Block Island Times

Council discusses affordable housing with Housing Board

Council Member Keith Stover began the joint meeting of the Town Council and the Housing Board discussing the “moment in time” Block Island finds itself in, where the Town Council is talking about affordable housing, the community is talking about affordable housing, and the state and federal governments are putting “money on the table” for affordable housing.
“We all realize the need. Let’s figure out if there are resources and how to deploy them,” Stover said.Council Member Mark Emmanuelle relayed to the large group of attendees at the February 2 meeting that the council had spent a lot of time talkingto the town’s new lobbyist, Mayforth Group, about affordable housing. But Emmanuelle said that part of what the lobbyist had to do was change the image and narrative of Block Island as “a gated community out to sea.”
Council Member Martha Ball quickly pointed out that securing money in and of itself is not “the only thing,” the town would still have to figure out what to do with it. She said zoning would need to be addressed.Second Warden Sven Risom, who ran the meeting in the absence of First Warden Andre Boudreau, said he was “encouraged” by

Block Island Times – Read More>>