Key Take Aways from Affordable Housing Trust (AHT), July 10

This meeting was a work session preparing for the presentation in Town Hall on July 17. As part of the Housing Production Plan, there is a needs assessment, a prioritizing of needs, and an action plan.

Assessment — statistics as of 2021 — vary slightly but in general, Stockbridge has 1638 houses divided about 50/50 full–time and parttime. Many begin as part-time residents and become full-time residents. Stockbridge has added 40 houses since 2010. The median price of homes in Stockbridge is $575,000.

2021 was an exceptional year both in the number of transfers (sales) and the spike in prices — rising to a median house price of $715,000. Perhaps this was an caused by a "flight to safety" during COVID.

In either case, a house price of $575,000 or $715,000, requires an estimated income of $148,000/annually (only 15% of Americans make that).

More stats: Stockbridge has the 10% affordable housing required by the Commonwealth.

Only 13 of approx. 100 school employees (including teachers) and 7 of approx. 40 Town employees live in Town.

What does that say about local needs?

Need more housing for age range 30-50 years that folks can afford.

Need more housing for seniors.

Need more rentals? Currently most rentals are short term rentals (STR) as they bring in more income

Offer incentives for Town and school workers to live in Stockbridge?

Build Habitat for Humanity houses as they did in Great Barrington?

Jan Ackerman asked — why expand affordable housing — perhaps expand workforce housing?

The discussion will continue with the public on July 19.

Photo: Jay Rhind