Ed Myers of Walpole says four fishermen and owners of two oyster companies use his dock for access to the Damariscotta River, but not one of these people lives in the town of Bristol, which covers the peninsula where Myers is located. Instead, they travel from Nobleboro, Newcastle, Waldoboro and Jefferson to earn their livelihood. “It’s absurd,” says Myers. “They drive 50 or more miles just to see if the wind is blowing or to check their moorings. The government says that’s worth 31 cents a mile. If they make that trip 250 times a year, that’s a lot of money they could spend on a mortgage if they lived in Bristol or South Bristol.”
But these people and many others can no longer afford to live in the community where their work is, a scenario that is being played and re-played increasingly along the Maine coast.
A Housing Sub-committee formed as part of Bristol’s comprehensive planning process looked into the situation in the town and came up with the following information:
“Of 39 Bristol residential properties for sale in April, 2001, the average selling price was $277,787. The median price for the same properties was $197,000. To purchase the median property (assuming a 90 percent LTV mortgage for 30 years at 7.375 percent…), a household would have needed $5,458 in monthly income…or annual income of $65,496. (Source: Maine Real Estate Information System). However, the median household income in Bristol in 2000 was $31,613 (Source: Maine Municipal Association), less than half the income needed for the median-priced property.
“Area median household income is $39,500 at present. In 1997, the latest year for which income figures were available when this research was being done, 59.6 percent of Bristol residents had income under $35,000 a year; 42.4 percent of residents had income under $25,000 a year; and 22.5 percent had income under $15,000 a year. (Source: Claritas).”
The situation in rentals was similar, and exacerbated by the fact that most rental property is used seasonally, when owners can make more money than they would by renting year-round.
The Housing Committee decided this deplorable situation could not be ignored. They applied for a Housing Assessment Planning grant from the State Office of Community Development, which has funds available once a year to help communities plan their futures.
The effort has been led by Elizabeth McPherson, Executive Director of Genesis Community Loan Fund, a nonprofit organization based in Damariscotta that supports statewide affordable housing.
“We need to put our best thinking to work on this problem,” says McPherson. “It’s only going to get worse. The whole coast is feeling pressures. Property on the waterfront and in waterfront towns is going to get bought up and people who traditionally lived there are going to be forced back further and further from the coast. The state is eager to see more planning happen. A lot of towns are relying on minimum lot sizes, but that’s not working.”
The Bristol committee obtained a $15,000 Community Development Block Grant for a Housing Assessment and Action Plan, the first grant of its kind to be awarded in Lincoln County. A study, to be conducted by a professional consultant, will “identify resources and opportunities to promote the availability of good housing that is affordable to low and moderate income persons.”
On June 11, committee members will open bids received in response to their Request for Qualifications issued in the middle of May. After the consultant has completed its work, which will be based on the year 2000 census, McPherson says the Housing Committee will consider the new data and recommendations and decide how to prioritize an action plan. “We have the potential next year to apply for a Housing Assistance Grant from the Office of Community Development for up to $400,000,” she says, “but we need to have a good action plan in place.”