Amesbury Housing Trust Meeting
Discussion of leveraging proceeds from surplus city-owned properties — including a possible agricultural easement on Congress St near the Salisbury line — to support the Housing Trust, and a review of a refugee housing proposal for the former "Amesbury Chair" property. Members also discussed rental-assistance outreach (including a possible landlord expo), tenant opportunity-to-purchase, and enforcement/collection related to the short-term rental ordinance.
The Amesbury Housing Trust met to review ongoing housing initiatives and potential uses of city-owned land. Public commenters asked how the Trust might incentivize affordable development and mentioned organizations (such as local youth-service groups) that could be partners, while Trust members noted the Mayor’s effort to identify and surplus city-owned parcels and referenced an upcoming state housing bond bill hearing. The Trust received a brief financial update showing a principal balance of $169,051.86, interest of $2,089.68, and a total balance of $171,141.54.
Under existing business trustees discussed rental-assistance outreach: outreach to landlords and the possibility of sponsoring a landlord-focused expo to increase engagement and address landlord concerns. The Trust held a general discussion about city-owned properties and the disposition process, including whether proceeds from selling city land could be transferred into the Housing Trust and a possible agricultural easement on Congress St near the Salisbury line. In new business members requested follow-up on a prior presentation concerning the Amesbury Chair property as a potential cluster/refugee housing site, asked that an existing project tracker be restored and made accessible with assigned champions, and added consideration of the tenant opportunity-to-purchase act. The meeting closed with the next meeting scheduled for February 14, 2024.