A recent joint meeting of the West Tisbury selectmen and members of the affordable housing committee approved the formation of a committee to develop a plan for moving ahead with the 2019 town meeting's mandate to create a vehicle for creation of housing affordable for Island residents.
A recent joint meeting of the West Tisbury selectmen and members of the affordable housing committee approved the formation of a committee to develop a plan for moving ahead with the 2019 town meeting’s mandate to create a vehicle for creation of housing affordable for Island residents.
At this joint meeting the selectmen and the housing committee identified the Islandwide committees, departments and authorities to be represented. It was also decided that the committee would include two at-large town residents.
I am writing to suggest that these two town resident slots on the committee be reserved for, first, a young year-round worker and second, a senior citizen.
Young workers, even two-income households, find it nearly impossible to find year-round housing suitable for a small family.
The many, many seniors living on this Island that might wish to, or be forced to by the aging process, downsize have no suitable place to go. Currently, private developers have no incentive to develop the types of settings where seniors will enjoy senior living safely and affordably. Instead more and more seniors are forced to move off-Island.
A promise was made by the West Tisbury selectmen at our town meeting to initiate a plan that creates an Islandwide approach to housing development that will allow Islanders to live, work and retire here. The committee to be formed must include the voices of those most in need.
Susan Silk
West Tisbury
Comments
This identifies the problem,
Bruce Nevin EdgartownThis identifies the problem, and that is most excellent, but the proposed solution cannot scale up to meet it. We do not need more houses. We need more of the existing houses to be year-round homes. 70% or so of the Island's housing stock is vacant in the winter.
Yes to Mr. Nevin’s point. But
Harriet Bernstein West TisburyYes to Mr. Nevin’s point. But at least let’s stop promoting the Island as a summer destination and encouraging more summer houses.
Add new comment