Chilmark may be poised to send out a request for proposals to construct an affordable housing complex off Pasture Road six years after the idea was first hatched. 

The Peaked Hill Pastures affordable housing development has been worked on by town committees going back to 2018, and on Tuesday town hall staff said they expected to finalize the request for proposals within the next month. 

The draft would have to be approved by the select board before being sent out to developers.

During the annual town meeting in 2022, voters approved the crafting of the RFP for housing project, expected to have nine rental units and four homesite units on six acres of land.

At the select board meeting Tuesday, town administrator Tim Carroll said a request for information was sent out in June to get more details to inform the RFP and Island Housing Trust was the lone respondent. 

There were some concerns about funding for the project. 

“It looks like we might be able to move forward with the RFP a little later than we were thinking, but still this fall,” Mr. Carroll said. “We’re working on putting a new draft together, but there’s still [about] a $5 million shortfall. Right now, we can identify $2 million that we can lay our hands on, so that leaves $3 million that’s not obtainable.” 

The $3 million could come from friendly financing and grants, he said, or potentially asking town meeting for more cash.

Select board member James Malkin was hesitant about that idea. 

“I think what we’ve always said, was [that] we want to go forward without the town putting any more money into this thing,” select board chair James Malkin said. “And if friendly financing does appear, that’d be great. And if it doesn’t, then the town is going to have to make a decision.”