On July 15, the Town Council will hear the latest about affordable housing efforts in #MiddletownRI. Originally, the conversation was planned for July 1, but with the interest and desire to have everyone at the table, it was pushed back two weeks.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Sheley at (401) 842-6543 or msheley@middletownri.com
AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEETING PLANNED FOR JULY 15
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (JUNE 26, 2024) – Affordable housing will be a significant subject of conversation at the Town Council’s July 15 meeting.
Originally, the item was going to be discussed at the council’s Monday, July 1 session, but that was postponed two weeks to make sure all the players and impacted parties could attend and provide input.
Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown said representatives with the town’s consultants Pennrose and Union Studios will be on hand for the July 15 discussion at 6:30 pm in Town Hall to offer advice about what Middletown can and should do about affordable housing.
The town’s Comprehensive Plan Update Committee currently has a housing survey seeking input from residents and business people. To fill out the survey, visit https://mdl.town/Housing-Study online. All surveys must be submitted no later than Sunday, June 30 to be accepted.
“For the sake of transparency, we wanted to push this conversation back so that everyone who’s impacted and effected could be at the table,” Brown said. “The Town Council has stressed that affordable housing is its No. 1 priority and we’re working hard to make sure we’re doing what we can to help.”
Recently, Middletown learned its application for state support for affordable housing projects at 650 Green End Ave. and 26 Oliphant Lane came up short. Pennrose and Union Studios handled those requests before Rhode Island Housing for the town.
Based on state feedback, the town’s applications weren’t as desirable largely because they did not create enough affordable housing units or the necessary cash flow, especially when compared to other proposals seeking funding.
The Green End project at the old Peckham School next to the Middletown Senior Center would have created up to 22 units of senior affordable housing. Up to 35 units were considered at the Oliphant Lane site, which currently houses the school’s administrative and maintenance offices.
The town’s Affordable Housing Committee was also expected to hear from Pennrose and Union Studios at its next meeting on July 10 at 6 pm in the Fire Department conference room, 239 Wyatt Road.
From Day 1, Brown said public input and transparency were critical to the town’s affordable housing efforts, something that won’t change.
The next opportunity the town has to submit an application for state funding is December.
“The council has made it clear they’d like to see this happen and we’ve been moving steadily in that direction,” Brown said. “After we heard back from Rhode Island Housing, it’s clear we have to take a step back and assess what we’re doing and what our next steps should be and feedback from our residents, abutters and others is a vital part of that process.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-AH-71524