[Source: Philip Wright, Verde Independent] -- When the Jerome Town Council meets in regular session Tuesday night, it will take up the subject of affordable housing, a topic that's been around for years without action. The council also will hear an update by Duff Sorell of Phelps Dodge on the status of the company's court-ordered remediation. The council will take up other business during the meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Jerome Civic Center. Affordable housing has been on the wish list of every council in Jerome for years. Now the council has an opportunity to pursue restoration of the Hotel Jerome.
Al Palmieri, town clerk, said that Beverly Browning, who Palmieri describes as one of the most successful grant writers in the country, has offered to write a grant proposal to help the town acquire money to restore the historic hotel into affordable housing apartments. Browning came to Jerome several years ago, and again in September, to conduct grant-writing workshops. Palmieri said she fell in love with Jerome and wants to live there. She has proposed that instead of taking the usual 10 percent fee of the estimated $2 million in grants, the money be put toward an apartment for her. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]
