Community Corner

Sengle: "Clinton Needs Housing Choice"

Sengle: "People who want to stay in town need to have modern housing alternatives near town centers. This would be one way to help our downtown improve as it would create business demand near the homes."

This Letter to the Editor/Opinion piece is written by Phil Sengle:

The need for “affordable” housing is an issue that has caught my eye.  While fostering commercial development to increase our stagnant grand list is priority one, we can’t ignore housing needs.  A housing revolution is happening in America, taking us away from larger homes on big plots and back to more urban living.  To support changing needs, state “HOMEConnecticut” grants are available to study where towns could create higher-density, more affordable, energy-efficient, walkable housing close to transportation.  Our train station is a major asset that must be built upon.

Older folks want to sell their larger homes for obvious reasons.  Among them is to pull out equity.  Unfortunately market demand for large homes is predicted to fall, depressing prices.  With the scarcity of well paying jobs and high college debt, younger people can’t afford them.  But there is a growing demand for more urban style living close to town with its services, restaurants and shops.  People who want to stay in town need to have modern housing alternatives near town centers.  This would be one way to help our downtown improve as it would create business demand near the homes. 

We must attract younger folks to Clinton to remain vibrant and healthy and to do that they must find modern housing and a good school system.  Yes, we must leverage our new high school as much as possible.  While we have many small affordable houses that were built post WWII through the 70’s, most are not modern, are not energy efficient, were built with the dollar in mind and are not near transportation or sidewalks.

Find out what's happening in Clintonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Baby boomers don’t want to shovel snow or clean gutters any longer.  But many want to stay, near friends, family, churches, doctors, grocery stores, etc.  With $4 gasoline, high heating costs and the allure of urban, walkable lifestyles, you have increasing demand for smaller, energy-efficient homes within walking distance of town.  These homes if planned and regulated properly do not have to be ugly boxes.  They can be attractive and relatively upscale.  We need options other than moving to Florida or out of state to find a job.  We don’t want people voting with their feet.  In addition a regular ongoing sidewalk program must be put in place to tie the urban and commercial parts of our community together for this new life style.  This will also help with tourism once we increase reasons to visit Clinton other than the Outlet Mall.

Fortunately we have visionaries in Clinton.  The Planning & Zoning Sub-Committee working on the town plan of development with several citizen volunteers and the Chamber of Commerce, headed up by Alan Kravitz and Christine Goupil is well aware of this housing issue and is rightly bringing it to the fore.  Please support and thank them for their efforts.

Find out what's happening in Clintonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Phil Sengle

This above letter was submitted to Clinton Patch by Phil Sengle.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here