Submitted by Tara Restieri, Greenwich
I felt an obligation to write a letter in response to Rich Granoff’s Op-Ed piece regarding the “The Need for Apartments in Greenwich Jan 30, 2022). What Mr. Granoff is trying to suggest is that 8-30g will solve all of the affordable housing needs for the Town of Greenwich, getting us to the illustrious 10% affordable housing requirement mandated by the State of Connecticut under 8-30g.
This is simply not true. While I appreciate that he cares about the availability of affordable housing for “teachers, policemen (and policewoman) and firefighters,” this statute does nothing but increase the denominator in an equation that will never allow us to reach 10%. What is certain is that affordable housing is needed in the Town of Greenwich but, it will not happen with this statute as is.
As it stands, the number of affordable housing units within the Town would need to increase by approximately 1,100 new units while increasing “market rate” housing by THOUSANDS of new apartments if 8-30g is used by developers. The mathematical equation just does not work. While you may be adding 30% affordable housing you will be adding 70% “at market” apartments.
Where exactly should these thousands of new apartments go? We are the Town of Greenwich, not a City. I certainly do not want to live in a City. If such developments and developers continue to utilize this statute we, will be living in a City.
The law should be repealed and replaced with laws or programs that incentivize towns to expand affordable housing through the use of such programs as the Greenwich Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The Fund will allow for the public and private sectors to provide the missing funds necessary to make affordable development in Greenwich feasible.