Salisbury Affordable Housing: I suppose this is good enough for ‘those people’
After years of studies and pages of reports, the Town of Salisbury finally established the Affordable Housing Commission.
Since March of 2011, this Commission has attempted to address the need for affordable housing in some constructive manner.
Money has been allocated for ‘study and planning’, as well as to pay a part time employee/expert to guide the way.
Under the leadership of former Selectman Robert Riva this Commission has allowed politics to rule the day. The agenda (driven in the background by Selectman James Dresser) has been to pontificate about the need and make every effort to insure that forward momentum is as slow as the process which led up to the Commission’s formulation.
As a result, the first ‘project’ of this Commission is the low budget renovation of a house at 25 Academy Street in Salisbury – which is nothing short of an insult to anyone in need of affordable housing in this generally upscale community.
The house (owned by the Town) is considered temporary since both Mr. Dresser and First Selectman Curtis Rand have repeatedly said in public meetings that it will probably be torn down in the next 5 years or so in order to make room for some type of development which they envision.
While aesthetics have been a large part of previous discussions surrounding affordable housing, obviously this was never even a thought in this process. The only concern seemed to be how little the Town could spend on such an endeavor.
Let’s take a look at this house … (click on pictures for larger image)
This lovely front porch railing, along with the contemporary boulders lends itself well to young children who may occupy this first product of the SAHC. Safety issue?
The use of a different color siding to repair the exterior will certainly set a new trend in exterior finish all across the community.
By the way … didn’t our part time expert have a problem with vinyl siding?
Maybe it was the artful use of color blending that made this work.
How about this spectacular fence? Early American ‘falling apart’, not to mention the unkempt bushes along the fence row, and the asphalt patch in the backyard … once again another child safety feature.
And how about that clothes dryer? This place is mean and green!
This lovely home is located at the exit to LaBonne’s on a busy (yet inadequate) street with lots of traffic for your children’s play time activities.
In short, if this is what the future of affordable housing looks like in Salisbury, I should suggest that we disband this Commission and go back to letting the non profits handle this situation. At least the units they have created show some dignity and respect.
It would appear that the motto of the Salisbury Affordable Housing Commission should be …
‘It’s good enough for those people’.
Priceless.
elmer dresser did the best he could do
George … We all know that there are better things to spend the Salisbury Taxpayer dollars on … like … Accessory Apartment Reports!
This one is a gem, Mike. I especially like the phrase “Early-American ‘falling apart’.”
Thank you Terry! I just write what I feel …
like I said at ther last meeting they should put their support behind the expansion of noble horizens. But we know that is not going to happen
George … How can you support something that an elected Town Official is against? :-{