A8 Thursday, May 18, 2023
The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Lamont: CT needs more housing inventory By Ginny Monk The Connecticut Mirror
lash from some local groups and officials.
Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday told Connecticut real estate agents that the primary solution to one of the industry’s most pressing problems — a dearth of houses to sell — is to build more housing.
The bill, known as Work, Live, Ride, would push towns to increase residential density near train and bus stations by offering certain money for infrastructure. The goal is to develop walkable communities where people can easily access transportation and local businesses.
Lamont gave the statement in response to a question posed by a presenter at the Connecticut Association of Realtors conference in Hartford about how he would help incentivize homeowners to sell. “First of all, you need more housing inventory,” Lamont said. “Let’s start with that. I mean, we’re desperately short right now.”
Gov. Ned Lamont speaks on Monday, May 15 to a conference of the Connecticut Association of Realtors. Ginny Monk, The Connecticut Mirror
89,000 units of housing that are affordable and available to its lowest income renters.
emerged from the committee process includes money for the state’s housing trust Lamont gave a speech about fund, a flexible housing fund Lamont’s remarks on Monthe draw of moving to Conand a homeownership proday came as the state legisla- gram. necticut, real estate agents’ role in marketing the state to ture is considering several It would add money to the measures to increase houspotential buyers, and housConnecticut Housing Reing stock and improve afing and population growth. fordability for Connecticut ceivership Revolving Fund, The state’s cities are growwhich aims to improve residents. ing, he said, and more young housing conditions at large families want to live in Con- Legislative session apartments in the state. It alnecticut than in past years. “We’ve put $600 million over so has funds to retrofit the next two years into hous- apartments in environmenYet the real estate industry tal justice communities — has seen a drop in the num- ing,” Lamont said. “And certain communities of color that ’s not just affordable ber of homes for sale. that have been disproporhousing, and what I call As of Jan. 14, there were tionately impacted by cliworkforce housing — those about 3,600 homes for sale are our studios and one bed- mate change. compared to about 15,000 in rooms — often in downtown 2019, according to data from areas, hopefully next to ma- The state budget is still a work in progress, and lawa presentation members of jor transit areas.” makers will work with the the National Association of governor to hash out the fiEarlier in the year, Lamont Realtors gave to lawmakers nal figures in the coming announced his plan to earlier this year. The Realspend $600 million on hous- weeks. tors’ presentation tied that low inventory to underbuild- ing ventures, including to Lamont also said he’d supbuild thousands of units of ing and delays in finishing port transit-oriented develnew housing in Connecticut opment in downtowns new construction. over the next two years. The across the state, a proposal The state also lacks about bonding proposal that that’s received harsh back-
Restrictive local zoning has long depressed housing development in Connecticut, particularly multi-family apartments, housing experts say. Multi-family housing tends to be more affordable to people with low incomes. Legislators are also considering a land use reform proposal known as Fair Share. It would require the state to analyze the housing need by region, then divide that need between municipalities. Towns would be required to plan and zone for a set number of units. Both proposals have met fierce resistance. Opponents say they would weaken local control, force a one-size-fits-all approach and are onerous, particularly to smaller communities that may not have many city planning resources. And opponents fear that the Work, Live, Ride proposal would mean that towns that don’t participate will be deprioritized for infrastructure funding. But housing advocates have
In Brief Wall of Honor
served or are currently serving can be put up on the wall. Contact Peter Galgano at petergalgano@comcast.net or 860-604-7258.
The Berlin Veterans Commission’s “Veterans Digital Wall of Honor,” located in Town Hall, is dedicated to “All Who Proudly Served and Sacrificed to Protect Our Legion Post 68 Country.” Berlin residents American Legion Post 68 has and their immediate family, been serving Berlin veterans past and present, who have since 1947. Post 68 is looking
said that towns have had their chance to change their zoning regulations, and widespread resistance to building enough affordable housing means the state needs to step in. During a question-and-answer session with reporters, Lamont said he wants to see towns create their own plans for increasing affordable housing. A 2017 law requires that Connecticut municipalities create and submit affordable housing plans every five years. Less than half of towns in Connecticut submitted their plans by the first deadline last summer. In January, more than 30 towns still had not submitted their plans, according to data from the Office of Policy and Management. In response to questions from presenters, Lamont mentioned Connecticut’s “suburban lifestyle” as a draw for new residents. He said more development in walkable downtowns could mean senior citizens would be able to downsize and stay in the state. “We’ve got probably the greatest suburban lifestyle in the country, or certainly one of them,” he said. “But also we have up-and-coming cities and some beautiful rural areas.” Read the full story on the website of The Connecticut Mirror, ctmirror.org.
Letters to the Editor for active military members, veterans, and family and friends of veterans to become involved. Pick up an application at the Post home, 154 Porters Pass.
Spiking crime? Editor :
The press release in last week’s Citizen released by Mayor Kaczynski, Representative Veach and others talkFor more information, email ing about a “spiking crime Post Commander Vin Trigila wave” was remarkably short at v_trig@yahoo.com or send of any details but long on a message to Post 68 via Republican talking points in Facebook. blaming the State Legisla-
ture for handcuffing policing practices. It would be helpful to see year over year data showing where specific crimes have increased in both Berlin and the rest of the state. Absent providing meaningful statistics, this article simply reads as a political statement. — Dave Lerro