This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

An Urgency to Act

Chester has shortchanged senior citizens for years, failing to provide genuinely affordable, income-limited housing for seniors like other towns, including Deep River and Essex.

I was reminded of this last week when I saw a story published about the Town of Barkhamsted, population 3,600, breaking ground on an income-limited, affordable apartment complex using a $1.6 million federal grant. That town’s former first selectman, who helped spearhead the project, said it’s targeted at senior citizens, who often are “house poor” and can neither care for nor afford a big house.

That’s true in Chester, where I’ve watched neighbors let houses go to a bank or for taxes, often while waiting for senior housing to become available in other towns. Chester has none. The waiting list at Kirtland Commons in Deep River was seven years at one time; recently, it dropped to about three years. That’s still too long to wait when in housing trouble.

Chester had a unique—but time-limited—opportunity to resolve this problem.

In a letter I sent to the Chester Board of Selectmen (BOS) on Feb. 23, 2024, I urged the BOS to form a housing authority authorized by state law and to begin purchasing the former Chesterfield’s nursing home, which was for sale. Chesterfield’s was a rare opportunity, having both sewer and water hookups, potential for natural gas, walking distance to downtown and churches, and other unique qualities.

The selectmen did nothing to my knowledge, not even an acknowledgement of my letter. Chesterfield’s has since been sold to a developer. My letter to the BOS noted there was an urgency to act for what could have been 50 to 75 units of housing for senior citizens.

The need for housing for seniors is growing. It's past time Chester selectmen woke up and acted effectively.

Joe Cohen

Chester