VOLUME XI ISSUE II                                                                                                                                 JUNE 2004

2003 AFFORDABLE HOUSING APPEALS LIST RELEASED BY DECD

City of Norwalk drops to 10.81%; City of Stamford drops to 11.78%

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development published the 2003 Affordable Housing Appeals Procedure List in April 2004.  The City of Norwalk maintained its status as a "town exempt under Section 8-30g CGS", dropping significantly to 3,649 units (10.81%) from 4,129 units (12.06%); a net loss of 480 units.  Many of these units were Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) units, but the most significant loss was the more than 100 units maintained by VITAM.  VITAM sold their facilities located on West Rocks Road and France Street to Community Solutions, who no longer provide residency programs. The City of Stamford, the only other community in the southwestern region on the exempt list, showed a slight loss of affordable housing, declining from 5,612 units and 11.86% in 2002 to 5,575 units and 11.78% in 2003. For more information on the 2003 Affordable Housing Appeals List contact Rick Robbins, Community Development Administrator at the Department of Economic and Community Development at (860) 270-8166 or visit their website at www.ct.gov/ecd.

 

MAYOR KNOPP ANNOUNCES SoNo SOUTH PLANNING STUDY

Chan Krieger & Associates will lead planning initiative

On June 2nd, Mayor Knopp and Walter Briggs, Chairman of the Norwalk Planning Commission, announced the selection of Chan Krieger & Associates to lead a planning study of SoNo South. The study will assist the Planning Commission in its update of the 1991 Plan of Conservation & Development. A committee of eight residents and business leaders, including Councilman Carvin Hilliard, Planning Commissioner Jose Bermudez and resident Jean Hill, will assist the consultant in developing a plan for this area. The study area is located between the South Norwalk Railroad Station & Water Street, including the new Police Station under construction at Monroe & South Main Street. For more info, contact Alanna Kabel of the Mayor's Office at 854-7948.

 

FAIR ST HEARING SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 16TH

On June 16th, the Norwalk Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Human Services Council project for a 56 unit multifamily development located at 80 Fair Street. The application proposes to construct a mix of rental and ownership units designed to be affordable to families earning 80% or less of the area median income of $110,500. The affordable rental housing will be financed using Low Income Housing Tax Credits and will remain affordable for at least 30 years. For more info about this project, contact Liz Rosenbaum of Urban Initiatives at 359-1777 or Karen Schuessler of the Human Services Council at 849-1111.

 

N O R W A L K   H O U S I N G   P A R T N E R S H I P

P. O. BOX 5125  NORWALK, CT  06856-5125  (203) 854-7701

HOUSING PLAN BULLETIN JUNE 2004

 

HOUSING PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORTS

PLANNING & MONITORING

The Planning & Monitoring Committee, chaired by Larry Bentley, is responsible for the monitoring the objectives outlined in the Partnership's 1990 Housing Plan and the Redevelopment Agency's Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development.  Each quarter, the committee produces an Affordable Housing Update to monitor the status of affordable housing developments in Norwalk.  For a copy of the most recent Affordable Housing Update report, contact Tim Carney of the Redevelopment Agency at 854 - 7810.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT & PUBLIC RELATIONS

The Needs Assessment and Public Relations Committee, chaired by Patsy Brescia, evaluates municipal housing needs according to the latest available data.  The committee also produces the Housing Plan Bulletin that serves as the primary vehicle for disseminating information about Partnership activities. This issue represents the forty sixth issue produced since 1991.

REGIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING OUTREACH

The Regional Affordable Housing Outreach Committee, chaired by Carol Frank, responds to the regional nature of affordable housing needs.  A quick look at statistics from the 2000 Census indicates that the majority of multifamily & rental housing in the region, is located in Greenwich, Stamford and Norwalk, as indicated below:

 

2004-2005 ACTION PLAN FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PPROVED BY COUNCIL

The Norwalk Redevelopment Agency has announced the approval of the budget allocating $1.5 million in funding for Program Year 30 of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The block grant is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to finance housing and community development projects in America's cities. 

The Redevelopment Agency will held public hearings on the proposed allocation of funds for the 2004-2005 CDBG Action Plan and the final budget was approved by the Common Council in May 2004. Funding will be available beginning in July 2004. For more information about the Community Development Block Grant and its programs, contact the Redevelopment Agency at 854 - 7810.

HOUSING PARTNERSHIP MEMBERS & THEIR AFFILIATIONS

Edward Bowers, Fmr Partnership mbr, Chairman

Larry Bentley, Fleet Bank, Vice Chairman

Patsy Brescia, William Pitt Real Estate

Harry C. Carey, Human Services Council

Carol Frank, Norwalk Redevelopment Agency

Barbara Hudgins, Common Council*

Roberto Jimenez, Sunrise Management

Alex A. Knopp, Mayor, City of Norwalk

Beverly Krieger, Norwalk Housing Authority

Judith Rivas, Common Council*

Stephen Thomas, Norwalk Planning Commission

Nathaniel Yordon, Action Housing

* New council appointments pending as of November 2003.

The Housing Partnership holds quarterly meetings throughout the year.  The next scheduled meeting will be held on Thursday, September 9 at 5:30 pm. All meetings are open to the public.