Diocese to close St. Francis House

WOONSOCKET — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence has told a state nursing home association that it is closing St. Francis House, its assisted-living center at 167 Blackstone St. later this year, a spokeswoman for the association said.

A diocese spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment and a call to St. Francis House was answered with “no comment, no comment, no comment.”

Mary K. Talbot, of the Rhode Island Association of Facilities and Services for the Aging, said the diocese told the association it would cost $250,000 to $500,000 to bring the center into compliance with the state fire code.

The center has a capacity of about 50, according to Talbot, who said she didn’t know how many beds were in use. She said the staff of St. Francis House will work with residents to find new arrangements.

—John Hill

Proposed Walgreens shunned in E. Greenwich

EAST GREENWICH — The prognosis for a Walgreens drug store at the corner of Main Street and First Avenue is grim. The Planning Board voted 7-to-0 Wednesday night to reject a developer’s master plan for the project, and then voted 7-to-0 to recommend that the Town Council not change the zoning on the site.

John Stewart, project manager for Arista Development, said the company will probably decide Friday whether to push ahead.

The property includes the East Greenwich Car Wash and a now-closed Sunoco gasoline station, which is expected to reopen if the Walgreens proposal is withdrawn.

—C. Eugene Emery Jr.