A gift to Southport United Methodist Church may result in affordable community housing for the island. In 2023, Marge and Eliot Winslow gifted over 20 acres to the church with an intent of providing community outreach, according to the church's board of directors. The church debated among its members about possible outreach options. A consensus was reached to divide the property into eight to 10 tracts suitable for affordable housing.  

On June 4, Southport United Methodist Church trustees took another step in converting the gift into an affordable housing project.

The trustees want to convert 10 of the 11 subdivision parcels into home lots. June 4, the trustees submitted their application to the Southport Planning Board for review. 

After an hour-plus review, the board tabled the application. "The application was incomplete, lacking several key pieces of information and research, so the consideration was postponed to next month’s regular meeting,” said Planning Board Chairman Skip Simonds.

The planning board meets next at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 1 in the town hall.