Given its status as a world-class resort community, the Town of Southampton faced sweeping changes in population during the summer months. Its year-round population of 65,000 soars to as high as 250,000 on peak weekends due to the influx of seasonal housing residents, visitors, and tourists. While median home prices in the Town for 2018 exceeded $1 million, the median household income of the Town fell behind at $78,864, indicating a need for additional opportunities for affordable and workforce housing.
Working closely with the Town’s Housing Director, local agencies, and key stakeholders, VHB developed a comprehensive scope to meet the distinctive needs of Southampton. The team identified housing constraints and needs within each of the Southampton’s 15 unincorporated hamlets and reviewed and summarized all housing related policy and planning documents. Additionally, relevant data sources were utilized to establish context and information was compiled on historic and current demographic and socioeconomic trends. VHB worked with the Town to identify key stakeholders and developed a comprehensive community engagement and outreach plan. Working collaboratively with the Town and its residents, VHB established a clear vision for housing and developed a focused implementation strategy to achieve the identified goals of the community.
