Building one has a total of six units, building two has five units, and
building three has seven units. In total there is one three-bedroom
unit, nine two-bedroom units, and eight one-bedroom units. The
two-bedroom units are townhouse in style, while the one-bedroom units
are all flats. The complex also has one on-site coin-operated laundry
facility.
Warren's first affordable housing complex is situated on a nine-acre
parcel formerly occupied by the Blue Tooth. Peltier told town officials
that 4 out of the total 18 units are currently vacant.
She told select board members that the process for finding applicants
who meet the various income and legal requirements for occupancy "has
gone slower than we would have liked."
ECONOMY
Peltier said that the state of the economy as well as the nature of the
affordable housing project accounts for the difficulty of finding
appropriate tenants who meet the requirements.
Select board chair Andy Cunningham said he heard concerns from residents
interested in renting the units who were denied based upon income
requirements and was "surprised by that."
Peltier said that applicants interested in Wheeler Brook must meet not
only the income requirements but are also subject to a credit report and
a criminal background check.
The income requirements are based on a federal formula that takes into
account the median income of the county, family size and other
considerations.
Peltier said that applicants must be on the "low income side"; the
tenant rent charged equals 30 percent of the household's adjusted annual
income and cannot exceed 40 percent to be eligible.
COSTS LOW
A combination of federal tax credits, low-interest loans and other
funding sources allow the organizations to keep the development costs
low and rent the units at less than market rates. Wheeler Brook will not
be subsidized.
Wheeler Brook "has a high level of energy efficiency," according to
CVCLT real estate project coordinator Allison Friedkin. The units have
Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) to facilitate good air quality and
circulation and are very well insulated, according to Friedkin.
Peltier told select board members that CVCLT "was able to do a lot of
things in Warren that we otherwise wouldn't be able to do" regarding
energy efficiency and alternative energy source installations including
solar panels.
"We're happy to have been able to work with the town of Warren on the
project," she continued.
FIRE HYDRANT
Select board members asked Peltier if their issues with the units'
non-draining fire hydrant had town officials and the fire department
concerned about freezing and ongoing maintenance.
Peltier told town officials that CVCLT is responsible for the hydrant
and assured that they would be tested and maintained properly; in
addition, CVCLT will provide an annual report to the Warren Fire
Department.
Cunningham told Peltier that Wheeler Brook is a "great project; it looks
good despite normal hiccups and it worked out well."
Select board members unanimously approved the final close-out of the
project.
For more information about Wheeler Brook or to inquire about available
units, contact Chris Wood at CVCLT, 802-476-4493, or visit
www.cvclt.org.
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