To the editor:

In 2015, San Francisco developers made a “water grab” for one of the finest venues for children, youth, and adult recreational sailing and educational programs on the west coast. If approved, a 400-slip luxury marina for mega-yachts would have closed off two-thirds of this 80-acre San Francisco Bay treasure to public access.

When asked to compromise on the size of this luxury project for the rich, the developer’s reply was a quick “No,” because a smaller marina “did not pencil out.” After widespread public outcry, support from national sailing and conservancy groups, and concerns from public schools, it was clear the city would not approve their proposal. The developer realized it was compromise or cancel and put forward a smaller-footprint marina that was approved.

Brady Sullivan Properties is using the same undocumented argument to win the Bristol Yarn Mill project. When asked to support Bristol’s affordable housing goals they pushed back saying they cannot build any less than 127 full-rate units because “it would not pencil out”. Have they shared pro-forma financials with our town supporting this claim? Or are such details restricted to investors who will benefit from 10 years of tax concessions coupled with the 45 percent redevelopment credit returned to them by our state?

I’m disappointed but not surprised the developers, being the only game invited to town for this gem-of-an-east-coast development, favored their investors over Bristol’s affordable housing needs.

Our town zoning code is clear: build affordable units or donate land. Their payment of $640,000 in lieu of building TWENTY affordable units will do little to help make progress toward Bristol’s affordable housing goals.

I’m hopeful our town officers, appointed boards, and elected Town Council will thoughtfully review the many waivers they have already granted to this developer and follow the town zoning code in support of Affordable Housing.

Please don’t “pencil out” affordable housing. Require these 20 units of affordable housing in any project approved for the Bristol Yarn Mill project.

Homes for people who work here.

Dave Guinther
923 Hope St.