SYMMES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CONSTITUENCY GROUP REPORT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE
November 29, 2001

The Affordable Housing Task Force (AHTF) is committed to make affordable housing a reality in Arlington.

Reflecting this commitment to the long-term housing needs of the Town would in part be served by the sensitive development of the Symmes Hospital campus.

Sensitive development of the Symmes site: a balanced mixed —use redevelopment of the Symmes campus whose residential component includes affordable housing. The AHTF would maintain or increase the parcel’s present proportion density of development only to gain  affordable housing. Additionally, it would maintain the parcel’s present
proportion of open space, increasing its density of development only to gain affordable housing.

Other groups with vested interests in the residential component of the Symmes campus are the Arlington Interfaith Association, Brattle Hill Neighborhood Association, and the Housing Corporation of Arlington. All of these interested parties have been involved in the Residential Use Working Group. Their input has already been reported to this committee.



-----Original Message-----
From: eddie randolph [mailto:eddie4housing@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 9:34 PM
To: charlie.foskett@usa.net
Subject: Report From Affordable Housing Task Force Constituent Group


Charlie:
As I indicated earlier I will be traveling to a Church
Seminar and will be in Colorado next week and will
miss the meeting on August 15th, Therefore I am
sending my report via e-mail. I have heard from some
of my constituent group and realize that there will be
more input coming in especially as August vacation
times wind down. Therefore please keep in mind I will
have more to report upon my return.

This comes from the Housing Corporation of Arlington,
a Non-Profit organization whose mission is to help
provide affordable housing in Arlington.

Here is a list of their priorities:
1. A minimum of 50% of all units developed at Symmes
should be affordable units.

2. A majority of the units should be of a size and
design to serve families.

3. The existing Nurse's Quarters building should be
looked at for reuse, if feasible, but it should not be
a requirement. If it looks like it will be too
expensive or inefficient to renovate, removing the
building might be a better option in order to get more
units without building on open space.

4. The Housing Corporation of Arlington would like to
be the co-developer of the housing portion of the
site. We feel that, as a community based group with
broad membership we are the best equipped to ensure
that the community's needs are met. We also bring
financial resources with us because of our access to
State, Federal, and private funding.

This is a beginning, see you when I get back.