HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND EXPANDS TO DANBURY

$1.5 MILLION LOAN FROM DECD TO HOUSING ALLIANCE

The Housing Development Fund, a statewide, multi-bank consortium, is opening a new office in Danbury, Connecticut. The Development Fund has provided thousands of dollars in support of affordable housing in Norwalk over the past decade. The fund assists private and not for profit housing developers in Fairfield County and has financed more than 75 units in Norwalk over the past two years. HDF has roughly $8 million worth of loans now available and can arrange a loan ranging from $100,000 to $2 million. Recently, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development released $1.5 million in loan funds to a consortium of Connecticut housing organizations, including the Housing Development Fund of Fairfield County, the Bridgeport Neighborhood Fund, the Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund, the Waterbury Housing Fund and the Connecticut Housing Investment Fund. The public funds provided by the State of Connecticut will leverage nearly $25 million in private funds to rehabilitate and construct new affordable housing throughout the state. HDF plans to use the funding to complete existing projects in Fairfield County. For more information, contact Joan Carty of HDF at (203) 969-1830.

"We need multi-faceted approaches," Carty said of solving the affordable housing crisis in the region and across the state. "We need to try everybody and do it in a blanket fashion. No one method is the answer."

WEBSTER STREET PLANNING PROCESS UNDERWAY

Recommendations for future development include new housing in South Norwalk

The Webster Street Development Committee will meet in January to discuss the future development of the Webster Street superblock, an area located adjacent to the intersection of North Main Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in South Norwalk. Currently a municipal parking lot, the City has hired SEA Consultants to review the area and present concepts for its future development. The second phase of the plan is currently available on the city's website. The consultants have recommended several modifications to the area, including creating a new street, developing up to 200 units of new housing over two public parking garages and establishing new public plazas to revitalize the district. The Webster Street Development Committee is comprised of members from the Planning Commission, the Redevelopment Agency, the Parking Authority along with representatives from the SoNo business community. For more information on the Webster Street plan; visit the city's website at www.norwalkct.org and click on "Meeting Agendas", then Webster Street Development Agenda.

 

Land use plan graphic produced by of SEA Consultants.

HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL SUBMITS PLANS FOR 56 UNITS ON FAIR STREET

The Human Services Council recently submitted plans to the Norwalk Zoning Commission for a new housing development located at 80 Fair Street. The project would replace the vacant MBI building located at Fair Street and New Canaan Avenue, with new development consisting of 56 units of affordable housing. The development proposes 40 affordable rental units in a 4 story building along New Canaan Avenue and 16 affordable ownership units in 3 smaller buildings. For more info on this project, contact Karen Schuessler of the HSC 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 DECEMBER 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 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 fourth 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. Each year the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development provides new median family income estimates for metropolitan areas throughout the country. These estimates are used in calculating affordability guidelines. The 2003 median income for Connecticut planning areas is shown below:

Metropolitan Statistical Area	2003 Median Family Income	30% of median*	Very Low ±50% median*	Low Income ±60% of median*
Bridgeport	$75,200	$22,550	$37,600	$45,120
Danbury	$95,700	$27,100	$45,200	$56,500
New Haven	$71,000	$21,300	$35,500	$56,500
Stamford-Norwalk	$110,500	$33,200	$55,350	$66,950
State of Connecticut	$75,400	$22,620	$37,700	$45,240

* Calculated for a family of four.

To obtain information on 2003 median incomes, visit HUD's website at wwww.hud.gov.

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FEATURED WEBSITE§

CT HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY

www.chfa.org

Each quarter, the Needs Assessment Committee selects a featured website that provides valuable information on affordable housing. This quarter, the Partnership encourages you to visit the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority's website at: www.chfa.org. CHFA is a state housing finance agency established to finance home ownership, affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization throughout the state. Their website features downloadable application forms for home loans; a mortgage calculator; and links to other non-profits and affordable housing programs. For more information about CHFA and its programs, call (860) 721-9501.

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 Common 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, March 4, 2004 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.