State grant studies possible conversion of Mary V. Quirk into housing

By Mike Rego

It's unlikely to happen under the current incarnation of the town council at least, but Rhode Island Housing recently approached the administration with a sequence of grants including one about the possible redevelopment of the Mary V. Quirk School.

The quasi-government agency offered funding, without any match from the town, approaching $260,000 to perform three reviews: the feasibility of the reuse of Mary V. Quirk for affordable housing; transit-oriented development study of Metacom Avenue; and a Municipal Technical Assistance grant to update the town's zoning and land use permitting process.

The council eventually approved acceptance of the grants and, most importantly, gain access to the results.

The Quirk component of the grant is for nearly $75,000. The transit stud