Renovations are underway at the historic Kingston Rectory on Main Street in Mathews, and a second round of fundraising has begun to fund the structure’s conversion into two apartments for workforce housing.
In support of this Kingston Housing Initiative project, six individuals—Martha McCartney, Hunt Thompson, Josie Thorpe, Elsa Verbyla, Lynne White and Alexander Wilson—are offering to match $50,000 in new contributions from community donors.
The Kingston Rectory project addresses an acute shortage of available housing in Mathews for teachers, first responders, nurses, government employees and others, said a press release. Sheriff April Edwards has said that “lack of housing prevents many qualified applicants and young families from moving here,” while Lesley Hunley, assistant superintendent of Mathews schools, said that “the lack of available housing in Mathews has resulted in us losing valuable candidates.”
KHI committee member Stan Grice said that $181,000 has been raised of the $360,000 needed for the rectory project. The roof will be replaced soon, a storage lean-to is slated to be demolished, and build-out will begin in the near future, he said. Architectural services are being provided by Mathews residents Tim and Frances Hudgins.
There are currently no other workforce housing projects in Mathews, said the press release. This project saves a building of historical importance from demolition and is the first project in Mathews to convert a neglected property into attractive and affordable housing, the release stated.
“The Kingston Housing Initiative believes this can be a model for repurposing other buildings in Mathews to provide housing for working families,” said the release.
The housing shortage in Mathews can be traced to the Covid pandemic, said Grice, when many homes in the county were purchased by people from other areas and turned into short-term rentals. This reduced the number of homes available for long-term rental and increased the rental rates, he said. A concerted effort is needed to make affordable housing available, he said, including Kingston’s initiative to possibly purchase other properties in disrepair and convert them into workforce housing, and perhaps having the county sell some of its property for that same purpose.
The Kingston Housing Initiative is a 501(c)(3) organization, and it has established a fund with the Mathews Community Foundation that supports both the preservation of historic buildings and projects that address workforce housing needs in Mathews. Donations to the fund are tax deductible. Various state agencies and private foundations that provide grants that align with the project are being targeted to increase the fund, as well.
The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia endorses efforts to find community-enhancing solutions for the church’s unused property, said the release, and the board of Bay Aging, an agency with extensive experience managing workforce housing properties, has agreed to provide management services once renovations are completed.
The public can help by sending a donation by check, payable to Kingston Housing Initiative Fund, to Mathews Community Foundation, P.O. Box 49044, Baltimore, Md. 21297-9044.
To donate online, visit tcfrichmond.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=8887. To contribute by wire or electronic transfer, contact Jonathan Putt at 804-436-1600.
Direct transfer from another Mathews Community Foundation Fund is also possible. For more information, visit kingstonhousinginitiative.com or contact Bill Stearns at 804-840-4318 or bstearns4646@gmail.com.