By Joan D. Warren
Editor, The Anchor

Bishop da Cunha offers
the Blessing Rite

NEW BEDFORD – A group of about 50 dignitaries, stakeholders, and community members gathered Wednesday morning, August 20, for the ribbon cutting and blessing of the newly renovated Talbot Apartments, a historic Queen Anne-style building located on Acushnet Avenue in the city’s North End.

The ceremony was highlighted by a blessing from Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., signifying a new beginning for the affordable housing building, which had been severely damaged in a fire in November 2022. The blaze forced the displacement of all residents and left the iconic building temporarily uninhabitable.

Owned and managed by Community Action for Better Housing (CABH), a ministry of the Diocese of Fall River, the 124-year-old building underwent an extensive $3.5 million renovation beginning in fall 2023. The project not only restored the building’s function as affordable housing, but also preserved its historical integrity. CABH collaborated with the City of New Bedford’s Community Preservation Committee to ensure key architectural features were maintained. Notably, the Committee contributed approximately $255,000 toward the restoration of the building’s historic windows.

Now fully rehabilitated, the Talbot Apartments will provide 26 single-occupancy units, each equipped with a kitchenette, living area, and private bathroom. Two of the units, located on the first floor, are fully handicap accessible. On-site laundry facilities are also available. The building is expected to welcome its first residents next month.

CABH Executive Director gives a tour of one of the new apartments

“The reopening of the Talbot Apartments is not just a restored building—it’s a restoration of dignity, community, and opportunity for those who need it most,” said Jeff Sherman, Executive Director of CABH. He went on to acknowledge and express gratitude to several organizations and individuals for their critical support of the restoration project.

CABH currently oversees 150 affordable housing units across New Bedford and Fall River. With housing availability a growing concern in the region, the reopening of the Talbot Apartments marks an important step forward in increasing the local supply of quality, affordable housing.

The Talbot Apartments are listed in the State Register of Historic Places, a testament to the building’s architectural and cultural significance since its construction in 1901.

Learn more about the restoration project here.

Read complete coverage of the blessing and ribbon cutting ceremony in the September 5th issue of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Diocese of Fall River

WATCH THE VIDEO: BIshop da Cunha and City of New Bedford and diocesan officials take part in the ribbon cutting

Diocese of Fall River
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