JUDITH WALTER, CHFA MARKETING OFFICER, ADDRESSES PARTNERSHIP

Highlights CHFA home ownership programs available to residents and employees

On April 3rd, Judith Walter, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority's (CHFA) marketing officer, met with the Norwalk Housing Partnership to discuss CHFA home ownership programs. Information was disseminated regarding implementation of the newly adopted UR Home ordinance. The ordinance will allow employees of Norwalk companies to take advantage of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority's UR Home housing rehabilitation program in Norwalk. The program enables the City to encourage home ownership and housing rehabilitation in Norwalk's urban neighborhoods by providing a five year tax abatement on improvements to eligible properties. The Common Council adopted the ordinance on August 13, 2002. The ordinance will allow eligible employees of Norwalk companies and city employees to receive low cost mortgages and 0% interest rehab loans of up to $35,000 from the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority. Interested persons should contact the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority at www.chfa.org or by calling Judith Walter at (860) 571-4201. .

AVALON BAY DEVELOPMENT APPROVED BY ZONING COMMISSION

312 units of rental housing planned for Norwalk Center

On February 26th, AvalonBay Communities received approval of its proposal to add 312 units of housing and 1,500 square feet of retail to an existing office and retail complex at 24 Belden Avenue. The application was commended by the Zoning Commission as a terrific project that will bring needed activity to the Norwalk Center area. Although the application did not include affordable housing, AvalonBay has made a commitment to work with a not for profit housing developer to create affordable units at a nearby site. For more information about the developer, AvalonBay Communities, or to obtain a copy of their company brochure, contact AvalonBay's Wilton office at 761-6512.

 

Demographic Comparison of Norwalk Center with other Neighborhoods

Census Tract	Population	Housing Units	Median Gross Rent	Median Family Income
Norwalk Center	1,815	987	$821	$34,659
SoNo	3,410	1,437	$669	$29,840
East Norwalk	4,148	1,734	$872	$57,375
City of Norwalk	82,951	33,753	$875	$68,219

Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census, April 2000.

 

DECD PUBLISHES 2002 AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIST

Norwalk increases to 12.23%; Stamford drops to 11.86%

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development published the 2002 Affordable Housing Appeals list on March 21, 2003. The City of Norwalk maintained its status as a "town exempt under Section 8-30g CGS", rising slightly from 4,070 units (12.06%) to 4,129 units (12.23%); a net gain of 59 units. The City of Stamford, the only other community in the southwestern region on the exempt list, showed a net loss of affordable housing; declining from 6,265 units and 13.24% in 2000 to 5,612 units and 11.86% in 2002. For more information on the State's affordable housing appeals list, contact Mark Prisloe at (860) 270-8166 or visit their website at: www.ct.gov/ecd.

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 APRIL 2003

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 Michele Mannella 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 first 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:

Municipality	Total # of hsg units	# Rental Housing	Median gross rent	Multi-family housing	Multi family as % of all units
Darien	6,792	793	$1,281	390	5.7%
Greenwich	24,511	7,240	$1,322	7,535	30.7%
New Canaan	7,141	1,172	$1,379	1,202	16.8%
Norwalk	33,753	12,431	$875	15,007	44.4%
Stamford	47,317	19,860	$1,007	25,315	53.5%
Westport	10,065	1,383	$1,302	821	8.1%
Weston	3,532	225	$1,151	7	.01%
Wilton	6,113	572	$1,241	472	7.7%

 

WESTPORT ADOPTS NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING REGULATIONS

The Town of Westport recently approved new zoning regulations that will allow for the development of up to 39 additional units of affordable housing at Hales Court. The regulations were proposed by the Westport Housing Authority to permit the addition of multifamily dwellings along with 40 single family homes that currently exist on the property. The Town of Westport currently has 181 units or 1.8% of its housing stock in affordable housing. The addition of 39 units would bring the town up to 2.2% affordable. The units would be made available to families earning 80% of the state median income or roughly $56,000 per year. For more information regarding Hales Court, contact the Westport Housing Authority at 227-4672.

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

James White, Norwalk Zoning Commission

Nathaniel Yordon, Action Housing

The Housing Partnership holds quarterly meetings throughout the year. The next scheduled meeting will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2003 at 5:30 pm. All meetings are open to the public.

The Housing Plan Bulletin is a periodic publication of the Norwalk Housing Partnership. The Partnership was established in 1990 and its members include the Mayor, representatives from the business community, clergy, Norwalk Common Council, various city boards and commissions and housing professionals. The Partnership's goal is to promote the development of affordable housing in Norwalk.