LAKEVILLE, C.T. (NCC NEWS) – The Holley Place Affordable Housing Project is building low-income apartments located on RTE 44 in Lakeville. It will be a 12-unit apartment with parking underneath. There will be 12 cars allowed, or in the case of two-car families, 24.
The housing commission is concerned that the town is currently pricing people out. Property was donated to the commission, which is currently used for parking for the smaller businesses and residents in that area. The commission has faced a lot of controversy surrounding this decision to provide low-income housing and its location. The apartments will be a walk away from the town beach and right down the sidewalk from some of the most popular restaurants.
Pom Shillingford, who is on the board of the housing commission, expresses her worry for essential workers like the teachers, nurses, construction workers, house keepers, people who work for food service and younger people trying to live in the area.
“I’ve seen what happens when you price out the locals and it becomes just this sort of elitist rich place where no one else can afford to live.”
Lakeville is an area that attracts a lot of people from New York City, who the locals call “weekenders.” This has changed the demographic of people over the years, especially after most of the city people that were weekenders moved to the town permanently after COVID began. Expenses have gone up, and more and more people who can’t afford the area have moved out. Pom, who has put three of her kids through the local public school, says that 24% of kids at the school qualify for free or reduced-price meals thanks in no small part to their housing costing more than 30% of their income. An individual and household is considered under a housing burdened if their housing costs exceeds 30% of their income.
When the project was first presented at the town meeting, residents ripped it apart. Their main concerns revolved around lack of parking, busier roads and ruining the charm of a small town, which Lakeville is known for.
