I recently received the October, 2009 Ocracoke Foundation Newsletter. It included the following announcement about affordable housing on Ocracoke:
"On Monday October 19th the Hyde County Board of Commissioners voted to support OFI's affordable housing initiative. The initiative is part of a Reinvestment Project that will seek to provide affordable housing for teachers and public service employees and also provide dedicated funding for local community groups from which to operate. The majority of public service workers depend on local groups for services such as child care, and youth programs. Funding to support the research and planning efforts for this initiative was provided by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.
On October 10th, OFI responded to a frequently expressed concern for "affordable housing" on Ocracoke by successfully bidding to purchase 3 two-bedroom and 1 one-bedroom condominium at the site of the former Boyette property.
The need for housing for teachers, health center employees, EMTs, day care, and other groups serving the general public has been seen as a critical issue for several years. Due to the high costs involved in purchasing land and constructing housing, solutions to this need seemed insurmountable. The opportunity to acquire 4 condos at a cost well below what would be required to build, encouraged OFI to take advantage of this opportunity to meet the needs of the community while a larger scale affordable housing solution is being researched.
OFI has begun to seek funding for this initiative and is seeking advice and support from organizations and industry professionals. An affordable housing committee is being established to outline needs, study options and move forward. As the initiative progresses, OFI will post letters and comments received concerning this effort."
I do not believe the Ocracoke Foundation has a web site, but you can learn more about it here: http://nccsdataweb.urban.org/PubApps/showVals.php?ft=bmf&ein=562602254
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a transcript of a letter written in 1949 by a visitor to the island. You can read the letter (which provides a glimpse into Ocracoke life sixty years ago) here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102509.htm.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Philip, I was wondering what those units went for at the auction. I'm glad to hear that someone is trying to do something about the housing issue. I am shocked at what people are asking for their property on the island. We have a nice house with workshops on 5+ acres here in the Piedmont, and we would be lucky to trade for a trailer on Ocracoke!As much as I would like to live there, there is no way I could afford it. I've often wondered how teachers and workers can afford to live there.
ReplyDeleteThere is a pretty good article about the auction written by B. J. Oelschlegel for the Island Free Press. Go to this website: http://islandfreepress.org/2009Archives/10.28.2009-OcracokeRealEstateAnatomyOfAnAuctionOfIslandProperties.html or just go to the Island Free Press and look at the contents.
ReplyDeleteGood reading.