WALL STREET PLAN ENCOURAGES AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Planning Commission to hold hearings on September 9th & 16th

The Norwalk Redevelopment Agency has referred the draft plan entitled "Wall Street Area Planning Update" to the Norwalk Planning Commission for its review. The draft plan recommends modifications to the Norwalk Center area, including increasing housing densities from 54 units to 60 units per acre, expanding the Central Business Design District to include several industrially-zoned properties, and revising existing bonus provisions to encourage affordable housing. The Planning Commission has scheduled two public hearings to receive comments on the draft plan for Tuesday September 9th at 8:00 pm in the Community Room and Tuesday September 16th at 7:30 pm in the Council Chambers. If adopted, the plan will amend the Norwalk Plan of Conservation & Development and will mark the second in a series of plan amendments to update the existing Plan adopted in 1991. For more information on the Wall Street plan; visit the city's website at www.norwalkct.org and click on "Quick Links", then Wall Street Development.

CONNECTICUT METROPATTERNS STUDY RELEASED BY ARCHDIOCESE

Study highlights urban-suburban disparities and low minority home ownership

The Archdiocese of Hartford released its study entitled Connecticut Metropatterns earlier this year. The study analyzes communities throughout the state noting that signs of distress are evident in many urban communities in Connecticut. The study includes a variety of maps depicting community indicators and recommends a tax-base-sharing program to better distribute wealth among all of Connecticut's municipalities. Norwalk is recognized for having the greatest percentage of affordable housing in Fairfield County, second only to Danbury and Bridgeport in the county as a whole. For more information about this study, contact the Archdiocese of Hartford Office of Urban Affairs at (203) 777-7279 or on the web at: www.oua-adh.org.

Source: CT Metropatterns, Metropolitan Area Research Corporation March 2003

DECD PROVIDES $1.5 MILLION LOAN TO HOUSING ALLIANCE

Connecticut CDFI Alliance will use funds for affordable housing

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 Lower Fairfield County. The other groups invloved are the Bridgeport Neighborhood Fund, the Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund, the Waterbury Housing Fund and the Connecticut Housing Investment Fund. The public funds 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. For more info, contact Joan Carty of HDF at (203) 969-1830 or visit the DECD 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 SEPTEMBER 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 third 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:

* Calculated for a family of four.

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

 

FEATURED WEBSITE§

CT. HOUSING INVESTMENT FUND

www.chif.org

Each quarter, the Needs Assessment Committee will select a featured website that provides valuable information on affordable housing. This quarter, the Partnership encourages you to visit the Connecticut Housing Investment Fund's website at: www.chif.org. CHIF is a statewide, nonprofit organization established to finance affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization throughout the state. Their website features downloadable application forms for home loans; WRAP, a weatherization program funded by Northeast Utilities; and a Resource Room with links to other non-profits and affordable housing programs. For more information about CHIF and its programs, call toll free (800) 992-3665.

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

The Housing Partnership holds quarterly meetings throughout the year. The next scheduled meeting will be held on Thursday, December 4, 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.