Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Affordability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Applicant says Barker Street units will be market‑rate; commissioners note city need for affordable housing
Summary
Commissioners pressed the applicant about whether the proposed Barker Street apartments would be affordable. The applicant replied the units would not be Section 8 and expected to compete at market rates; commissioners said the project helps meet housing supply but affordability specifics were not committed in the application.
During the zone map amendment discussion, a commissioner asked whether the future apartments would be affordable housing or targeted at lower rents. The applicant representative, Maya Ristovski of Barker Street Rentals, said she did not have specific pricing yet but that the project would not accept Section 8 vouchers and would "compete with market value." "If you're referring to, like, a section 8 or something like that, no," she said.
Commissioners acknowledged the city's need for affordable housing; one commissioner said while supporting adaptive reuse he remained sensitive to accessibility and affordability concerns, noting older school buildings may lack elevators that limit access for seniors. No affordability covenant or rent targets were recorded in the staff application or the hearing; the commission's action recommended rezoning and site plan approval but did not impose affordability requirements.
