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Council approves preliminary 36-unit East Main Road affordable homeownership plan
Summary
The council accepted the Affordable Housing Committee’s recommendation for a mixed detached/attached homeownership project on East Main Road, endorsing a preliminary scheme of 36 deed-restricted units targeted at a range of area median incomes.
The Town of Middletown council voted to approve the Affordable Housing Committee’s recommendation for a mixed homeownership development on East Main Road totaling 36 deed-restricted units, combining townhomes and single-family-style cottages.
What was approved The committee recommended a preliminary scheme (Scheme B) comprised of a mix of detached and attached homes totaling 36 units. The council voted to accept that recommendation and advance the project to the next design and approvals stage.
Why it matters The property is town-owned and the town received a nearly $2 million acquisition and predevelopment grant from Rhode Island Housing to support the project. The units are planned as permanently deed-restricted homeownership opportunities priced to serve households at varying thresholds tied to area median income (AMI); staff described a financing and subsidy mix will be required because sales prices for the deed-restricted units will not cover construction costs.
Income targeting and affordability details Project materials and staff comments explained the proposed program would offer homeownership units with eligibility tiers around 80% AMI, 100% AMI and a smaller portion at 20% AMI given the Rhode Island Housing award and program constraints. As an example (for a two-person household), the presenter cited the 80% AMI threshold at about $83,400 and 100% AMI at about $111,600; the 20% AMI figure was cited as roughly $33,930 (figures vary by household size and are set by state/federal guidance). The committee and staff said final household-income set-asides will depend on the mix of subsidies and financing secured in subsequent funding rounds.
Design and next steps The committee recommended the mixed plan over an all-single-family or all-townhome scheme. Staff will use the $250,000 Rhode Island Housing predevelopment grant to complete engineering and preliminary design, then submit a comprehensive-permit application to the planning board. The council was told the project will require additional funding (construction financing and subsidies) and that the town will coordinate applications for those funds after design and permitting. Staff suggested a one-year timeline to market and build pending approvals and funding.
Public comment and committee concerns Public commenters, including some Affordable Housing Committee members, praised the project but urged inclusion of more lower-income (e.g., 60% AMI) opportunities targeted to young families and local workers. Staff said Rhode Island Housing’s funding parameters shaped the current income tiers and that other programs (low-income housing tax credits, down-payment assistance) can serve lower-income households in other developments.
Vote and implementation Motion to approve the Affordable Housing Committee’s recommendation for the East Main Road project (36 units, mixed detached and attached) passed by voice vote (Aye). Town staff will proceed with engineering funded by the predevelopment grant, file the comprehensive-permit application with the planning board, and return to council for approvals related to financing and construction team selection.
