Asked in advance what hopes he might have for the Community Housing Coalition’s summit on affordable housing, a local political observer was heard to reply, “Oh, I’m sure it will do the usual fine job of identifying the problem.”

It was a less-than-enthusiastic forecast, but our resident skeptic proved only half right. The surprisingly free-wheeling affair drew a full house to City Hall – housing advocates, land use professionals, social services reps, politicos – and was highlighted by an inspirational keynote address by state Rep. Mark Miloscia, one of the state’s more articulate champions of the non-elite. The event did indeed lay out the dubious socio-economic changes to our community being driven by the high cost of housing, specifically the exclusion of young families, teachers, single-parent households, modest-wage earners, fixed-income retirees, and the unclassifiable “average” people who keep the place running. But it also advanced some solutions worth considering and perhaps even acting upon.

Among the ideas discussed were public financing to create housing opportunities for those of lesser means (perhaps even public employees, who today tend to be priced off the island), and creative zoning that would give developers some incentive to build multi-family rentals (instead of high-end condos) and smaller single-family homes. Such strategies will be advanced to the public policy arena in the coming months, housing advocates say.

They’re challenging notions, with a caveat: We’re not convinced most islanders actually care about affordability. Nobody wants to admit it, but there’s an element of this community that accepts exclusivity as an unmentionable byproduct of restrictive land use and low-density zoning, and a resistance to “change” in any form. If you’re here, you’ve already got yours; how others might get theirs, well, that’s what Suquamish and Poulsbo are for.

If that sounds unfairly jaded, consider the solutions suggested above. A zoning overlay for so-called “cottage housing” – wherein smaller, cheaper homes would be clustered around central open space – would require a density bonus to make them pencil out for a builder. And as soon as such a proposal comes forward, the neighbors would almost certainly turn out with the usual bromides – too much traffic, not enough water, too many trees cut down – and the proposal would go to the wayside. What they’ll get instead are few homes and bigger ones – more McMansions – all in the cause of conservation. And the island will be that much more exclusive.

The outlook in a densifying Winslow is equally dubious. The last apartment building to go up in town – the decidedly tasteful and attractive Camelia on Madison Avenue – was opposed by neighbors and built below allowable density. Land and opportunity for more rental units were squandered, precisely where they would do the most good.

As to widespread support for public financing for housing: we’ll believe it when the welcome mat is on the doorstep.

Saturday’s summit was excellent and informative, and the Community Housing Coalition and its supporters should be applauded for their work. But it didn’t prove there’s any real commitment to affordable housing on this island.

We’re great at identifying the problem. And so far, that’s about it.