P
rovidence real estate developer Joseph R. Paolino Jr. plans to put the former St. Joseph's Hospital in South Providence up for sale, with hopes of turning it into much-needed housing. The listing will go live on Tuesday through Cushman & Wakefield, which will conduct an auction without a set asking price. Paolino is open to proposals and believes a mixed-use development with housing would be the best use of the property.

    Paolino had initially sought to develop the site himself but was unable to secure COVID relief funds from R.I. Housing earlier this year. He decided that the project needed a developer with more experience in subsidized housing, citing his own firm's lack of expertise in the area. "I think the project is too big for me to do it alone," Paolino said.

    The 250,000-square-foot historic property has been vacant since its emergency room closed in 1993 and all inpatient services stopped in 2008. Paolino bought the site in 2016 and first attempted to turn it into a homeless shelter before donating it to the city for a new school. However, that project was abandoned due to cost concerns and opposition.

    The property at 21 Peace St. is currently assessed at $10 million and has direct RIPTA bus access. Paolino believes that a residential development would be a fitting use of the site, preserving its history while providing quality housing for the community.