Johnston acquires land meant to be used for low-income housing via eminent domain

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Johnston Mayor Joe Polisena, Jr. said that the town had acquired a plot of land originally meant to hold a low-income housing development via eminent domain.

Polisena said in January that the plot would now be used for a new public safety complex.

At 10:40 a.m. today, through a petition in Providence Superior Court, the Town of Johnston officially acquired ownership of the property at 178-200 George Waterman Road by eminent domain.

— Joe Polisena Jr. (@JosephPolisena) March 14, 2025

The housing development was set to include 252 low-income housing units.

The Housing Network of Rhode Island released the following statement when the plan to eminent domain the land was originally released:

Using eminent domain to block affordable housing sets a dangerous precedent and undermines efforts to address the housing crisis in Johnston and across Rhode Island.

The owners of the plot, the Santoro family, said they are suing the mayor, citing “eminent domain under false pretenses,” as the town had not told them about their plans.