Why I believe workforce housing is an unfair selling point for Rockport’s Article 3.

I Have worked in Rockport for over 20 years and have been fortunate enough to live in town with my family for the past seven years.  I truly appreciate living close to work along with all the other advantages of living in a close-knit community such as Camden/Rockport.   

Over the last several months I have noticed a common selling point for Rockport’s Article 3 (A new $52,000,000 sewage treatment facility) the creation of workforce housing.  I want to mention a few reasons why I think this is unfair. 

1. New homes in Rockport sold at market value (rightly so) would put them out of reach for the middle-income workforce. The skilled laborers and craftspeople needed to accomplish the so-called workforce housing development wouldn’t be able to afford to live in it.  I came to this conclusion by comparing the current median purchase price of a home in Rockport and the median annual salary of various respective trades, such as Carpenters, Plumbers, electricians, Masonry, House painter, Landscaping and so on.    

2. Residential development creates an added need for town resources, for example school, hospital, and the town’s public works staff, to including Teachers, Janitors, Councilors, EMT, Rockport Road maintenance crew, fire fighters, Police officers, Nurses, Nurse aids, medical assistants, and many others. Most of these careers are relatively well-paying with wages higher than the State of Maine median income but not nearly enough to purchase a market valued home in Rockport, even if we call it workforce housing.  
3. Last but certainly not least is my concern for our residents who live in the path of the proposed extension. I worry that added expense will force some to sell. I have seen many homes in town that one would think of as affordable property quickly become unattainable for the work force we are concerned about. Not only do we risk losing affordable housing but also the valued people in it.   

Let’s make sure we have the best deal for our neighbors.  I hope you will vote no with me on Article 3 and yes on Article 15.

Aaron Johnson lives in Rockport