More than 130 people have moved into Sandywood Farms, the unique affordable-housing project in Tiverton that experts say is a model of what can happen when a town planner, land owner, non-profit arts group and forward-thinking financiers come together to find the best use for 174 acres.
Many of the residents are artists, and work in shops on the property. Many also grow their own food and use electricity created by a wind turbine.
The project, developed by the nonprofit Church Community Housing Corporation, was financed with $15 million in loans from 11 partners, including $11 million from Rhode Island Housing.
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