Newport officials weigh options to preserve Henderson Home at 14 Clark Street

Committee member: The Henderson Home Commission asked the Newport City Council to consider short‑term repairs and longer‑term options to preserve Henderson Home at 14 Clark Street, saying the house is serviceable but faces safety and funding shortfalls.

“We would like to continue operate Henderson home at 14 Clark Street as a city program under the management of the Henderson home commission,” the Committee member said, laying out three choices: invest to keep and repair the existing house; sell and buy a facility already configured for residents; or transfer operations to a community agency such as a church housing provider.

Why it matters: the commission said the building — originally constructed in the 18th century — has accessibility and life‑safety shortcomings, aging joists, narrow stairs and lead paint that was “encapsulated” rather than fully abated. Staff and volunteers have performed much maintenance, but the commission said additional electrical and fire‑alarm upgrades remain unpriced and that an elevator would likely require exterior work and historic‑district approval.

Funding and the trust: Council discussion centered on the Henderson Home trust and tradeoffs between capital and operating funds. A lawmaker reported the trust corpus is about $1.7 million and that the annual disbursement to the home is roughly $65,000; tapping capital from the trust would reduce that annual operating amount. A Manager‑level speaker framed the politics of any big infusion bluntly: “The easy button is you basically dump a $1,000,000,000 into the trust that solves your operating liquidity problem,” he said, adding that such a large city commitment is unlikely given other municipal priorities.

Safety and liability: A Staff member warned the council about liability risks posed by narrow, steep stairs and other aging conditions, saying the city could be named in negligence claims if an injury occurred. The commission said the fire department inspected the building and noted second‑floor egress options through windows; inspectors had also recommended installing doors in some hallways to limit smoke spread, work the commission has begun.

Alternatives explored: Commissioners described looking at properties on Mill Street and Elliot Street as possible replacements. Initial reviews suggested purchase and renovation costs would likely be comparable to extensive work on the existing house, and zoning and historic‑district limits on building stories could restrict replacement options. Commission members reported they prefer to keep the house if feasible because residents value the small, downtown setting.

Legal constraints and residency: Councilors asked whether the will that established the trust and residency rules (the house has been men‑only) would constrain changes. Staff and the commission said changes would depend on the will’s exact terms and, in some cases, might require court approval; sale and substitution of property could be possible but would need legal review.

Next steps: The commission agreed to gather more detailed cost estimates, pursue follow‑up meetings with Church Community Housing and other community partners, and report back to council — with some speakers urging a decision within about a year and an interim report in roughly six months. Council staff also said limited city resources could be used for urgent safety fixes while longer‑term funding is considered.

The council did not take a formal vote during the discussion and directed the commission to return with clarified options, cost estimates and any recommended next procedural steps.