Aquidneck Island Planning Commission (AIPC) will host the next installment of its Smart Island series of public forums on March 15, 2019 at CCRI- Newport Campus. Envisioning the Housing Future for Aquidneck Island will address the unique challenges and opportunities facing Aquidneck Island, as well as current municipal housing initiatives.
A series of expert panels will be followed by an interactive breakout session, where attendees can actively participate in sharing their ideas for the future. According to AIPC Executive Director, John Shea, “the goal is to create an active dialogue between the municipalities, the business community, the residents – everyone. Aquidneck Island is a unique, beautiful place to call home, so we should do everything we can to plan for a smart, sustainable future.”
The attractiveness of Aquidneck Island as a place to live has driven up housing prices and has led to significant development. The rental market is tight and apartments are expensive. These and other factors have led to a persistent housing affordability problem that will require dedicated efforts to overcome. Ashley Medeiros of Connect Greater Newport said, “we have interviewed business leaders and found that workforce is the biggest barrier to growth. The cost of housing in the region is a major factor, as those working in many of our largest industries are not earning enough to live locally.”
The event is in partnership with Connect Greater Newport and HousingWorksRI. Sponsors include the Community College of Rhode Island (Newport Campus), Discover Newport, and BankNewport. The mission of AIPC is to preserve and improve the environment, economy, and quality of life on Aquidneck Island – to ensure that the Island remains a great place to live, work, play and thrive.
Event is free, but due to limited space pre-registration is required. Sign up at www.AIPChousing.eventbrite.com. Coffee/breakfast refreshments and lunch is included.