Currently the town contains just under three percent affordable housing, said Michael McLoughlin, executive director of the Narragansett Housing Authority.  McLoughlin said they are behind schedule filling properties at projects like the Clarke Pointe residences off Point Judith Road, as they had anticipated with the downturn of the housing markets.

Clarke Pointe has sold only 21 of its 40 units, or about 53 percent.  The condominiums are mostly age restricted to 55+, with eight units that are non-age restricted.  The unrestricted units are already sold out, demonstrating the demand for un-restricted affordable housing in Narragansett.

Affordable housing is defined as the cost of the house not to exceed 120 percent of a median income limit as determined by the state, and the house or unit must have at minimum a 30 year deed restriction to avoid resale for profit. That 120 percent when broken down to median income levels in Rhode Island, is about $57,000 for an individual.  At Clarke Pointe every unit marketed at 60 – 80 percent of the median income levels has been sold.  The only remaining units are 2-bedroom units with 120 percent values.

 The Narragansett Affordable Housing Corporation is looking into ways of subsidizing the cost of the units through grants to bring the price down to at least the 100 percent median limit.  
However, acquiring subsidies is easier said than done. “People don’t realize how complicated it is to develop affordable housing,”said Cheryl Hartnett, Vice President of the  Corporation.  “When state subsidies come out 30 applications might be filed for one $5 million grant.  If we weren’t marketing this as heavily, we would be doing more with land acquisition.”

In comparison, Zillow home value index lists the average price of a home in Narragansett at just under $400,000, about double the national average of $206,000.  That price has dropped almost $60,000 since Jan. 2008.  Median single-family home value stands at $453,500, nearly twice the national average of $234,000.

The Narragansett Affordable Housing Corporation was founded in 1996 as the state pushed for companies outside of municipal governments to work closely with the town to create affordable housing and to reduce government oversight.  For a small agency, the Narragansett corporation considers itself to be very successful. They have already laid groundwork for an additional three units across the street from Clarke Pointe, along with other ongoing projects already completed in town.  Some other affordable housing units are a duplex on Fifth Avenue, four single family homes on Coffee and Francis avenues, and a duplex on Continental Avenue and several others.

In addition, McLoughlin said the process of development is very time consuming because of the legal hurdles the projects have to clear.  “Nearby Clarke Farm neighbors filed suit against us almost immediately after hearing about the project, claiming that the population density would be too high.”
The Fifth Avenue duplex project and other affordable housing programs faced similar flak when being developed, according to McLoughlin.  Though many claim population density is a problem, residents tend to be particularly motivated to file suit when non-age restricted projects come to the forefront, according to the Affordable Housing Corporation.

"We would prefer to do non-age restricted units, we certainly recognize the need,” said Hartnett.  “But often the restrictions are mandated by the town and for several reasons.  With the pier apartments being converted to condos there is a large demand for over 55 housing for one.”

McLoughlin also added he would prefer that non age-restricted units not be constructed as high-density as Clarke Pointe, citing that young families with children need adequate space that tight apartment-style units cannot provide.  Even so, the corporation said that their top priority in the future is non age-restricted affordable housing to accommodate young families moving into the town, and the duplexes, townhouses, and single family dwellings the company often acquires would fit that need very well.

Michael DeLuca, director of the Narragansett Department of Community Development, works with the affordable housing corporation to help coordinate the town and the non-profit company to pave the way for future affordable housing with the overall goal of reaching the state’s  mandate.  To date, several items to achieve this goal have either been passed or are on the agenda for affordable housing board approval.  

For five years the town has been drafting regulations that will result in more affordable housing in the future, DeLuca said.  The first ordinance was passed in July of 2008, requiring future subdivisions in Narragansett of six or more parcels to dedicate a portion of the units to affordable housing.   
The next ordinance that will go before the town shortly is the Village District Ordinance, affecting the areas of Narragansett Avenue and Boon Street. The eventual goal is to inspire a larger amount of mixed-use properties with the intention of creating more affordable housing residences.  The third and fourth ordinances are to be presented to the town later in the year.  

Though DeLuca understands affordable housing is necessary, he said he is going to do his best to allay the fears of residents who are nervous about such housing becoming a reality nearby.   
Clarke Pointe was purchased by the town in 2000 when it was Camp JORI, originally a summer camp run by the Jewish Orphanage of RI.  The town purchased the land with the express purpose of developing it for affordable housing.  For this reason the land was sold to the corporation at below market value. According to the RI Division of Taxation’s website, there are roughly 83 properties currently in foreclosure or tax lien in Narragansett.

"We are always looking for similar public or private donors who are willing to sell land to us, but in a community like Narragansett land values are prohibitive,” said McLoughlin.  “The way the economy is now, people are in desperate situations.  There is a lot riding on this project.”

President of the  Corporation.  “When state subsidies come out 30 applications might be filed for one $5 million grant.  If we weren’t marketing this as heavily, we would be doing more with land acquisition.”

In comparison, Zillow home value index lists the average price of a home in Narragansett at just under $400,000, about double the national average of $206,000.  That price has dropped almost $60,000 since Jan. 2008.  Median single-family home value stands at $453,500, nearly twice the national average of $234,000.

The Narragansett Affordable Housing Corporation was founded in 1996 as the state pushed for companies outside of municipal governments to work closely with the town to create affordable housing and to reduce government oversight.  For a small agency, the Narragansett corporation considers itself to be very successful. They have already laid groundwork for an additional three units across the street from Clarke Pointe, along with other ongoing projects already completed in town.  Some other affordable housing units are a duplex on Fifth Avenue, four single family homes on Coffee and Francis avenues, and a duplex on Continental Avenue and several others.
In addition, McLoughlin said the process of development is very time consuming because of the legal hurdles the projects have to clear.  “Nearby Clarke Farm neighbors filed suit against us almost immediately after hearing about the project, claiming that the population density would be too high.”
The Fifth Avenue duplex project and other affordable housing programs faced similar flak when being developed, according to McLoughlin.  Though many claim population density is a problem, residents tend to be particularly motivated to file suit when non-age restricted projects come to the forefront, according to the Affordable Housing Corporation.

“We would prefer to do non-age restricted units, we certainly recognize the need,” said Hartnett.  “But often the restrictions are mandated by the town and for several reasons.  With the pier apartments being converted to condos there is a large demand for over 55 housing for one.”

McLoughlin also added he would prefer that non age-restricted units not be constructed as high-density as Clarke Pointe, citing that young families with children need adequate space that tight apartment-style units cannot provide.  Even so, the corporation said that their top priority in the future is non age-restricted affordable housing to accommodate young families moving into the town, and the duplexes, townhouses, and single family dwellings the company often acquires would fit that need very well.

Michael DeLuca, director of the Narragansett Department of Community Development, works with the affordable housing corporation to help coordinate the town and the non-profit company to pave the way for future affordable housing with the overall goal of reaching the state’s  mandate.  To date, several items to achieve this goal have either been passed or are on the agenda for affordable housing board approval. 

For five years the town has been drafting regulations that will result in more affordable housing in the future, DeLuca said.  The first ordinance was passed in July of 2008, requiring future subdivisions in Narragansett of six or more parcels to dedicate a portion of the units to affordable housing.  
The next ordinance that will go before the town shortly is the Village District Ordinance, affecting the areas of Narragansett Avenue and Boon Street. The eventual goal is to inspire a larger amount of mixed-use properties with the intention of creating more affordable housing residences.  The third and fourth ordinances are to be presented to the town later in the year. 

Though DeLuca understands affordable housing is necessary, he said he is going to do his best to allay the fears of residents who are nervous about such housing becoming a reality nearby.  
Clarke Pointe was purchased by the town in 2000 when it was Camp JORI, originally a summer camp run by the Jewish Orphanage of RI.  The town purchased the land with the express purpose of developing it for affordable housing.  For this reason the land was sold to the corporation at below market value. According to the RI Division of Taxation’s website, there are roughly 83 properties currently in foreclosure or tax lien in Narragansett.

“We are always looking for similar public or private donors who are willing to sell land to us, but in a community like Narragansett land values are prohibitive,” said McLoughlin.  “The way the economy is now, people are in desperate situations.  There is a lot riding on this project.”