When Halliwell Elementary School closed in 2019, it was seen as an opportunity for North Smithfield to create a legacy project. Instead, the site has become a case study in administrative gridlock. Over the last six years, the project has seen three different location proposals, dissolved committees, and a price tag that continues to climb while $5 million in grant funding hangs in the balance.
Halliwell Community Project
The Detailed Timeline: 2019–2026
2019–2021: Slow Starts and Initial Plans
June 2019: Halliwell Elementary officially closes. Despite immediate community interest, the town fails to establish a plan.
November 2020: Nearly 18 months after closing, the town finally moves forward with its first architectural assessment.
January 2021: The Town Council appoints a nine-member committee to oversee the project.
October 2021: The committee settles on a plan for a community center.
December 2021: The architectural assessment concludes that a renovation is financially unfeasible; the building must be demolished and rebuilt.
2022: Frustration and Alternative Partners
March 2022: Members of the Halliwell Committee publicly express frustration over the Town Council’s lack of concrete direction.
April 2022: The YMCA of Pawtucket proposes a partnership to build a new facility on the site. Councilwoman Meo calls for a "firm direction" to prevent further stagnation.
June 2022: A public meeting reveals high demand for the space from the library, senior organizations, and Parks and Recreation.
September 2022: The Council finally approves a master plan solicitation.
2023: The $4 Million Grant and the Location Shuffle
January 2023: Despite the Halliwell focus, the town begins considering moving the community center plan to Scouters Hall. This occurs just as the town receives a $4 million federal grant for the project.
February 2023: Internal confusion peaks. The Council discusses making Halliwell "open space," while $120,000 intended for a master plan is nearly redirected to demolition. Committee members voice skepticism that any project will ever be funded.
September 2023: Four years after closing, a demolition date is finally set. The Council votes to spend the $4 million grant at the Halliwell site.
October 2024: It was announced that no clear date had been set for the demolition of the current structure, despite previous reports that it was imminent.
November 2023: The project receives its first major cost estimate: $14.7 million.
2024: Demolition and New Proposals
January 2024: Halliwell is finally demolished.
February 2024: Councilwoman Kim Alves suggests moving the plan back to Scouters Hall due to high costs.
March 2024: The town receives an additional $1 million grant.
June 2024: Councilman Beauregard suggests abandoning the Halliwell site entirely to build at "The Pines," a recently closed restaurant on Pound Hill Road.
October 2024: After months of detour, the town shifts focus back to the Halliwell site.
2025: Rising Costs and Dissolved Committees
February 2025: Almost six years in, the Council dissolves two existing committees to form the Halliwell Multi-Generational Building Committee.
March 2025: The project scope is scaled back to $6 million, leaving a $2 million gap even with grants. Experts note the project still lacks a "comprehensive vision."
August 2025: Delays drive costs up to $7.29 million. Committee Co-Chair Jeff Porter expresses frustration with Council delays, while Councilwoman Alves acknowledges that "frequent pivots" to explore new locations have paralyzed progress.
December 2025: The project concludes another year without secured funding or a groundbreaking date.
Stop the Pivoting. Start Building.
A voluntary code is a suggestion, not a standard. North Smithfield deserves a government that is accountable to its people, not one that operates above the rules.
Email the Council: We have $5 million in hand. Contact the Town Council and demand they bridge the $2 million gap and stop the "location shuffling" that has wasted years of progress.
Attend the Next Committee Meeting: Support the Halliwell Multi-Generational Building Committee. They need a public mandate to prevent the Council from "pivoting" again.
Vote for Project Completion: We don't need leaders who suggest new locations six years into a project. We need leaders who can see a project through from demolition to ribbon-cutting. This election, vote for decisive action.