Just about everyone would agree that Vermont has a critical need for more affordable workforce and senior housing.  Affordable housing has been a high priority for the current administration, and employers and community leaders throughout the state have been trumpeting the need for more action. 

How bad is it? 
Consider the following:

     .  The median purchase price of a primary home in Vermont in 2007 was  $201,000.

     .  A Vermont household would have to have an annual income of $65,000 as well as $14,000 in     cash (for closing costs and a 5% down payment) to purchase that home. Sixty-five percent of Vermont households have incomes below $65,000.

     .  The median price for a newly constructed home in Vermont was $317,000.  A household would need an annual income of about $103,000 and $21,000 for the down payment and closing costs.
        Unfortunately, most new residential construction is made up of higher priced homes that are unaffordable for the majority of Vermonters.

     .  The average Fair Market Rent for a modest two-bedroom apartment in Vermont was $836 in 2007.

     . A Vermont household would have to earn $16.07 per hour to afford that rent.  At least 66% of Vermont’s non-farm employees work in occupations with median wages below that level.

How well does Shelburne stack-up?
Even worse!

     .  Compared to the Vermont median price of $201,000, the median purchase price of a primary residence in Shelburne in 2007 was about $350,000 (including condominiums)

    .  A family would have to have an annual household income of about $110,000 to be able to afford the median priced home in Shelburne.

     .  Compared to the Vermont median rent of $836, the median rent in 2007 for a two bedroom apartment in Shelburne was $1,069 per month.

     .  A Vermont household would have to earn $19.84 per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Shelburne.

     .  Excluding mobile homes, there are only 205 residences in Shelburne valued at $200,000 or less, or 7.8% of the total number of residential units.


     .  Excluding senior housing, only about 9.0% of housing in Shelburne is rental compared to 33% in Chittenden County, and only 20 of those households are subsidized.

So, not only is the cost of renting or buying a home in Shelburne out of reach for many of the people who work here, there is very little affordable housing available in the first place.  Clearly, we can do better.

Important: Keep in mind that we are not talking about housing the unemployed, disabled or the homeless.  That’s a critical, but different problem.  We are talking about working Vermonters who are working in jobs essential to our economy, whose wages have not been able to keep pace with the cost of housing.

Who needs affordable housing in Shelburne?
You see them every day…

     .  It’s the teacher who teaches your child.

     .  It’s the policeman who protects your home.

     .  It’s the bank staff that handles your money.

     .  It’s the friendly service workers who serve your food, service your cars, build your
        homes and make life better for all of us.

     .  It’s the nurses and staff at Wake Robin, the Arbors, and the Shelburne Bay Senior
        Living Community.

     .  It’s the employees at Vermont Teddy Bear, Harbor Industries, Shelburne Museum,
        and Shelburne Farms.

     .  It’s your sons and daughters as they strike out on their own.

     .  It’s your parents and grandparents as they seek affordable care in their own
        community.

Finally, it’s the residents of Shelburnewood who stand to lose much of the value of their homes if the new zoning bylaws prevent the Shelburnewood project from going forward. 

Note: There are virtually no lots available in any of the mobile home parks in Chittenden County…and, if it’s not on a lot, a used mobile home is worth about one third of its resale value.  Who among us can afford to lose two thirds of the value of our homes?


How does the Shelburnewood project address all of these needs?
1.  It will provide affordable housing to many of the families who work in Shelburne, who feel a part  of our community but who are forced to live elsewhere.

 2.  It will rescue the 26 families in Shelburnewood by offering them attractive, single-
     family homes using an income sensitive formula that will make them affordable.

3.  It will give our son’s and daughters an affordable option for living in the community
     where they were raised. 
 
4.  It will provide market rate housing (both rental and ownership) for those who wish to
     live in the village center and for whom affordability is not an issue.

5.  It will give our senior citizens an affordable option for “aging in place” in beautiful
     surroundings, close to shops and activities in the town that they love.

And the best part is that The Shelburnewood project will meet all of these needs without sacrificing quality or style.  It will provide an attractive mix of affordable, workforce, senior, and market-rate housing in an integrated setting, all built with the same high quality standards and designed specifically to fit the character of the town.

Our new town plan states that “new development will be focused in the village center and residential areas surrounding the center”.  It also states that Shelburne “will continue to be home to residents of a variety of backgrounds and economic means” and it calls for “adequate housing serving residents from all walks of life”.

Everything about the Shelburnewood project embraces that vision.  If you agree, click on “SUPPORT FORM” and weigh-in on this vitally important project.