T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation5.5.5.6 Environmental Justice and Children’s Health and Safety Risks Avoidance and MinimizationRefer to Section 5.4.9, Avoidance and Minimization, and Section 5.5.4.7, Social and Socioeconomic Impact Avoidanceand Minimization, for a discussion on avoidance and minimization measures taken that relate to environmentaljustice populations.5.5.6 Affordable Housing AnalysisThe housing affordability impact assessment, conducted at the request of the City of Warwick, includes direct andindirect impacts on affordable housing units (land acquisition) due to the No-Action Alternative and Alternatives B2and B4. This section presents a summary of this assessment. The complete affordable housing impact assessment isprovided in Appendix G.2, Affordable Housing Analysis.5.5.6.1 Affordable Housing Analysis MethodologyTo determine the effects of property acquisition related to airport expansion on the affordable housing stock,two approaches were used. First, properties were evaluated to see if they met the state definition of affordablehousing. Properties with rents or market values at or below the affordable level are referred to in this documentas “affordable” housing. Second, consideration was given to low-and moderate-income housing that issubsidized by a municipal, state, or federal source, and is managed by a public entity or non-profit organization.Properties in this category are referred to as “subsidized low- and moderate-income” housing rather than “lowor moderate income housing” for greater clarity. The only subsidized low- and moderate-income housing in theStudy Area consists of multi-family housing.The State definition of “affordable” housing types (per RI General Law 42-128-8.1 and 45-53-3) is as follows:• Affordable homeownership properties must be affordable to households earning 120 percent of AreaMedian Income (AMI). Rhode Island Housing provided a calculation of the affordable home price in theCity of Warwick for 2- and 3- bedroom homes in 2010. This amount is $221,501 for a 2-bedroom home and$247,019 for a 3-bedroom home.• Affordable rental properties must be affordable to households earning 80 percent of AMI. Rhode IslandHousing also provided a calculation of the 2010 affordable rents for the City of Warwick. These are$1,622 per month for a 2-bedroom apartment, and $1,802 per month for a 3-bedroom apartment.• The State’s definition of Low- and Moderate-Income Housing (per the Rhode Island General Law 45-53-3) isapplied to any discussions of affordable housing that is subsidized. This includes any housing built oroperated by any public agency or any nonprofit organization or by any limited equity housing cooperativeor any private developer that is subsidized by a federal, state, or municipal government subsidy under anyprogram to assist the construction or rehabilitation of housing affordable to low- or moderate-incomehouseholds. 356356 Rhode Island Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Act, RI General Law 45-53-3.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-115 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc