PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — In an effort to address the housing crisis , Providence has developed a new method city officials are hoping will expedite the review of construction applications.

Mayor Brett Smiley’s administration last month quietly announced it had started “concurrent reviews” of permits needed to build new housing units. In other words, the reviews can begin once a site plan and construction drawings are submitted, according to the city.

Previously, a permit would not be accepted for review without a Department of Public Works approval for new construction, a Narragansett Bay Commission Sewer connection permit and a Providence Water Supply Board water availability letter.

“So, if there was a problem in one of those steps along the approval process, the whole thing would grind to a halt,” Smiley told Target 12 in an interview earlier this week.

Smiley is hopeful the new procedure will help speed up the process of building new homes.

“Just because one thing maybe has outstanding items, the other places can continue to make progress,” he said.

James Moore, director of the city’s Department Inspection and Standards , said in a news release that the new process could even “potentially reduce the total review process by more than a month.”

Still, Smiley said it may take about a year to see how much faster the new process compares to the previous procedure.

“Our director has experience in other communities where he has made this change, and it has helped, so I expect that it will here in Providence, too,” Smiley added.

Separately, some affordable-housing projects in Providence will be getting a boost in funding, soon, according to Smiley.

The city’s Housing Trust Fund “Notice of Funding Availability” applications closed on July 10.

Smiley told Target 12 the city is preparing to announce around $10 million of awards from the fund in the near future.

Alexandra Leslie ( aleslie@wpri.com ) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook .

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