Coalition kicks off affordable coast campaign

Tough economic times are even harder on islands, where the cost of living is much higher than it is on the mainland.

So on Feb. 10, the Maine Islands Coalition, the Working Waterfront Coalition, the Island Institute, the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition and several other organizations kicked off a campaign at the State House in Augusta to help create jobs, preserve working waterfront access and make the coast and islands more affordable. About 50 people, including islanders, fishermen and representatives of the groups, were at the event.

The coalition is campaigning for $60 million in revenue bonds over the next two years to increase affordable housing, provide jobs and make existing homes more energy efficient; $5 million in bond funds over the next two years for the Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program; and $250,000 as part of the state transportation bond for island airports.

"Islanders are facing an incredibly tough winter and challenging economic times," said Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree, a North Haven resident, at the Augusta event. "It's highlighted by the challenges in the fishing industry, but it is reflective of everything going on in Maine and the national economy. This is why I think it is so important to move some initiatives that help protect island communities. I think because of the economic times, they are more fragile than ever."

The Maine islands are an important part of Maine, with a history that goes back hundreds of years, said Roger Berle, a Cliff Island resident, and chair of the Maine Islands Coalition. "It's a new world out there and we are trying to hold the line with our traditional community values, and it is a struggle. So we're talking about a way to sustain island livability and to make our 14 year-round islands affordable enough for folks who appreciate what it means to be part of these very special communities."

Rob Snyder, vice president of Programs at the Island Institute, said the issues raised by this campaign do not just apply to islands. "While many of these issues are perhaps more acute on islands, they are factors in the sustainability of Maine's coastal communities and, in fact, they are issues that raise important questions about the affordability of Maine as a whole."

The average island family income can only pay for half of the average price of homes on islands, according to Snyder. Coastal and island real estate values are still high, along with property taxes. And energy costs on islands are up to four times higher than those same costs on the mainland. "Today we are here to talk about investing in our island and coastal economies for the purpose of creating and saving jobs, as it is now known in the national discourse," said Snyder.

The goal of the affordable housing part of the campaign is to create jobs for Maine workers, increase the supply of energy-efficient housing and create more housing that is located near jobs and services, according to a press release from the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition.

On islands, there is very little year-round rental housing so young families are increasingly unable to move into island communities, said Snyder. And islands and coastal properties are affordable for those seeking to leave higher-priced urban markets, which keeps values high. Island property values increased 61 percent in the past 10 years, compared to a 47 percent increase in the state as a whole, according to Island Indicators 2008, published by the Island Institute.

Island affordable housing groups need large amounts of money to be able to be able to move quickly to secure housing. Ellen Mahoney, of Peaks Island Home Start, said a two-family home recently came on the market on Peaks Island for $250,000. Although two year-round families with kids in the school bid, they did not get the property. With enough funding, "we can have nimble, flexible, fast-moving community-supported housing groups so that, when these opportunities come up, we can move on them," Mahoney said. "We're seeking a multi-generational solution to the housing issue to address sustainability in our year-round community."

The $5 million in bond funds sought for the Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program would provide matching grants to purchase, preserve or protect working waterfront properties that support commercial fishing, according to a press release from the program.

"When you think about it, there is no asset under greater threat in the state of Maine than our working waterfronts," said state Sen. Chris Rector (R-Thomaston). Since the program began in 2006, it has secured 11 properties encompassing 25 acres of land with a fair market value over $10 million, Rector said.

The program has supported more than 300 boats, more than 400 fishing-industry jobs, more than 12 million pounds of seafood landed annually and more than $26 million in income directly dependent on working waterfronts, Rector said.

Finally, $250,000 is being sought in the next transportation bond for island airports. The following projects would be funded: $145,000 at the Matinicus airport for additional gravel, grading the runway surface and improved drainage as well as two concrete turnaround pads on the north and south ends of the runways; $80,000 for the Swan's Island airport to recondition and grade the runway, replace culverts, add rip-rap and brush out approach end of one runway; $15,000 for the Vinalhaven airport to top coat runway and cut brush at approach ends of both runways; $10,000 for the North Haven airport to grade and smooth airstrips.