The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation hosts this civic event to explore the topic of housing, its relevance to the City of Gloucester and Cape Ann, and the challenges and opportunities it presents for the future. Through a program of speakers, panels, and audience interaction, presenters will address the question of how Gloucester’s lack of reasonably-priced housing is holding the city back. Discussions will explore how creative, green, and maritime economies might offer solutions.

PROGRAM

SEGMENT I  2:00 – 2:50

GREETING: Charles Nazarian, President, Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation

OVERVIEW: Sandy Ronan, VP/Events, Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation

PANEL DISCUSSION, Sandy Ronan-Moderator:

Subject: “How is the lack of housing holding Gloucester back?”

Shawn Henry -Gloucester Planning Board

Robert J.Gillis, Jr. – President, Cape Ann Savings Bank

Ken Riehl – CEO, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

David Houlden – Gloucester Housing Authority

SPEAKER:

Peggy Hegarty-Steck – President and Executive Director, Action, Inc.

Subject: Cameron’s project – zoning/funding challenges

BREAK: 10 minutes

SEGMENT II  3:00 – 3:50

RESIDENT STORIES, Kathleen Williams-Moderator:

Clare Higgins – SeARTS

RuthPino – Realtor

David Calvo –Woodcarver/sculptor

Angela Sanfilippo– Executive Director, Gloucester Fisherman’s Wives Association

Rob Newton -Cape Ann Community Cinema Stage

Katie O’Leary – Wellspring, Homeless Prevention Case Manager 

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:

Andrew DeFranza -Harborlight Community Partners

BREAK: 10 minutes

SEGMENT III  4:00-5:00

SPEAKERS:

Carl Gustin -Economic Development and Industrial Corporation

Tom Balf – Founder and Principal, OceanVest, Merging the Maritime, Green, and Creative Economies

PANEL, (addressing written questions from the audience) Jeremy Melvin-Moderator:

Jen Holmgren – City Councilor

David Houlden –Gloucester Housing Authority

Andrew DeFranza – Harborlight Community Partners

Robert J. Gillis – President, Cape Ann Savings Bank

Kirk Noyes – Gloucester Development Team

CLOSING  5:00

SUMMATION: Mayor Sefatia Romeo-Theken

The three-hour program is free and open to the public. People are encouraged to attend as much of the program as they like. Ten-minute breaks with refreshments between segments will allow audience members to interact with presenters and engage in informal conversations with each other.

The Gloucester Meetinghouse, home of the Unitarian Universalist Church, is located at the corner of Church and Middle Streets. The accessible side entrance is at 10 Church Street. Event parking is available on the green and at additional parking lots nearby in the Historic District. For more information on this program and for the full 2019-20 event schedule, please visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.