H O U S I N G P L A N  B U L L E T I N

The Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce and the City of Norwalk held a joint news conference on Tuesday, March 5, 2002 at Norwalk City Hall to present the findings of their Affordable Housing Task Force report. The issue of affordable housing is critically important to the fabric of the Norwalk community and closely tied to the region's economic growth. Patsy Brescia, Chair of the Financing Committee, spoke about the escalation in housing prices, indicating that the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,135/month and requires an hourly income of $26.62 to afford. The task force report highlighted seven priority recommendations including the need to increase public awareness of affordable housing resources through a regional housing conference and an internet website; the development of a financing guide and realtor education to assist homebuyers in locating resources needed to access housing; and the promotion of home ownership and affordable housing as a part of mixed use developments, particularly in Norwalk Center and Reed-Putnam. The conference was well attended by local government representatives and housing advocates. Mayor Alex Knopp thanked the task force for its work and said that additional affordable housing is vital to the economic success of the city. The Chamber and the City will use the report as a starting point for a renewed effort to address the growing need for affordable housing. For a copy of the report, call Alanna Kabel at the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency at 854-7810.

AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES PROPOSES NEW HOUSING IN NORWALK CENTER In January, AvalonBay Communities Inc. announced that it intends to develop 314 luxury apartments and 15,000 square feet of retail at Riverview Plaza along Belden Avenue in downtown Norwalk. The rental apartment development will consist of two new 4 story buildings with an underground parking garage and a new riverwalk along the Norwalk River.

The Wall Street-West Avenue corridor, often referred to as Norwalk Center, currently has a total of 987 units according to the 2000 census. The additional housing units would result in a 30% increase in housing; bringing new residents and 24 hour activity to the city center. Although the proposal does not presently include affordable units, AvalonBay is currently constructing 104 apartments in the Town of New Canaan. That project will add 21 moderate-income units to the town's inventory. For more information about the project, call Lee Feldman at (203) 854-6761 or visit AvalonBay's website at www.avalonbay.com.

REGION'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVENTORY AT 12,224 UNITS The 2000 Affordable Housing Appeals Procedure List indicates that the Stamford-Norwalk region has 12,224 units of affordable housing, with Stamford and Norwalk the only municipalities above 10%. The remaining municipalities have 5% or less of their stock in affordable housing with new units now under construction in New Canaan and Wilton. For more info on affordable housing, visit the State of CT Department of Economic & Community Development's website at www.decd.org.

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 Alanna Kabel of the Redevelopment Agency at 854 - 7810.

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 thirty-seventh issue produced since 1991.

The Regional Affordable Housing Outreach Committee, chaired by Carol Frank, responds to the regional nature of affordable housing needs. The 2000 affordable housing inventory prepared by the Dept of Economic & Community Development indicates that most of the 12,224 affordable units in the region, are located in Greenwich, Stamford and Norwalk, as indicated below:

The Redevelopment Agency announced the availability of an anticipated $1,828,620 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the upcoming year. CDBG funds may be used for a wide range of activities, particularly those which benefit low & moderate income persons. The Joint Committee has reviewed the applications received to date to recommend preliminary funding allocations. The Joint Committee's recommendations will be reviewed by the Redevelopment Agency at their meeting on Wednesday, March 20th. For more info, call Michele Mannella of the Redevelopment Agency at 854-7810.

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

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.

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