Local Housing
Partnership
9:00 a.m.
Members absent: Eileen
Kennedy (unexcused)
Staff: Maxine Notaro (arr. at 9:30 a.m.) and
Doug Taylor
Others: Mary Ann Bragg (reporter)
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m.
Doug
Taylor updated the members of the Partnership on the pending projects:
1.
34
Conwell Street – unit #2 has been sold.
2.
122
Bradford Street Extension – modular units are arriving on Thursday and of these
7 will be affordable units in Phase 1.
3.
48
Race Point Road is “under construction.”
Tim
Hazel commented that the last formal affordable application happened on January
1st. He wondered why no more
have been made. Doug agreed that there
has not been a whole lot of activity but said that the Meadows, itself, will
give quite a few affordable. However,
the project is still under construction.
Doug
further said that – so far - nothing has ever been renovation work. Soon, he promised, the group will see large
numbers attached to proposals – i.e. campgrounds, etc. AJ Alon wondered if the turning of the flow
of restaurant seats into bedrooms will trigger more activity.
Doug
Taylor said that the affordable allotment has enough gallons but not enough
projects. He said many projects are
mired in “baby steps.” Doug also said
that he thinks “affordable housing” districts are a mistake i.e. Chapter
41. He feels that we should get
national coverage of 951R Commercial St which is a waterfront property and is
quite a happening. Tim said if we
hadn’t seized the property this would never have happened.
Doug
spoke of trade-offs – as in – bringing something to the town for any proposal
allowed, i.e., if property accrues (such as areas of Beach Point) then allow
construction for affordable units.
Doug
asked the group to put some goals together for the LHP – maybe 3 to 5 goals for
the coming year. (Before the meeting
concluded Doug has come up with a few goals for the LHP that he will formalize
and then send out to them.
AJ recused himself from this discussion. As the winner of an affordable housing unit at the Hensche complex, AJ felt compelled to step down.
As
Tim Hazel presented the problem – what does one do when the condo fees go up
when something unforeseen happens, i.e., septic failures, etc. which would
cause the fees to rise? Do the
affordable owners get penalized just as the other unit owners do? The last thing the group wants to have
happen is to have someone who is in a unit - have to sell because they can’t
afford it. What is the solution?
Thoughts
abounded about a 0 interest loan payment which might be subsidized. Also, meanderings about market rate people
vs. affordable people. One developer says every unit pays the same fee or
should the people who are poor pay less?
Tim said they were going to meet with the Housing Authority to hammer
out the details.
Doug
promised he will get the group something from the county. The county is touting forgiveable loans for
the home-owner for failed septics, home heating, and another 2
possibilities. Doug will furnish
details and said there were a lot of qualifiers for this program. Tim doesn’t want to do anything that might
become precedent setting. Neither do we
want to see something that causes the loss of property.
Scott
Campbell said he was leary about just putting a band-aid on problems.
The
final thought was that there are lots of possibilities but no solutions.
Doug
Taylor went back to goals for the LHP.
After quite a bit of discussion and prompting Doug said he would write
up the suggestions from members and e-mail the goals to them for their
approval. It was agreed. Standardization seemed to be the most
visited issue. Doug will work on it.
Doug,
along those lines, said that every time Kopelman & Paige are called in to
approve or formulate documents for affordable housing it’s as though they have
to reinvent the wheel. It was felt by
everyone that boilerplate should be standardized and then lengthy rewrites
would become unnecessary.
Another
goal might be to sit down with the different affordable groups to brain-storm
ways to stimulate developments.
Exploring ways to use the trust fund money is another thought. It was felt that everyone should be on the
same page.
Everyone
further felt that rentals do not encourage people to invest in the community –
ownership is what you want to promote to get people committed.
Tim
Hazel asked if anyone knew of someone who would be interested in joining the
CPC? They need members but would prefer
people not involved in real estate.
THE NEXT MEETING WILL TAKE
PLACE ON JUNE 24TH AT 9:00 A.M. AND WILL BE A WORK SESSION.
Tabled until the next meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 9:50 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Evelyn Gaudiano
Approved by ____________________________on ______________, 2005.