Daniel Consoni’s name was drawn from a hat Monday afternoon, making him the winner of an affordable housing lottery for a unit at 25 South Summer St. in Edgartown.
“I’ve always dreamed of living in downtown Edgartown,” 29-year-old Mr. Consoni told The Times. “Now it’s actually possible. It doesn’t feel real.”
Richard Leonard, president of the Island Housing Trust, thanked the two other contenders at Monday’s selectmen’s meeting. Victoria Cervone and Michael Lacek were also in the lottery for the unit. Mr. Lacek’s name was drawn second, making him first alternate if Mr. Consoni doesn’t close on the property, and Ms. Cervone’s name was drawn third, making her second alternate. Qualified individuals had to be making 140 percent of the median county income, and be Edgartown residents or workers. There was one other applicant, who was over the income limit, according to Terri Keech of the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority.
Mark Hess, chairman of the affordable housing authority, said he was pleased to have worked with the Island Housing Trust and the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority to make this property available.
“And if you weren’t chosen tonight,” Mr. Hess said, “there are a lot of people on this Island working to create affordable housing for people. Patience is everything. So is hard work.”
In other business, the Square Rigger restaurant requested to close from Jan. 1 to Feb. 13, a six-week period that extends beyond the five-week cap that selectmen usually allow for year-round restaurants to temporarily close.
“It’s a matter of keeping things fair,” Mr. Donaroma said. Selectmen agreed the Square Rigger could be closed from Jan. 1 to five weeks after that.
Selectmen accepted a donation for $8,000 from an anonymous donor to augment the salary of the garden coordinator at the school. Selectmen also accepted a $2,000 donation from Island Grown Initiative.
