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The Block Island Housing Board has begun to review design drawings for the five homes in the Cherry Hill Lane affordable housing development, the next step toward bringing the long-planned project to fruition.

Two projects sailed easily through the Conservation Commission at its most recent meeting.

Rhode Island was ranked as one of the country’s least affordable housing markets in March, while in the first quarter of 2018, the state’s median house price jumped by 10 percent, rising to $252,250. “Though Rhode Island’s housing market has not yet hit the peak reached before the housing downturn, strong price gains are affecting affordability, particularly among first-time home buyers,” the Rhode Island Association of Realtors said in its first-quarter market report, released Wednesday.

Citing ongoing concerns from abutters living next to the proposed Cherry Hill Lane affordable housing subdivision, Planning Board Chair Margie Comings kept the public hearing open until the Board’s next meeting in May in order to give others a chance to comment on the project.

After its initial housing proposal was met with criticism from some members of the public, the New Shoreham Town Council went back to the drawing board and is now proposing that the 2.5-acre Thomas property be used for a community housing campus consisting of two separate dwellings that would house a total of seven town employees. The estimated cost for the project is about $1.5 million.

I'd like to weigh in on the housing issue for the town manager. We have to realize that a few key positions on the island in the 21st century need to be filled by persons with skills not commonly found on the island and some of these positions have a fairly high turnover rate. At present, there are two such positions on the island: The doctor and the town manager.

The Harbor Church’s affordable rental housing project is progressing towards its January 2019 goal for occupancy. Church Trustee Tony Pappas, who is spearheading the $450,000 project, was granted unanimous final approval (4-0) for adding a deck and stairs on the building’s west exterior, and removing an east side window, by the Historic District Commission on March 26. Pappas needs to obtain a building permit from Building Official Marc Tillson to commence with the work.

Island homeowners with antiquated septic systems may have an opportunity to connect to the town sewer system affordably through a state run program if they’re eligible. Town Manager Ed Roberge introduced the item to the Town Council based on a recommendation made to him by Finance Director Amy Land.

“It’s an idea whose time has come.” That’s what Tony Pappas said about the four one-bedroom affordable rental apartments that will be built at the Harbor Church for a price tag of about $450,000 and be ready for occupancy in January of 2019. Pappas spoke with The Block Island Times about the project, his brainchild, after a public hearing before the Zoning Board of Review on Tuesday night.

Since the General Assembly passed the state’s affordable housing law in 1991, only five communities have met the law’s basic requirement: a housing stock that is at least 10-percent affordable.