HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-03-05 Housing Partnership MinutesREADING HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
Minutes of March 5, 1990
'resent for the meeting were Bill Denhard, Mollie Ziegler, Paul Kelley
Chris Vaccaro, Dick Dempster, and Adrienne McMahon. Invited guests were
Joanne Graves, Executive Director of the Manchester Housing Partnership,
and Robert Jenkins of the Mass. Housing Partnership.
The evening consisted of remarks by Joanne and Robert and questions from
the committee.
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Joanne explained that the Manchester Committee applied for partnership
on September of 1987. Their total membership is 13.
The first step for them was to establish goals - "Who do we want to serve?"
They assessed what they already had (elderly housing, Section 8, etc.)
and decided that they needed moderate income housing, especially for
first time homebuyers. Theygot a grant from the Mass. Housing Partnership
to hire a planner.
They put together an affordable housing plan and presented it to
town meeting. Town meeting made them the negotiating arm for the town
with developers.
In their plan they asked many questions. What group(s) were underrepresented
in the town? Would they target only those who lived in town or include
out-of-towners? What kind of structures did.they want? Could some
___..,structures be rehabilitated? What kind of density were they interested in?
'heir original goal was to realize 5 units of ownership housing per year.
The town transferred some town land to the Housing Partnership from the
Conservation and Water and Sewerage Depts. The committee put together
a developer's kit. This stated what the town expected from the
developer. As part of the package, the developer would do the marketing
within the guidlines set by the Partnership. A lottery plan was included
in the marketing. The developer then showed his plan to the Partnership.
He could not get a permit without going through the Partnership.
Manchester also spent time on education, running public meetings and
working with the League of Women Voters.
Robert Jenkins reported to us that at this time there is no money
available from the State. Mass. Housing Partnership is looking into
other areas such as foundations and grants. The money is out there,
but you really have to look for it. Partnerships were going to have to
be creative.
Respectfully submitted,
Adrienne McMahon
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