Village Administrator Julie Schmelzer knows a lot of work needs to be done before you can even think about moving to a new affordable home in Sister Bay. The Village of Sister Bay Housing Committee is asking residents for feedback on a Pathways to Removing Obstacles Housing Grant offered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The proposed $4,869,000 grant would fund infrastructure improvements like sewer, water, and electrical for properties ripe for development, like the former Wiltse property, a 56-acre lot purchased by the village in 2021. Schmelzer says the village has put some money aside in their capital budget to address affordable housing, but it is not nearly enough to dent the community's needs.

According to Sister Bay's housing study completed earlier this year, the village needs approximately 200 ownership homes, 54 rental homes, and 80 apartments to address the projected housing needs in the area by 2043. You can provide your own comment on the grant application by clicking this link.