Hummel Targets Affordable Housing
Take a look at a Hummel Report on affordable housing in Barrington.
Barrington's own Jim Hummel takes a look at affordable housing in today's Hummel Report. And he focuses, where else, on his hometown.
Read and hear what affordable-housing critic Gary Morse of Barrington and Barrington Town Council President June Speakman, a longtime advocate, have to say about the mandate that every town in Rhode Island must develop at least 10 percent of its housing stock as affordable.
Barrington officials have no choice but to work to achieve the mandate, says Speakman, and the town has moved aggressively to do it.
But Morse thinks many Barrington property owners are being forced to subsidize other property owners who might actually have more means at their disposal to pay taxes than they do given the subsidies they receive.
See the complete Hummel Report on affordable housing by clicking here.
Lorraine F
10:52 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012
I just read that the Lavin's Marina project, "Lighthouse Cove", will have shoreline taxpayer subsidized $449,000 affordable homes that don't have to go through the property assessment process like the rest of us?
http://barrington.patch.com/articles/bay-spring-soon-to-see-new-housing
I guess I'll have to subsidize their property taxes too? I'm finally getting the full absurdity of this issue.
Gary Morse
2:42 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012
The affordable debate is one of the most important topics in Barrington, and in other communities across the state.
It deserves more than speculation about the affordable laws and ordinances governing this issue. Residents need to know exactly where they stand.
My discussion on an earlier blog with a member of the Barrington Town Planning Board began with his statement: "I do not believe Gary is accurate when he says that the Planning Board does not have authority to enforce town ordinances."
http://barrington.patch.com/blog_posts/is-barrington-the-worst-of-worst
It ended with the same Planning Board member finally acknowledging: “I'm not a RI attorney, so I'm won't try to interpret any specific rules or ordinances or provide any specific cites. However, the Planning Board, in the presence of and on the advice of the town solicitor, routinely adopts and amends town ordinances. It can also waive certain town ordinances for certain developments, and does so when it is in the best interest of the town. Suffice it to say that these are routine duties of the Planning Board. I'd prefer not to get into a detailed discussion about exactly which statutes and ordinances provide these powers.”
In the interest of all residents, this discussion should conclude with some specific citations showing that "affordable housing" ordinances can indeed be "routinely amended" by the Planning Board.
The question deserves a candid and honest response.
In the moment
7:36 am on Friday, October 26, 2012
Speakman: "I didn't see it (developer requesting and town granting property tax freeze at the last minute on new affordable housing) as holding the town hostage".....what? Your back was against the wall and you caved. Affordable housing can happen naturally - let's get our representatives to get the state to acknowledge the already affordable houses in town - there are plenty, and town is built out already. Stop the madness with these creatively named but ultimately destructive projects. Just another part of the fast track for RI to become a Robin Hood state.
John Davidson
7:55 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
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Ts9x
3:21 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012
The town needs to assess the need and geography of the town before blindly pursuing the construction of additional affordable housing. There is a 10% mandate from the state to build but no consideration for open space , we barely have a forest in town and just knocked one down to build sweet briar. do we need additional housing? This is a recession and our real estate values have plummeted due to an over supply of housing. We can't find anyone to buy into walker farm. Let's talk about spending money on the schools , 1.5mil allocated for a full day kindergarten program and funding to fix up athletic feilds. The housing can WAIT. There is no mandate stating when we need to have the housing built. Also, we cannot fill the current new units which only bring the town to 2% of a total requirement of 10%. Adding 8% new affordable housing is financial miss management of the board. Since the 10% requirement was put in place the average home price in town is has dropped to $269K. Clearly there is plenty of affordable units available. We need to reprioritize town goals and confront the state to amend the affordable housing rule based on the nessesity of open space, real estate values have dropped. adding to the over supply of homes on the market is fueling the problem.
Fred Diel
7:02 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012
It is time for the voters and residence of Barrington to realize that they voted for the same old political officials and policies. Socialism. Our states affordable housing act is in lock step with the United Nations Agenda 21 sustainable development policy. Please go to following link and read for yourself. www.americanpolicy.org/agenda21