Westport First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff has released the results of a housing survey sent to seniors and workforce individuals in December 2007. 

“The results demonstrate an undeniable need to expand housing options in Westport,” said Joseloff.  “The need for affordable housing is particularly evident among our seniors and workforce. Being able to provide such housing here and elsewhere is vital to the economy of Connecticut.”  

About 3,600 surveys were mailed to all Westport households with someone aged 60 or older as part of the Perspectives newsletter. Town of Westport and Board of Education (BOE) employees received surveys with their paychecks, and copies were posted on both the town and BOE Web sites. The town has approximately 350 employees, and the BOE has approximately 900 employees, about 600 of them teachers.  

The response rate was good. 7 percent of the senior population returned the questionnaires, 18 percent of town employees, and 6 percent of the Board of Education employees, including 8 percent of all teachers.

Dozens of respondents, both among seniors and the workforce, expressed their support and appreciation for the concept of new affordable units in Westport.  Within the workforce, teachers were the most interested in the possibility of affordable housing on Baron’s South. 

“One of the things heard from many housing experts was the need to understand who was to be served,” said Selectwoman Shelly A. Kassen, who oversaw the survey.  “The survey results have helped us reach that understanding. We now know who needs to be served and the type of affordable housing that is needed.” 

Of the respondents, approximately 60 percent of seniors are considering moving. That consideration drops off for those in the lowest income bracket (households earning less than $20,000) as well as in the highest income bracket (households earning more than $100,000).  Also, those seniors whose homes are assessed at both the bottom of the scale (values less than $350,000) and at the top of the scale (values greater than $850,000) are less likely to consider moving. 

Reasons given by seniors for moving included the burden of property taxes, the desire to downsize both physically and financially, and health-related issues.   

Seniors in their 60s and 70s are most motivated to consider moving.  Single males are most inclined to consider moving, followed by couples and then single females.  

The desire to own instead of rent is predominant in the survey results.  Most respondents would prefer to own free-standing condos, but flexibility was demonstrated in second and third choices regarding apartments.  The desire to live in a mixed-age community was also stronger than for a seniors-only community.   

Teachers expressed the most interest in living in workforce housing in Westport. 90 percent of those responding expressed some interest, and 70 percent said they were very interested.  60 percent of first responders expressed some interest, and 24 percent of these respondents were very interested.   

The interest in workforce housing appears to vary with length of employment – those who have been employed less than five years, among both first responders and teachers, are most interested.  Within the group of teachers who are interested, all have been employed for less than five years.   

Teachers most interested in moving have longer commutes – although all teachers now living in Bridgeport are interested, and almost half already living in Westport expressed interest.  Most workforce responses prefer to rent rather than buy. 

“This proposal will be welcome news to many Westporters, either living here in housing that is substandard or beyond their means or ability to maintain, or working here and commuting long distances daily,” said Human Services Director Barbara Butler.   

 “Housing related issues have been consistently the most frequently identified reasons people contact our department, and that has been the case for as long as I can remember.  There is no question in my mind that this housing will meet a need expressed by seniors and members of the town’s workforce, and that it will benefit the community to use this beautiful property for this purpose. This is an exciting step forward.”  

The next step will be to request an 8-24 Report from the Planning & Zoning Commission to use Baron’s South to expand housing options for our seniors and workforce, said Joseloff.  

Weston & Sampson Engineers, the firm hired by Westport to provide engineering services for the development of a Master Plan for the Barons’ South and Jesup Green properties, laid out various options for housing on Baron’s South in their September 2007 report.   

Using Layout “C,” the town will propose a three-story, seniors-only, rental building within walking distance of the Center for Senior Activities.  This building could contain 28 one-bedroom units and 15 two-bedroom units, 43 units in total.   

These units would be affordable to those earning no more than 80 percent of the state median income level (now about $65,680 for a family of four). Also, 56 town house units will be proposed to serve the workforce and seniors, defined as those earning no more than 110 percent of the area median income (now about $129,580 for a family of four). 

Joseloff said, “I am very grateful to Barbara Butler and Shelly Kassen for their efforts on this project. Their commitment to affordable housing and to our community at large is commendable.”  

He added: “We have done our homework, determined the need, and have found that the best and most practicable use of the unused portion of Baron’s South is to meet Westport’s housing needs. I urge all Westporters who want to see the town remain a vibrant, diverse community to join in supporting this important effort.”