About Block Island Housing Initiative
We are a group of people committed to making Block Island a wonderful place to live by opening the door to attainable housing.
The purpose of the Block Island Housing Initiative is to provide attainable housing for year-round residents and seasonal employees who are essential to Block Island’s quality of life. Our initial focus will be providing grants that help homeowners convert existing living space into 513: Residential Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Our future goals may include the purchase and renovation of existing housing, construction of new housing, as well as any other methods that prove effective to accomplish our mission.
The Block Island Housing Initiative hopes to address Block Island’s serious lack of attainable housing, which has been identified as one of the most critical issues facing our community. The attainable housing shortage directly affects the viability of Block Island to sustain a healthy economy, which is largely based on tourism, and means that many island residents — tradespeople, schoolteachers, police officers, town employees, service industry workers, and more — are unable to find adequate and affordable places to rent or own.
Board of Directors
Robin Lewis Vila, President
I came to Block Island in 1978 to work for the summer, and I found myself never wanting to leave. I eventually married and raised my two children, Krista and Clayton, here on this amazing island. I have worn many hats over the year including owning a small charter airline business and managing the Manisses Restaurant. Currently a partner and broker in the real estate sales business Ballard Hall Sales Group and a fitness instructor, I am also a member of the board of directors of Block Island Medical Center and the Block Island Housing Initiative. I am a lover of dogs and horses and have profound respect for the beauty and resilience of this place and our small-but-huge-hearted community. During my 40 plus years on Block Island I have experienced firsthand how difficult it is for core community members to secure year round housing and necessary seasonal workers to find safe sumner housing. I am hoping that, through BIHI, we can make a difference.
Jason Boyea, Vice President
My high school sweetheart, Karen, and I went to Block Island for a day trip during the summer of 1994. That day is etched in our memories and our hearts. If you are reading this, you likely have your own Block Island origin story. In a sentence, that fateful day led to countless other trips, a sunset proposal on the Great Salt Pond in 1999, adopting a feral island cat, trips with the kids and grandparents and now being fortunate to own a vacation home off of Corn Neck Road. For us, Block Island is equal parts natural beauty and “charm”. The beauty is self-evident and easy to describe. The charm is more difficult to describe –really more of a feeling – and emanates from a deep sense of community. I now appreciate this charm is almost entirely a result of the year round residents and their unwavering authenticity, respect for the island and incredible hard work. In a nutshell, BIHI is focused on protecting the charm. Professionally, I am a partner at the corporate law firm, Finn Dixon & Herling in Stamford, Connecticut. In the “offseason”, our family (Karen, Caroline, Alistair and our rescue dog, Benson), lives in Old Greenwich, Connecticut.
Wendy Crawford, Secretary
Block Island has been my home for over 35 years. I was eleven when I first saw Block Island, as I flew over to meet my parents who had moved our family here to become part of the administration at the Block Island School. I attended the school and lived here with my family for over 6 years. What I didn’t know that day I flew over the island was that I would meet my husband and raise my three children here. It has been a great adventure and a decision that is confirmed everyday I drive home with the ocean on my left looking at the the seals sunbathing on the rocks below.
Block Island becomes a part of everyone who lives and visits here and it continues to bless me with the life I live today. I live year-round on the island with my husband, Callum, and our three amazing girls. My girls attend the Block Island School and, as it turns out, their second grade teacher was my sixth grade teacher – I am sure my girls love this! I am a graduate from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
I became a Real Estate agent on the island in 1999 and have successfully worked in sales and rentals ever since. I have worked in customer service for as long as I can remember, I enjoy working in a seasonal industry, and I love what I do!
Susan Bush, Treasurer
Susan Bush has lived on Block Island since 2005. She manages Island Bound Bookstore and is also co-owner of Albany Records, a classical music record label. A graduate of The Juilliard School and the State University at Stony Brook, she was a Peace Corps Volunteer performing in the Tehran Philharmonic. Bush has worked as manager of the Albany Symphony Orchestra and for the League of American Orchestras. She was president of the volunteer association of the Albany Symphony and served as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts. On Block Island, Bush serves on the Zoning Board, is a board member of the Block Island Residents Association and works as a volunteer for the Block Island Medical Center’s fundraisers.
David Howe, Trustee
Jamie Johnston, Consultant
