The committee reviews the applications, which include the artist’s portfolio, to determine whether they qualify for an apartment. According to Mr. Smith’s article, as of the end of October about a dozen applications have been approved.
The Nashville community acknowledged the fact that the arts, especially Nashville’s music scene, greatly contributes to the economic vitality of their community.
Several recent studies have also been conducted in the Mid Hudson Valley identifying the importance of a thriving arts community to help revive portions of our cities and villages.
Orange and Dutchess Counties have active Arts Councils promoting the arts in our area (OC Arts Council and DC Arts Council).
These Arts Councils can be a force to educate the community of the importance of the Arts as an engine to energize our local economy. The Arts Councils can also take the lead and approach our local municipalities to consider taking actions to promote affordable housing through innovating zoning techniques and supporting and seeking necessary grants and subsidies if necessary to promote housing for the arts.
The second article I read was written by Connor Hammett, a reporter for The Plano Star Currier. Mr. Hammett’s article entitled “Developer Breaks Ground On “Green” Affordable Housing” discusses the efforts of the City of Plano and Green Extreme Homes to construct 60 affordable energy efficient housing units in downtown Plano, Texas.
The project includes clearing of several old abandoned buildings located on a 1.5 acre site in the City in order to construct 60 condominium units proposed to be priced between $90,000, and $120,000. The units are proposed to be open to residents making 80% or less than the areas medium income level of $82,000 per year. Twenty percent of the units were to be reserved for fireman, teachers, policemen, wounded warriors and City workers earning up to 120% of said medium income.
The building will be constructed to be energy efficient by utilizing energy efficient insulation panels, low wattage lighting fixtures, Energy Star Certified appliances and extreme low water fixtures. Mr. Hammett also reports that solar panels were proposed to used to power outdoor lighting and a 10,000 gallon water storage tank would be constructed to store water funneled through the roofs and streets to utilize for irrigating landscaping on the site. Construction is proposed to start in early 2013.
The effort in Plano is just one example of the efforts occurring in many municipalities throughout the country to marry the concept of affordable housing with the concept of green and sustainable development. Once again there are several measures our local municipalities can take to encourage green housing both on the affordable and market side. The first step is educating residents on the programs available to assist them in retrofitting or improving energy efficiency in their homes. The second is for the municipality to take a proactive and progressive stand in promoting and accepting green development and providing areas for development of affordable housing conducted at appropriate density to ensure sustainability.
I encourage you to check out these articles and also to review our Green Blog to see the many action items a community can take to encourage the new exciting opportunities available to promote green sustainable housing for all sectors of our community.
John C. Cappello is a partner on the Land Use/Environmental and Municipal Law Teams. He can be reached by phone at 845-778-2121 toll free or 845-778-2121 and by email.
The committee reviews the applications, which include the artist’s portfolio, to determine whether they qualify for an apartment. According to Mr. Smith’s article, as of the end of October about a dozen applications have been approved.
The Nashville community acknowledged the fact that the arts, especially Nashville’s music scene, greatly contributes to the economic vitality of their community.
Several recent studies have also been conducted in the Mid Hudson Valley identifying the importance of a thriving arts community to help revive portions of our cities and villages.
Orange and Dutchess Counties have active Arts Councils promoting the arts in our area (OC Arts Council and DC Arts Council).
These Arts Councils can be a force to educate the community of the importance of the Arts as an engine to energize our local economy. The Arts Councils can also take the lead and approach our local municipalities to consider taking actions to promote affordable housing through innovating zoning techniques and supporting and seeking necessary grants and subsidies if necessary to promote housing for the arts.
The second article I read was written by Connor Hammett, a reporter for The Plano Star Currier. Mr. Hammett’s article entitled “Developer Breaks Ground On “Green” Affordable Housing” discusses the efforts of the City of Plano and Green Extreme Homes to construct 60 affordable energy efficient housing units in downtown Plano, Texas.
The project includes clearing of several old abandoned buildings located on a 1.5 acre site in the City in order to construct 60 condominium units proposed to be priced between $90,000, and $120,000. The units are proposed to be open to residents making 80% or less than the areas medium income level of $82,000 per year. Twenty percent of the units were to be reserved for fireman, teachers, policemen, wounded warriors and City workers earning up to 120% of said medium income.
The building will be constructed to be energy efficient by utilizing energy efficient insulation panels, low wattage lighting fixtures, Energy Star Certified appliances and extreme low water fixtures. Mr. Hammett also reports that solar panels were proposed to used to power outdoor lighting and a 10,000 gallon water storage tank would be constructed to store water funneled through the roofs and streets to utilize for irrigating landscaping on the site. Construction is proposed to start in early 2013.
The effort in Plano is just one example of the efforts occurring in many municipalities throughout the country to marry the concept of affordable housing with the concept of green and sustainable development. Once again there are several measures our local municipalities can take to encourage green housing both on the affordable and market side. The first step is educating residents on the programs available to assist them in retrofitting or improving energy efficiency in their homes. The second is for the municipality to take a proactive and progressive stand in promoting and accepting green development and providing areas for development of affordable housing conducted at appropriate density to ensure sustainability.
I encourage you to check out these articles and also to review our Green Blog to see the many action items a community can take to encourage the new exciting opportunities available to promote green sustainable housing for all sectors of our community.
John C. Cappello is a partner on the Land Use/Environmental and Municipal Law Teams. He can be reached by phone at 845-778-2121 toll free or 845-778-2121 and by email.
