Lamont: CT needs more housing inventory

By Ginny Monk The Connecticut Mirror

Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday told Connecticut real estate agents that the primary solution to one of the industry’s most pressing problems a dearth of houses to sell is to build more housing.

Lamont gave the statement in response to a question posed by a presenter at the Connecticut Association of Realtors conference in Hartford about how he would help incentivize homeowners to sell. “First of all, you need more housing inventory, ” Lamont said. “Let’s start with that. I mean, we’re desperately short right now.”

Lamont gave a speech about the draw of moving to Connecticut, real estate agents’ role in marketing the state to potential buyers, and housing and population growth.

The state’s cities are growing, he said, and more young families want to live in Connecticut than in past years.

Yet the real estate industry has seen a drop in the number of homes for sale.

As of Jan. 14, there were about 3,600 homes for sale compared to about 15,000 in 2019, according to data from a presentation members of the National Association of Realtors gave to lawmakers earlier this year. The Realtors’ presentation tied that low inventory to underbuilding and delays in finishing new construction.

The state also lacks about

Wall of Honor

The Berlin Veterans Commission’s “Veterans Digital Wall of Honor,” located in Town Hall, is dedicated to “All Who Proudly Served and Sacrificed to Protect Our Country.” Berlin residents and their immediate family, past and present, who have

89,000 units of housing that are affordable and available to its lowest income renters.

Lamont’s remarks on Monday came as the state legislature is considering several measures to increase housing stock and improve affordability for Connecticut residents.

Legislative session

“We’ve put $600 million over the next two years into housing,” Lamont said. “And that’s not just affordable housing, and what I call workforce housing those are our studios and one bedrooms often in downtown areas, hopefully next to major transit areas.”

Earlier in the year, Lamont announced his plan to spend $600 million on housing ventures, including to build thousands of units of new housing in Connecticut over the next two years. The bonding proposal that

In Brief

served or are currently serving can be put up on the wall. Contact Peter Galgano at petergalgano@comcast.net or 860-604-7258.

Legion Post 68

American Legion Post 68 has been serving Berlin veterans since 1947. Post 68 is looking emerged from the committee process includes money for the state’s housing trust fund, a flexible housing fund and a homeownership program.

It would add money to the Connecticut Housing Receivership Revolving Fund, which aims to improve housing conditions at large apartments in the state. It also has funds to retrofit apartments in environmental justice communities certain communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change.

The state budget is still a work in progress, and lawmakers will work with the governor to hash out the final figures in the coming weeks.

Lamont also said he’d support transit-oriented development in downtowns across the state, a proposal that’s received harsh back- lash from some local groups and officials.

The bill, known as Work, Live, Ride, would push towns to increase residential density near train and bus stations by offering certain money for infrastructure. The goal is to develop walkable communities where people can easily access transportation and local businesses.

Restrictive local zoning has long depressed housing development in Connecticut, particularly multi-family apartments, housing experts say. Multi-family housing tends to be more affordable to people with low incomes. Legislators are also considering a land use reform proposal known as Fair Share. It would require the state to analyze the housing need by region, then divide that need between municipalities. Towns would be required to plan and zone for a set number of units.

Both proposals have met fierce resistance.

Opponents say they would weaken local control, force a one-size-fits-all approach and are onerous, particularly to smaller communities that may not have many city planning resources.

And opponents fear that the Work, Live, Ride proposal would mean that towns that don’t participate will be deprioritized for infrastructure funding.

But housing advocates have said that towns have had their chance to change their zoning regulations, and widespread resistance to building enough affordable housing means the state needs to step in.

During a question-and-answer session with reporters, Lamont said he wants to see towns create their own plans for increasing affordable housing. A 2017 law requires that Connecticut municipalities create and submit affordable housing plans every five years.

Less than half of towns in Connecticut submitted their plans by the first deadline last summer.

In January, more than 30 towns still had not submitted their plans, according to data from the Office of Policy and Management.

In response to questions from presenters, Lamont mentioned Connecticut’s “suburban lifestyle” as a draw for new residents. He said more development in walkable downtowns could mean senior citizens would be able to downsize and stay in the state.

“We’ve got probably the greatest suburban lifestyle in the country, or certainly one of them,” he said. “But also we have up-and-coming cities and some beautiful rural areas.”

Read the full story on the website of The Connecticut Mirror, ctmirror.org.

Letters to the Editor

for active military members, veterans, and family and friends of veterans to become involved. Pick up an application at the Post home, 154 Porters Pass.

For more information, email Post Commander Vin Trigila at v_trig@yahoo.com or send a message to Post 68 via Facebook.

Spiking crime?

Editor:

The press release in last week’s Citizen released by Mayor Kaczynski, Representative Veach and others talking about a “spiking crime wave ” was remarkably short of any details but long on Republican talking points in blaming the State Legisla- ture for handcuffing policing practices. It would be helpful to see year over year data showing where specific crimes have increased in both Berlin and the rest of the state. Absent providing meaningful statistics, this article simply reads as a political statement.

Dave Lerro

Obituaries

Sarah “Sally” Hanson

BERLIN - Sarah “Sally” to drive the farm truck with backwards steering, and unsuccessfully hiding the sweet corn from the raccoons. pital, Middlesex VNA, Berlin VNAand Masonic Healthcare.She lovedher church, especiallysinging in the choir,and served many years on the Prayer loved UCONN Women’s Basketball, the Boston Red Sox, Uncle D’s Diner and their pea soup, and lobster rolls. wife Jill ofBerlin; her grandchildren Sarah,Erik, Jennifer, Rebecca,Travis andEthan,hersistersFaith Horsky, JeanJackson and MaryTalley, herbrothers Phil, Barry andBill Robinson, and countless friends whowillcherishhermemory.

BERLIN Sarah “Sally” LaFountain Hanson,83, passed into gloryat home surrounded bythe loveof herfamily onSaturday, May6,2023.

LaFountain Hanson, 83, passed into glory at home surrounded by the love of her family on Saturday, May 6, 2023.

Sally was born June 17, 1939 in Southwest Harbor, Maine, to Richard and Barbara (Wallace) Robinson. When she was very young, she was adopted by her aunt and uncle Mary (Wallace) and Robert LaFountain. They loved and raised Sally as their own in Springfield, Vermont. When she entered school, she immediately skipped the first grade then continued on to graduate from Springfield High School in 1956. Sally attended the University of Connecticut where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy and met the love of her life, John Henry Hanson.

Sallywas bornJune17, 1939 inSouthwest Harbor, Maine, to Richard and Barbara (Wallace) Robinson. When she wasvery young, she was adoptedby her aunt anduncle Mary(Wallace) and Robert LaFountain. They loved and raised Sally astheir ownin Springfield,Vermont.When sheenteredschool,sheimmediatelyskipped thefirst grade thencontinued onto graduate from Springfield High Schoolin 1956.Sally attended theUniversity of Connecticut where she earnedherBachelorofSciencedegree inPhysical Therapy and metthe love ofherlife,JohnHenryHanson.

Team,as ChurchClerk, Deacon, CoSexton,Vacation BibleSchool Choir Leader,May BreakfastEgg Cook, TotTime Grandma, andtoomanyotherrolesto list.

Along withher children and grandchildren, Sally loved UCONNWomen’s Basketball,theBostonRed Sox,Uncle D’s Diner and theirpea soup,andlobster rolls.

Church.Please sharea memory of Sallywith the familyin theonlineguestbook atwww.ericksonhansenberlin.com

John and Sally were married on October 21, 1961 at the Berlin Congregational Church in Berlin, Connecticut, beginning their solid, loving and faithful marriage of over 61 years. Together, they raised their five children with love, integrity and firmness and ran Spruce Brook Farm. Over the years, her farm work included milking cows when she was eight months pregnant, learning

JohnandSallyweremarriedonOctober21,1961at the BerlinCongregational Churchin Berlin,Connecticut, beginning their solid, lovingand faithfulmarriage ofover 61years.Together, they raised their five childrenwithlove,integrityand firmness and ran Spruce BrookFarm. Overthe years, her farmwork included milkingcows when she was eight months pregnant, learning to drive the farmtruck withbackwardssteering,andunsuccessfullyhiding thesweet cornfromtheraccoons.

Sally wasborn tobe a Grandma, helpingto raise, advise,andmakebrownies with her six grandchildren. Hercaring heartwasalso displayedinherlongcareer as aRegistered Physical Therapist, working for Meriden-Wallingford Hos-

Sally was born to be a Grandma, helping to raise, advise, and make brownies with her six grandchildren. Her caring heart was also displayed in her long career as a Registered Physical Therapist, working for Meriden-Wallingford Hospital, Middlesex VNA, Berlin VNA and Masonic Healthcare. She loved her church, especially singing in the choir, and served many years on the Prayer Team, as Church Clerk, Deacon, CoSexton, Vacation Bible School Choir Leader, May Breakfast Egg Cook, Tot Time Grandma, and too

Sally waspre-deceased by her beloved youngest son,Timothy, herbrothers Robert LaFountain, Leigh, Dickie,andJohnRobinson. Besides herhusband, she issurvived byherchildren, John Jr. andhis wife Linda of Onancock, VA, Mary of Hartford, Nancyof Northfield, MA and Jim and his

Sally was pre-deceased by her beloved youngest son, Timothy, her brothers Robert LaFountain, Leigh, Dickie, and John Robinson. Besides her husband, she is survived by her children, John Jr. and his wife Linda of Onancock, VA, Mary of Hartford, Nancy of Northfield, MA and Jim and his wife Jill of Berlin; her grandchildren Sarah, Erik, Jennifer, Rebecca, Travis and Ethan, her sisters Faith Horsky, Jean Jackson and Mary Talley, her brothers Phil, Barry and Bill Robinson, and countless friends who will cherish her memory.

Calling hours were Sunday, May 14, 2023 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 111 Chamberlain Hwy., Berlin. The funeral service was at 10:00 am on Monday, May 15, 2023 at the Berlin Congregational Church, 878 Worthington Ridge, Berlin. Burial was in Maple Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sally’s honor to the Berlin Congregational Church. Please share a memory of Sally with the family in the

Callinghours wereSunday, May 14,2023 from 4:00 to6:00 p.m.at theErickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 111Chamberlain

Hwy., Berlin. The funeral servicewasat10:00amon Monday,May 15,2023at the BerlinCongregational Church, 878 Worthington Ridge, Berlin.Burial wasin Maple Cemetery.In lieuof flowers, donationscan be madeinSally’shonortothe Berlin Congregational