Affordable housing plan moves ahead with help from town

KENT — The Board of Selectmen voted in favor of a 10-year partial tax abatement for the not-yet-complete Stuart Farm Apartments. The vote was held at the board’s regular meeting, on Sept. 7.

The property is a circa-1828 former farmhouse on Maple Street, and is being renovated by Kent Affordable Housing into affordable apartments.

The 15-room building has enough space for five affordable units and according to figures provided by Virginia Suttman, president of Kent Affordable Housing, the rent for each unit will be $815 a month.

Suttman requested the partial tax abatement at the Sept. 7 meeting, saying it would save Kent Affordable Housing approximately $12,598 over10 years.

The nonprofit will be submitting an application for funds to the state Department of Economic and Community Development [DECD] and Suttman said that the group “needs to show that the town is behind the development. The tax abatement we propose will show the town is in favor of this project. It will also offset some of the initial expenses in the operating budget. It will enable us to keep the rents low and enable us to keep a reserve fund for eventual repair and maintenance costs.�

Selectman George Jacobsen said he supported the abatement.

“[The apartments] will basically create an opportunity for residents that needs to happen,� Jacobsen said.

Without hesitation, the other two selectmen agreed.

Despite the selectmen voting in favor of the abatement, they could not approve it because a formal agreement between the town and Kent Affordable Housing had not been created before the vote.

First Selectman Bruce Adams said he would consult with the town’s attorney to create an agreement to be voted on at the next board meeting.

Suttman said the project is still being worked on and there is no set date for the apartment building to open.

“Once it’s done, it’s going to be gorgeous,� Suttman said. “We have made enormous efforts to make this happen.�

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