Council approves endorsement for CODAC tax-exempt status at 45 Huntington Ave

Providence City Council members voted to approve a resolution endorsing urgent state action tied to property tax calculation and to advance a local endorsement for CODAC’s request for tax-exempt status at 45 Huntington Ave.

CODAC representative Linda Gerley asked the council to endorse the organization’s request and described the Providence facility as a large multi‑service center providing opioid-treatment and behavioral health services. Gerley said the site houses multiple medical specialties under one roof, serves predominantly Medicaid patients and has about 21,000 square feet of space. She said the program serves people who rely on services for social needs — food, housing navigation and reentry support — and that about 93 percent of the people they serve are Medicaid patients.

Gerley also discussed recent appraisals and a building‑stabilization plan. She said the organization had been told an earlier estimate to stabilize the building was roughly $8,000,000 and that contractors and engineers now estimate staggered repairs will be required, with one contractor estimating roughly a 12‑week schedule to complete the immediate stabilization work. She said the project will require nighttime work near railroad tracks and that CODAC will seek Amtrak permission for overnight work.

Council members posed questions about the scale of past property tax payments and building condition. Gerley said CODAC has paid property taxes in prior years and estimated the most recent year’s payment at about $53,000 (she characterized that figure as approximate). She said CODAC bought the building from a former industrial owner, remodeled it and has expanded services including infectious disease care, dentistry and reentry programs.

After the presentation, Councilwoman Andovera moved to approve the agenda item and Councilwoman Graves seconded. The motion passed. The council recorded the outcome as approval and indicated the item would move to a full council vote as the next procedural step.

CODAC (the nonprofit organization referenced in the presentation) and the council did not finalize any change in state law at the meeting; the council’s action was an endorsement to be transmitted to the General Assembly as described in the resolution read into the record.

The council’s approval follows the organization’s request for local endorsement of two bills read during the public comment: a House bill and a Senate bill (identified in the meeting as “House Bill 2025 H‑56999” and “Senate Bill 2025 S‑07999,” as read into the record). The council’s action at this meeting was a local resolution in support and not itself a change in tax law.