<p>Converting existing market-rate properties to year-round affordable housing is on the table for discussion in at least one town as Island leaders regroup over draft housing plans.</p>
Converting existing market-rate properties to year-round affordable housing is now on the table for discussion in at least one town as Island leaders regroup over an ambitious set of draft affordable housing plans.
“There’s houses being turned over regularly,” Tisbury planning board member Ben Robinson said at a recent meeting of the all-Island planning board. “We can buy them back, deed-restrict them, and get people into those and integrate them back into the community.”
Completed in January following a months-long public process, the draft housing production plans aim to dramatically increase the amount of low and moderate income housing in each town. The draft plans create a template for each town to use in addressing its need for year-round housing.
As they sift through the reams of data, planning board members have generally welcomed the draft reports, but have yet to decide on which recommendations to pursue. Some have also criticized the documents for not lining up with the specific housing needs and goals in each town.
“I think we are very pleased with the information we have, even though the template doesn’t fit 100 per cent,” Chilmark planning board member Peter Cook said at the meeting held last week at the American Legion hall. He said Chilmark plans to break down its own recommendations into short and long-term strategies, as well as efforts already underway, and to develop more site-specific proposals.
Oak Bluffs planning board member Ewell Hopkins said the plan for his town has been well received by the planning board and selectmen, although a path forward is still unclear. “It seems like a relevant document,” he said, noting a series of public workshops last year where residents weighed in on the process. “But we are not prepared to commit to the points that it outlines.”
The plans aim for 10 per cent affordable housing stock in every Island town by 2036, in keeping with the Massachusetts comprehensive permit act. But in the end each town may decide to set its own goals, in part because the need on the Island extends to higher-income households than elsewhere in the commonwealth.
In Aquinnah, which has already reached the 10 per cent goal (largely due to tribal housing), town officials have revised their plan to include a goal for households earning between 80 and 150 per cent of the area median income.
“The documents that came back, quite frankly, were much more focused on the 80 per cent,” said Peter Temple, chairman of the Aquinnah planning board. “For many of the towns, that means that they are on their own now figuring out what else do we want to add.”
In Tisbury Mr. Robinson pointed to the housing conversion program as an attractive option, noting the high cost of construction on the Island. He said the approach could benefit from an Islandwide housing bank — also recommended in the draft plans — by providing a funding source.
Tisbury’s plan is the only one so far to include a housing conversion program as a recommendation, but West Tisbury planning board member Virginia Jones said at the meeting that she too supports the idea.
Martha’s Vineyard Commission executive director Adam Turner said he is encouraged by the progress so far.
“The discussions have begun and towns are figuring out what they want to do,” he said. “And that’s exactly what we wanted when we began the process.”
The commission has provided funding and administrative support for the initiative.
The deadline for final drafts has been extended to March 24. Once the plans are revised, consultants at JM Goldson community preservation + planning will send them to the state Department of Housing and Community Development for approval.
The plans are available at mvcommission.org.

Comments
Instead of wasting taxpayer's
deshandra brown mvInstead of wasting taxpayer's money on this concept, a better use of the funds would be to build a 'park' for 'manufactured' homes. It may not fit in with the snobs here, but manufactured (mobile homes) are a nice inexpensive way to build equity and have your own place. While the old name 'trailer parks' may produce a negative reaction from some, its a logical inexpensive way to accomplish the goats set forth by the various bureaucrats. If someone wants a home on a 1/2 acre, then they can do what the rest of us did. We worked 3 jobs at once, saved our money (instead of wasting it on new boats, trucks and bar tabs)
2036,that's 20 more years
charlie callahan so boston/edgartown2036,that's 20 more years they can beat this thing into the ground. I think all these boards and meetings are just EYEWASH. Trying to look like they will do something but really just going through the motions. All the towns on this island own 100's of acres of land foreclosed,taxes not paid,donated ,whatever. Why don't they step up and donate all the land into an island wide trust just for the purpose of having affordable housing built. That's not a solution, but it would give contractors a big edge when it comes to estimating and they don't have to figure in the ridiculous prices they would have to pay the greedy ones who would gouge the price of land. Not a cure but a big start if they are serious about getting this rolling. But I doubt it
Why don’t you use a little
J C Murphy - Economist West TisburyWhy don’t you use a little economic common sense and build a multifaceted revenue producing complex in the woods to pacify the tree huggers, in which the young and ambitious who are just getting out of the military or college could live dormitory style for awhile but yet pay proportionately and move up the complex to the elderly who want to get out of their big homes and move into a little place (one or two bedrooms.)
As they (the young) move up to a little to a larger placed they would pay a little more rent. The old would be able have a little bigger place in the right hand side of the Quad and serve as the watchful eye on the young Who usually do not know but can be shown and the elderly who normally cannot be told my issue a little wisdom and kindness and serve a purpose to the young. The Jesuits did it for years. As you move up in wealth you could even have a family for awhile in a two bedroom and pay a little more rent. The math is there except for the ignorant who refuse to realize this place is no different than any other place as far as the economics and numbers work. However it takes common sense which is sorely lacking on this island. It also takes some courage to stand up to the old guard.
However everything is temporary as life is, and when one becomes somewhat successful they should buy their own home.
If you can’t, then you must leave the island. You have been given a chance and flunked and now it is time for you to habitat somewhere else, and their are may of those places and that is where you belong. Not that you are bad, but you have made your own decision to flunk. There is a little wiggle room financially for the truly infirmed, but not those who continue on Heroine ETCETERA. It would allow for potentially ambitious productive people to enhance the island and start new businesses which is really a new paradigm which is the only way to survive. Conclusion: Adapt or perish.
This is a joke. Look at the
VHChilmark Martha's vineyardThis is a joke. Look at the players present. Same old faces that have been talking about this for years. Nothing will ever got done.
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