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HomeArchiveVol. III No. 22 11/15/2022Notes from the Affordable Housing Trust, November 9, Hybrid meeting
Vol. III No. 22 11/15/2022

Notes from the Affordable Housing Trust, November 9, Hybrid meeting

Present:

  • Ranne Warner
  • Jan Ackerman
  • Lis Wheeler
  • Don Eaton
  • Patrick White, Chair SB
  • Also present: Michael Canales, Town Administrator
  • Andrea Lindsey, Stockbridge Housing Authority (SHA)
  1. Warner was elected Chair, Ackerman Vice Chair, and Wheeler volunteered to continue taking minutes until someone could be hired
  2. Five members of Trust — 3 for 2 years and 2 for 1 year — in addition the Trust invited 3 people to be advisors to the trust — Jim Welch (SHA), June Wolfe (Construct/Pine Woods) and Rebecca Wendell (Riverbrook)
  3. The trust advises the Town — the Town makes the expenditures and owns any land/building purchased. The Town also insures the members of the Trust against legal action
  4. Ackerman met with Lenox representatives to discuss the Lenox Housing Production Plan (HPP).
    1. Stockbridge has met its mandatory 10% affordable housing and Lenox has not
    2. Lenox did not meet 10% requirement and is therefore required by law to build, create, more affordable housing, Stockbridge is not
    3. Lenox is building a large housing project on Rte. 7 north of town center (65 units — mixed use affordable and work force housing)
    4. Lenox is now doing a second HPP — suggested that Stockbridge coordinate somehow but two towns have little in common
    5. Ackerman did not recommend Lenox rep coming and speaking to Trust
    6. White suggested Stockbridge has more latitude — is free to focus on affordable and work force housing, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), as well as enlarging and improving Pine Woods and Heaton Court
    7. Ackerman added that Lenox funds affordable housing with seasonal receipts (food and rooms taxes) — Stockbridge collects over $600,000 in those receipts but uses income to defray taxes (lower tax rate)
    8. Ackerman concluded by sharing there is funding available through the Commonwealth for planning. White thought if we use Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) for planning if it is not free to us because BRPC is the recipient of state planning grants
  5. Wheeler reported on Pine Woods owned and operated by Construct. Wheeler reported that June Wolfe, Director, Construct, thanked Stockbridge and the Community Preservation Committee (CPC)for past support. Wolfe also shared that Construct purchased Windflower Inn and a farm (neither in Stockbridge) for additional affordable housing.
    1. As the Stockbridge population changes, the needs change — the need now may be for more work force housing rather than more affordable housing
    2. Wheeler recommended inviting Wolfe to a future meeting
    3. Warner said she thought that the problem with getting funds to Pine Woods was more a matter of selling tax credits than getting federal funds. Warner felt making Pine Woods attractive to purchasers of tax credits was more important. Projects that are larger and better maintained are more attractive. (Federal grants are also more readily available to larger projects)
  6. Eaton reported on Heaton Court and brought representatives, Lindsey and Welch to meeting
    1. Eaton said funding for Heaton Court comes from Housing and Urban Development (HUD — federal funds), Department of Housing and Human Development (DHHD — state aid) and Community Preservation Committee (CPC — locally).
    2. Heaton Court has a 1500 person waiting list and about 3-4 openings a year. They see the desirability of building more units
    3. Welch argued for two-bedroom units so people can get the live-in help they need to remain in their homes and avoid nursing homes.
    4. Lindsey was concerned that the deed restricts building more on the land
    5. White suggested building on the dirt road behind the extant units
    6. Currently there is one two-bedroom, 50 one bedroom, and 2 four-bedroom units
    7. The discussion continued re: building more units
    8. Warner shifted to capital improvements including boilers and asked how much they would need
    9. White mentioned that the Trust should find the best way to coordinate with CPC who funds Heaton Court capital improvements every year — perhaps Trust could give small amounts for SHA to leverage against larger grants. White asked Welch, who in his professional life worked in housing, how the Trust could best coordinate with SHA, CPC and others for maximum impact.
    10. Chair suggested Trust invite author of housing study to a meeting and perhaps the Planning and Select Board reps (Nancy Socha and Christine Rasmussen)

Meeting adjourned

 

photo
From the wall of Carl Sprague's home