the version many of us inherited.

At 250 years, we have an opportunity not only to look back, but to commemorate those whose presence affirms that people of color have always been here – living, serving and shaping this country in ways we are only beginning to fully recognize.

Marta V. Martínez is the executive director of Rhode Island Latino Arts. She serves on the RI250 Commission. Martínez is producing a first-person monologue of Amos (Ramos) Butler, which will be presented as part of the RI250 celebration.



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