New Shoreham Growth


 

Residential

Village Area: New Harbor, the area near Old Harbor and the Airport contain the island's commerce, town facilities and higher density residential uses. Inside the village area there is a uniform requirement for three acre lots and mandatory cluster development. Outside the village area, development is scattered and has impacted virtually all areas.

Click on the graph to see recent trends in residential development.

(graph from the proposed revision of the New Shoreham Comprehensive Plan, 2001)
Land potential: Block Island has space to add another approximately 1,600 dwellings to the 1,300 now existing, and enough land potential for far more business activity than that build-out population would support. However, this development would occur at the loss of much of the Island's rural character and aesthetic appeal.
Affordable Housing: A number of affordable housing options have been authorized in accordance with the Low and Moderate Income Housing Act. The act suggests that assistance for 10% of a community's households is a reasonable town goal. Twenty-eight housing units, having one form or another of direct or indirect subsidy and income limits for residents, have been authorized. Seven of these units are about to be built. This would bring the total to about 10% of the total housing stock of the island. Eight additional units have been recently proposed.
site map
   last updated may 7, 2001