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Lenox council weighs a customized $12,000 housing study by Porchlight; decision tabled
Summary
Council members discussed a proposal from Porchlight for a customized housing needs study estimated at $12,000. Porchlight said the study includes stakeholder interviews, a steering committee and locally tailored analysis; council members asked for more detail and tabled the motion to the next meeting.
City staff told council the city budgeted $10,000 for an updated housing study; Porchlight proposed a customized report priced at about $12,000. Porchlight director Bert (Bert) described a process that would combine American Community Survey data with 10 stakeholder interviews, a 5–7 person steering committee and optional public outreach to produce a report tailored to local needs.
Bert said the firm aims to marry quantitative data with local knowledge: "We look at the data, and we also look at what's really happening in the community," he said, describing 45‑minute stakeholder interviews and an emphasis on producing both a one‑page summary for quick use and detailed appendices for developers and grant writers.
Council members asked whether the report would be useful to the Lenox Area Development Corporation and for grant applications. Staff said MidAmerican had offered possible help with the study cost but that the amount was not yet confirmed. Council members also asked for a record of prior uses of the 2019 study and a clearer return‑on‑investment comparison to determine whether to authorize the higher cost.
After discussion, a council motion to table consideration of contracting with Porchlight carried by voice vote; the item will return to a future meeting after staff provides additional context and examples of prior uses for housing studies.
What was not decided: the council did not contract Porchlight; members requested additional background on how previous studies were used and clarity on funding sources before voting.
