Simsbury To Discuss Plans For Affordable Housing

Simsbury recently received a $49,900 grant through the state's HOMEConnecticut program.

[Simsbury_Grrl]

I really don't understand why Simsbury needs high-density, low-income housing built. There are multiple houses and condos on the market right now that are under $200,000. What is going to be built that is a better buy than that unless it is financed with public money, which is an option I totally disagree with.
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I sincerely hope the state pulls the plug on this financing. It is a waste of taxpayer dollars when we should be scrutinizing every cent spent.

[GEO]

Simsbury_Grrl wrote:

I really don't understand why Simsbury needs high-density, low-income housing built. There are multiple houses and condos on the market right now that are under $200,000. What is going to be built that is a better buy than that unless it is financed with public money, which is an option I totally disagree with.
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I sincerely hope the state pulls the plug on this financing. It is a waste of taxpayer dollars when we should be scrutinizing every cent spent.

They are talking housing for people that make under 50k a year. If your in that bracket you cannot afford to shop in Simsbury for a home. Even apts are unaffordable.

[shab]

Simsbury_Grrl wrote:

I really don't understand why Simsbury needs high-density, low-income housing built. There are multiple houses and condos on the market right now that are under $200,000. What is going to be built that is a better buy than that unless it is financed with public money, which is an option I totally disagree with.
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I sincerely hope the state pulls the plug on this financing. It is a waste of taxpayer dollars when we should be scrutinizing every cent spent.

Low income housing is just that- affordable housing is another thing..but then every town should have their share of low income housing as the rest of us must have. I don't agree with that, but it's true. You would think with the economics the way it is, we wouldn't look to house anyone else free, but we will..they will get and get and get

[GEO]

Many Ct Towns created laws to keep undesireables out of their towms not just Simsbury. Ironic that many Simsbury residents are NY transplants.

[David Z]

This is BS. "Affordable housing" is a freaking joke. It's more Aid to Dependent Idiots. Look at the "affordable housing" projects in other towns .. yards filled with abandoned cars, broken windows, run-down and nasty.

When will people wake up and realize that some people make choices to live at the economic edge?

My rural town needs affordable housing? Then what? Bus service? A lunch program? Other infrastructure?
Apartments, homes in the cities ... this is where the working poor need to live. All of the services that they need are there.

Oh, and if you think that the NY contingent in Simsbury is sizable, you are grossly misinformed. But that's clear from most of your posts.

It's amazing. I work my asss off, pay my mortgage on my 1200 sq ft home, and I have to support the freaking wealthy slime who pay almost no taxes due to politicians granting massive tax shelters (average 9%.... I pay 41%), and I have to pay for freeloaders and dolts who feel guilty for what they themselves have worked for. I might as well just throw my paycheck out of the window every week.

[Reality Check]

Affordable housing for a town is set at the median house price for a town. Therefore, a Simsbury home that is affordable would be about $350,000. If we are talking Low Income, then this is an entirely different story and personally I am not aware how that works.

[Shelby]

I hope everyone will understand that the housing being proposed here is NOT 'the projects', and will not be run-down, unattractive, or house undesirable people. Even straight-affordable housing has greatly improved, and today is attractive and well-built. But the housing under this HOMEConnecticut plan isn't even all-affordable, it's mixed-income. 80% of the units will be market rate - whatever the developer wants to sell or rent for, as they currently do. Only 20% will be reserved for people who make lower income, under 80% of the area median income (i.e. a typical working class salary).

Throughout CT, zoning in many suburban communities for many years encouraged large homes on large lots, fed partly by easy-to-get mortgages. Yes, with a softening housing market, some of those large homes can be had for a better deal. But we still have a huge inbalance in our housing. We need more moderately-sized, moderately-priced housing, in sensible places like town centers, where residents can walk to businesses and support the local economy. The imbalance of our housing market led to many people, especially younger workers, being unable to afford housing and then leaving CT, which can cause long-term damage to our economy. As we emerge from recession, the imbalance of our housing market will again keep us from retaining our workers and neighbors that we need for healthy economy and healthy communities - unless we built more mixed-income housing in places where it can help.

For a lot more information on HOMEConnecticut and housing in general, please see www.homeconnecticut.org .

[Kids too]

Why not be creative and create some culturally dynamic interactive business for the children and parents of Simsbury---We have to drive to hartford, springfield middletown to find indoor activities for kids Wagner into children's activity/food/fun.

[mom]

Kids too wrote:

Why not be creative and create some culturally dynamic interactive business for the children and parents of Simsbury---We have to drive to hartford, springfield middletown to find indoor activities for kids Wagner into children's activity/food/fun.

Do you mean like a Chuck E Cheese? I think that would be a hit, for bday parties, etc and wouldn't affect any of the local businesses.

[Reality Check]

Whatever happened to having kids birthdays at home with homemade cake and ice cream??????

Why does every stinking party have to be an event?

[mom]

Reality Check wrote:

Whatever happened to having kids birthdays at home with homemade cake and ice cream??????
Why does every stinking party have to be an event?

Times have changed. Not everyone has to have an "event" but for those who wish too it would be nice not to have to drive 45 min to find a place.

[Cris Dud]

GEO wrote:

Many Ct Towns created laws to keep undesireables out of their towms not just Simsbury. Ironic that many Simsbury residents are NY transplants.

Ok. Show me where your fact come from. What specificcaly are the laws you are referring to?
How many Simsbury residents are NY transplants? Give me numbers or a percentage.

I thought so!

[bababooy]

mom wrote:

<quoted text> Times have changed. Not everyone has to have an "event" but for those who wish too it would be nice not to have to drive 45 min to find a place.

Yea, that 45 min is a real killer.

[Reality Check]

Cris Dud wrote:

<quoted text>
Ok. Show me where your fact come from. What specificcaly are the laws you are referring to?
How many Simsbury residents are NY transplants? Give me numbers or a percentage.
I thought so!

I have met quite a few newcomers to town, myself, who are from NY.

I don't think are any real hard numbers to place on the population of who were born and raised here, who recently moved in, etc. But we tend to have a transient demographic.

[mom]

bababooy wrote:

<quoted text>
Yea, that 45 min is a real killer.

I see nothing wrong with putting a kids frindly place in Simsbury, we have enough kids in town, I think it would do great and bring people in from neighboring towns which they might shop after dropping their kids off at a bday party, now we bring business INTO Simsbury.

[ex nyr]

I'd rather have titty-city on the Wagner lot than low income magots!!!

[ex nyr]

....or a HOOTERS !!!

[Pat]

The title of the article should really read:

Simsbury To Discuss Plans For Higher Crime Rate And More School Social Workers.

[GrayPlayer]

Amazing the comments that "come out of the wood work" when low income or affordable housing is mentioned in the same breath. Simsbury citizens practice discrimination against any plan that allows "undesirables" to become part of the landscape.

Must be nice!!!!!

[Monkey Shines]

GrayPlayer wrote:

Amazing the comments that "come out of the wood work" when low income or affordable housing is mentioned in the same breath. Simsbury citizens practice discrimination against any plan that allows "undesirables" to become part of the landscape.
Must be nice!!!!!

Wish every town was like that.