The proposed Island-wide housing bank took another step forward when Chilmark became the fifth town to give it a thumbs up at its annual town meeting Monday night.
The proposed Island-wide housing bank took another step forward when Chilmark became the fifth town to give it a thumbs up at its annual town meeting Monday night.
“The housing bank is really a good idea,” selectman Warren Doty said during the discussion. “There are lots of details that are very complicated, more complicated than I understand, and we can quibble over should it be this way or that way, but it’s a good idea.”
The 194 voters in attendance at the Chilmark Community Center overwhelmingly approved the housing bank article, along with all 30 articles on the warrant, including the town’s $12.5 million operating budget.
The town meeting was called to order shortly after 7 p.m. by moderator Janet Weidner
Town administrator Tim Carroll makes a point.
Town administrator Tim Carroll makes a point.
In addition to the housing bank article, voters approved an outline for an affordable housing project at Peaked Hill Pastures, money to refurbish the Menemsha comfort stations and numerous Island-wide regional spending items.
The housing bank article requires approval at four town meetings and four elections before it can move on to the state legislature. It has now been approved at five town meetings — West Tisbury, Tisbury, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs approved the initiative at their town meetings on April 12 — and at the ballot box in West Tisbury, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. Chilmark voters head to the polls on Wednesday, with Tisbury holding its town election in May and Aquinnah holding its town meeting and election also in May.
Voters in Chilmark discussed the housing bank article in detail during an hour-long debate.
Candy daRosa, a real estate agent and member of the coalition advocating to create the housing bank, opened the discussion by outlining the need for affordable housing on the Island and asking the voters to sign on.
“It’s always been challenging to assist local families to buy homes, but now it’s pretty much impossible,” Ms. daRosa said. “This is a vote to present this bill to the legislature, this is not an approval vote.”
Laura Silber, housing bank coalition coordinator.
Laura Silber, housing bank coalition coordinator.
A handful of people objected to the article. Those who spoke against it raised concerns about over-development, zoning and people moving from off-Island to take advantage of housing bank projects.
“This is handing over our control to a newly created bureaucracy that’s going to be distanced from us and it’s going to make decisions that we’re not going to like,” Rick Shweder said. “If you love this community don’t give away the store for a need that we all recognize is there [but] that may not even be accomplished.”
In the end the article passed with a large majority.
The housing bank discussion dovetailed another hour-long discussion over an affordable housing project on town-owned land at Peaked Hill Pastures. In front of voters was a concept plan for 10 rental units and four owned units on roughly 16 acres. Resident Fred Khedouri proposed a sweeping amendment to change the plan to substitute the mix of rental and owned units to up to eight ownership lots.
“I think at some point you have to stop and say ‘does everything belong everywhere?’ Even go down-Island, go to Vineyard Haven...it looks like a suburb in most of it,” Mr. Khedouri said. “This is a rural town...and its character is a delicate thing that needs to be preserved.”
Select board member Jim Malkin with feline voter.
Select board member Jim Malkin with feline voter.
The amendment was shut down resoundingly after multiple people stood to make the case for rental units. Aletheia Donahue, a Chilmark resident and doctor at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, said young doctors and nurses are not in the market to buy a house.
“I know two nurses that are moving off-Island because they can’t find houses,” Ms. Donahue said. “Young professionals like that aren’t coming shovel-ready to be able to build a house here. They need to have rentals for us to be able to sustain these kinds of employees.”
After four hours the town meeting came to a close and voters headed back out into the chilly Chilmark night.
On election day, polls are open from noon to 8 p.m. at the Chilmark Community Center.
Comments
Sorry to hear this… land bank
Kate ChilmarkSorry to hear this… land bank fee now this? I see recently a 3 acre lot on Chappy went to affordable housing…. Why not sub divide that lot into 4-5 building lots?? I am confused.
It’s easy to see the same
Islander MVIt’s easy to see the same objections come up over and over, the real problem is that more and more people buy here and build here, full stop. The problem is not that we need people to staff MVH, MVRHS, Supermarkets, etc. and that they have to live here. This is what capitalism looks like when it goes free — and I support the right for anyone to do what they please, but the consequences are that you may have to wait in the ER or forgo that surgery or go to a grocery store that’s not stocked and staffed, or heaven’s forbid, a restaurant where you have to wait. That’s real life — don’t complain.
The purpose of the Housing
Lori Oak BluffsThe purpose of the Housing Bank is not to make it easier for more people to move here, its purpose is to create more housing equity for folks that already live and work here. "To be eligible for housing subsidies, an applicant must already have island-based income or must have a Vineyard employment contract. Working remotely does not qualify. The Dukes County Regional Housing Authority estimates that there are more than 1,000 individuals and families already living here in substandard housing, waiting for opportunities. Population growth does not come from affordable housing recipients." - The Coalition to Create the MV Housing Bank. Whether folks like it or not people will continue to buy, build and sell homes here. The question is do we want a thriving community of locals that care for one another or an island of high turnover short term renters and the uber rich that spend little amounts of time here and are not invested in our community, our children, our elders?
Thank you, Chilmark! We have
Lisa BelcastroThank you, Chilmark! We have a housing crisis, and while the Housing Bank is not the only solution we need, it certainly is one of them. Let's continue to help the people who live here year round and get this legislation passed.
Nothing is going to be a
Jane Katch ChiomarkNothing is going to be a perfect solution to the housing problem, but if we do nothing, the current trends tap for more and more short term rentals and investment buyers will continue, as it has in Nantucket. The housing bank will be able to help people who want to live and work on the island have a much better chance of being able to find housing. Right now there are 90 open jobs at the hospital and that’s just indicative of what it’s like all over the island. This is our chance to make a substantial impact!
The seasonal and year round
Jack A, West TisburyThe seasonal and year round population of Martha's Vineyard has been going up for many, many years. Since Martha's Vineyard is an island, with no easy to reach and affordable suburbs nearby, it make sense that the price of housing has gone up. The housing bank is a new tax that will enable even more competition for the limited housing stock. A better solution would be to loosen up the restrictive zoning laws to enable more buildable lots and real multi family housing opportunities in every island town. Part of the appeal of Brookline and Cambridge Massachusetts, is the mixture of single family homes right next to multi family buildings. Certainly, Martha's Vineyard should be able to maintain its rural appeal with intelligent multi family development. This new development won't cause Martha's Vineyard to lose its appeal, value, nor raise home prices even more as the new housing bank adds additional bidders to the few properties that sell each year.
Proud of Chilmark for voting
Hannah EdgartownProud of Chilmark for voting yes, like all other towns so far! The housing bank will keep this community together and allow working class to be able to have stable housing and continue to live here.
The need of stable, affordable housing outweighs the small details people find fault in the housing bank. It is a wonderfully curated option to allow working families to stay in the community
Thank you, Chilmark!
Susanna J. Sturgis West TisburyThank you, Chilmark!
Capitalism is a useful economic tool, but it has a big drawback: it doesn't value anything that doesn't come with a price tag attached. Those things tend to get overlooked till "we don't know what we've got till it's gone." Community is one of those things. We've still got community here, but if you've been around awhile, you can see how it's fraying. Community frays when much of a generation chooses to take their skills and raise their families elsewhere because local wages don't support local rents (and forget about sale prices). It frays when those who stay have to work two and three jobs to do so and have little time or energy to do the voluntary work that keeps community going. It frays when workers have to commute from off-island -- and take their volunteer hours and most of their dollars with them at the end of the workday. It frays when elders who carry the community's memory in their minds and hearts wind up leaving because there's nowhere to downsize into.
I'm thrilled that the support for the Housing Bank proposal has been so overwhelming. It's only one step forward, but it's an essential one. The Housing Bank coalition has done an amazing job of organizing over the last year and a half. I'm daring to hope that by the end of May we'll be able to go forward united, all six towns working together to meet this daunting challenge.
In all these votes, would be
Mark GraciaIn all these votes, would be curious to see the breakdown between those that voted for or against the housing bank that actually pay taxes.
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