The campus of Holy Rosary has been a fixture in the Lexington neighborhood since the 1800s.

"The Holy Rosary community had a very strong history of social involvement in their neighborhood," Father Kevin McKenna, Community Cathedral.

A history, long time parishioner and former Catholic school student Carol Goodman and her family has been a part of for three generations.

"So my kids also went to Holy Rosary School. I worked as a librarian at Holy Rosary School for 25 years, so this is like old homey," said Goodman.

The church closed its doors in 2008 and years later the school followed. The campus has since served as a refugee outreach center.

"It was very sad, because like I said it was my second home," said Goodman.

Soon, for many families, the former school will become home. The center will eventually relocate to the church and Holy Rosary Catholic school will be converted into 35 apartments.

"I think about this project and others like this as becoming the anchor for a lot of what we need to do, a lot of how we are going to stabilize the community," said Carla Palumbo, NW District City Councilmember.

During a groundbreaking ceremony, Providence Housing Development Corporation announced Holy Rosary Apartments will serve low income families, and rent will average between $400 and $800 based on size.

"We will be preserving the buildings. We actually have gotten historic registry status for the building and we will be rehabing them to meet those standards," said Monica McCullough, Providence Housing Executive Director.

Providence is also constructing 25 rental homes in the northwest neighborhood.
Applications are currently being accepted, with a move in date of January 2013.

It's a neighborhood conversion, that some believe is providential.

"I worried when they closed down the church that Holy Rosary would be forgotten and this way it will be remembered," said Goodman.

Providence Housing Development Corporation