Volume 19, Number 16
www.southingtoncitizen.com
Challenges in the way of increasing affordable housing
There’s a Witch’s Dungeon closer than you think
By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
By Nicole Zappone The Citizen
PLAINVILLE — As a child, Cordlant Hull had a rare blood condition that made it difficult for him to do what other kids did. He was basically home-bound. So while his peers played outside, Hull focused on making small models of movie monsters. Decades later, Hull still surrounds himself with creepy creations, as the owner of “The Witch’s Dungeon Classic Movie Museum” in Plainville. See Dungeon, A4
Cortlandt Hull, owner of “The Witch’s Dungeon Classic Movie Museum” in Plainville.
Clean up, nature walk planned for Linear Trail By Lauren Sellew Record-Journal staff
SOUTHINGTON — The Southington Land Conservation Trust is holding a clean up on the Linear Trail and a nature walk this weekend. The clean up is scheduled for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers will meet at the Burritt Street entrance to the trail. All are welcome to help. Those participating are asked to bring gloves, hand clippers, shovels, rakes and their own drinking water. Each year volunteers target See Trust, A2
Friday, April 22, 2022
Houses or apartments suitable for a family of four might cost $23,550 or less SOUTHINGTON — While in Southington, but there’s apartment rents and hous- an additional requirement ing prices rise, local offifor a home to be considcials are facing the chalered affordable and countlenges that accompany try- ed toward the town’s total. ing to increase affordable Michael Santoro, a state housing. Department of Housing Southington currently has community development 967 housing units considspecialist, said the housing ered affordable by Conunit must also be kept to necticut housing officials. that affordable level by a The state’s goal is that 10 40-year deed restriction. percent of Southington’s While an apartment or apartments, condos and house might be affordable houses would be affordone year, rent increases or able. That would mean nearly doubling the town’s housing market increases existing affordable housing might increase the cost to a family or individual bestock. yond the 30 percent limit. Only by placing a cap on What’s affordable? State officials created a for- cost through a deed remula to determine if hous- striction can the state be assured market changes ing is affordable. It starts with 80 percent of the area won’t affect affordability, Santoro said. or state median income, whichever is less. For a family of four living in Southington, that’s $78,500. Housing should consume no more than 30 percent of a household’s expenses, according to state officials, limiting the cost of housing considered affordable at $23,550 annually.
“There’s no guarantee they’re going to stay affordable tomorrow, a month from now, a year from now,” he said. He drew a distinction between “naturally occurring” affordable housing units and those that are See Housing, A2
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LOOK INSIDE! A bicyclist passes near the train depot along the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail in Southington on April 20, 2021. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal