Summary
VIA's goals, Conrad explained, are threefold. First, the group has launched a "YIMBY" drive - or "Yes In My Back Yard" public education campaign, to convince local residents to be more accepting and supportive of new affordable housing projects. Second, VIA announced plans to work on countrywide solutions that reach beyond the city's borders. Finally, VIA called on religious leaders of all denominations to consider using religious-owned properties to develop new affordable housing units.
Conrad then spelled out the "first steps" that VIA has endorsed to ensure that Burlington "remains a city for all." First, the group is asking city council and the mayor's office to close a loophole in the inclusionary zoning ordinance. That ordinance requires developers to build a certain percentage of affordable housing units as part of any market-rate housing project. However, a loophole in the law permits developers to opt out of building the affordable units by paying into a "housing trust fund" - at a rate of $12,000 per unit.For his part, [Michael Monte] had no problem ensuring that "some portion" of those units would be occupied by very low-income families, though he couldn't commit to a specific percentage or number without first consulting the Burlington Community Land Trust, one of the partners in that project. Monte was equally vague when pressed for a time frame for breaking ground on the Browns Court project, though he said it would "likely" occur before September 15.See the full content of this document
Extract
Interfaith Coalition Presses City and Uvm On Housing Crisis
BURLINGTON - At age 62, Richard Terrance Jeroloman should be looking for a nice, quiet place to retire. Instead, he's looking for a nice, quiet place to park his van each night where it won't get towed while he sleeps inside.
Jeroloman is a Burlington retiree with no pension and a monthly income of only $150. He now qualifies ...See the full content of this document
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