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NORWALK, Conn. – Preliminary plans for a major South Norwalk revitalization were scrutinized Tuesday night by the Norwalk Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners.
Phase 1 of the development, which would replace the aging Washington Village, would consist primarily of public and affordable housing, in part to allow the current occupants to move in, said Tim Sheehan of the Norwalk Redevelopment Authority. It is planned for a vacant lot on Day Street.
Commissioners must move fast on the proposal for Phase 1 to make an Oct. 1 deadline to apply for tax credits, which would partially fund the development, Sheehan said.
The starting point presented by representatives of Icon Architecture is a mix of three- to five-story buildings. The goal was to replace the 136 housing units that date to the 1940s, and the proposal includes 140 units, with 40 percent of them public housing. The development would include three-bedroom town homes facing the street, giving private entrances to families. Parking would be on the ground level, allowing the homes to be above the 100-year floodplain.
Phase 1 features 51 housing units, with 26 one-bedroom apartments, 20 two-bedroom apartments and five three-bedroom townhouses that feature outdoor stoops and front yards. A main lobby cuts through the middle, and a laundry is planned for each floor.
At 700 to 750 square feet, the one-bedroom apartments will be twice the size of those in the complex now. Two-bedroom apartments will feature 900 to 950 square feet, up from 620 to 700 square feet. The three-bedroom apartments are planned for 1,100 to 1,150 square feet, an increase from the 860 square feet in the current three-bedroom apartments.
Amenities include an eat-in kitchen as well as a dining area, with the refrigerator tucked behind a wall so it isn't visible from the living room.
Only 26.6 percent of Washington Village's current residents are committed to staying there, according to a survey published on the NHA website. A total of 44.5 percent say they need more information. Most – 75.8 percent – want better security in the complex, and they'll get it if they stay: A security system will feature cameras at the door so occupants can see who's coming to visit before unlocking it from their apartments.
They also want parking, and 41 parking spaces are planned for under the building and 48 for behind the building.
Commissioner Cesar Ramirez and others said they were worried about flooding below the building and wondered whether it could be raised.
That isn't likely, according to Steven Heikin of Icon Architecture. "You're not allowed to just build the site up to the flood level because what that means is pushing the water somewhere else," he said. "There's a solution to it; it may not be what the folks on this board would like to see happen."
The soonest construction would begin would be fall 2013, he said. Trinity Financial is a partner in the project.
Comments (22)
Projects NEVER work. Clustering the poor all together in one area has NEVER worked. Can anyone point to a successful low income housing project that isn't a festering sore?
I hasn't worked here, hasn't worked in NYC, hasn't worked in other countries around the world. People adjust to what their societal norm is. If living in a housing project is normal to you, trust me you will never move up.
I"m not a fan of govt housing and definitely not a fan of projects. The city could lease the land to a developer and use that to fund a section 8 type of fund.
Low income people would be living in private housing with people who are probably higher up on the economic ladder. Every day they would see their neighbor go to work, drive a car, they would know that they could do better.
Sue - The problem is that all these programs still cost more then the money the fed and state give, and with the ongoing budget problems it will be getting worse not better.
must move fast
Fire police DPW Schools and Mayor seems to work this way and has only created oversights,mistakes and chaos
sounds like a plan for Norwalk
Norwalk will truly now have its first high rise failure by city hands to match Avalon.
Safety quality of life etc
Police dept gets the one way just in time ,this will create more chaos on Water st taking away a street to drive around,lets see the end of Woodward argue this and support the Mayor.
Has any even considered when the water rises on Water street coming from Sono where will the cars go when the one way starts on Haviland?
IDIOTS run Norwalk no common sense at all
good luck those gangs will prey on those who have avoided South main st and Woodward for years.
But the police dept gets the one way,the wrong way
Have we heard whats going in on the other side of water st?Of course not it in the bag leaving the inn.
We should be looking to lower the number of public & low income houseing units if crime reduction is a serious desire of the city.
So basically the Washington Village end of water street will be either blocked off completely or a total nightmare for a couple years. nice.
Interesting concept of public housing & low income housing in the same building. What's the actual rent difference? Does anyone think that one family will be happy paying a high rent while sitting next door to another family on public housing, paying next to nothing? I don't think that's really fair either, and I'm sure people are not going to be doing it once they realize their neighbor is getting the same apartment for 1/4 of the price! It's actually insulting.
At first, my reaction to reading this article was to wonder why City government needs to be in the business of providing and maintaining housing for low-income residents. Then I looked in the City of Norwalk's budget online and maybe I missed something but I don't see any City money going to the Norwalk Housing Authority. That being the case, does anybody know how the Norwalk Housing Authority came to exist in the first place, and where all the funding comes from? Who actually owns the public housing units that the Norwalk Housing Authority oversees? Who appoints the board members and executive director?
The survey of residents of Washington Village, linked in the article, is very interesting.
Thank you lwitherspoon
you have struck an issue no one has even suggested
Who actually owns the public housing units that the Norwalk Housing Authority oversees? Who appoints the board members and executive director?
Ask about those buildings on Washinton st Ernie works on that the city maintains yet do not own.Earnie works for the city but takes care of private buildings that rent to the city,also is seen with city vehicles working on other residents close to NEON makes sense to look into who owns and gets city service,
I wouldn/t mine having the city come to my house and do maintenance must be a deal/
keep digging people the answser is astounding
Tim Sheehan has plenty of things to share with us.
Treefrog probably wants their first child too..so I won't go there. I will say that my experience with the transition from Southfield Village to Southwood Square was extremely disappointing. The costs were enormous, 2 to 3x the costs of the waterfront Avalon development including remediation of the Avalon properly (fuel tanks). The net result was even more disappointing. Southwood Square is less crime infested than Southfield Village but crime is still rampant and the place is perceived as public housing. It would be far better to use the valuable land along Water street for a private developer, get the increased tax $ and if they want a new set of public housing move it to another part of the City.
Not sure why you would think I would want their first child? But...we are already taking care of it anyways...
But you missed the point...
All that is being suggested is that people must get off the taxpayers money.
All that is being suggested is to become productive members of society, stand on your own two feet, be responsible for yourself, your children, and your surroundings.
Or else, lose your rights and freedoms.
It seems okay when Big Brother steps in and takes over parts of our lives/responsibilities by making it EVERYONES responsibilities so alot of people GET A FREE RIDE at taxpayers expenses
(cough cough OBAMACARE cough cough)
But god forbid and have Big Brother steps in and try to make people responsible for their OWN lives, bills, housing, food, INSURANCE and people are up in arms shouting about civil liberties....
Sorry, you can't have it both ways (but then again, a Socialist is in office so I guess you can - I can't because I'm just one of the millions funding it for you).
In light of the current violence in SoNo, I think tree frog may be on to something, especially mandatory drug testing. The violence seems to be worse since the Police Dept. Building was moved to South Main St.
"The violence seems to be worse since the Police Dept. Building was moved to South Main St." This goes to what I have been saying all along the NPD is a complete and total failure. Because of the NPD's failure to solved these violent crimes people feel comfortable committing crime in Norwalk as they know they will not be caught. This out of control crime epidemic is not only in South Norwalk it is all over town as we have had shooting in most area of Norwalk.I dont see how anyone could disagrees with this facts unless they are blind or have a hidden agenda
In order to start or continue living off Uncle Sam’s dime as well as the hardworking people of Norwalk , everyone and anyone who lives in ANY public housing must be contractually bound to the following & failure to do so will be IMMEDIATE grounds for eviction:
•Random drug testing;
•Random housing/person searches for illegal drugs, guns, stolen goods, fugitives or illegal aliens;
•Must be a documented resident of the US and be able to prove proof BEFORE moving in;
•Allowing NO fugitives from the law or illegal aliens on the premise;
•In the case of fugitives from the law, residents must alert the police REGARDLESS if person is a family member;
•Violation of the law outside the projects by any registered member will result in eviction;
•Mandatory participation in neighborhood watches working with the NPD and taking classes/input that they may provide. Documentation of activities by the groups to be provided to the Housing Authority security or NPD as requested;
•Mandatory participation in monthly cleanup and beautification of the entire property;
•Personal responsibility for maintenance of your housing structure and yard; garbage will not be able to pile up and attract rodents/insects, junk to clutter and create an eyesore; broken window must be repaired (ect) ;
•Personal responsibility to keep walkways shoveled when it snows or salted when it is icy;
•Mandatory participation community service projects such as cleaning up the beaches, river sheds, parks or empty lots;
•Mandatory 11pm curfew for persons under the age of 21yrs;
•Mandatory proof of job searches;
•Mandatory weekly study sessions for students to be run by the parents;
•Mandatory requirement of a 2.5 G.P.A or better at the end of each school year for students in the 6th grade or higher. Failure to attain 2.5 GPA will mandate students to attend summer school during the summer. Tuition costs will be the student’s responsibility. They were given the opportunity to excel with a free education already;
•Children graduating high school must have a life outline – enrolled in college or a trade school or enlisted in the Armed Forces. Working at BK is not a life outline.
•Young adults over the age of 21 years of age must be employed full-time, enrolled in classes, enlisted in the A/F or volunteering full time. They will be also required to leave by age 25 or else apply for their own housing;
•LIMIT OCCUPENCY TIME
This is for each person living in public housing – moms, dads, sons, daughters, etc... If you allow junior to run with the gang, he is jeopardizing his ENTIRE family – OUT EVERYONE GOES!
REMEMBER!!
IF YOU DON’T LIKE THESE RULES AND ANY OTHERS THAT MIGHT GET ADDED TO BENEFIT YOUR WELL BEING AND TO PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS INVESTMENTS – THEN BY ALL MEANS – YOU ARE FREE TO LEAVE AND SUPPORT YOURSELF.
BUT RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE ENTITIES LIVING OFF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE AND ARE LIMITED TO RIGHTS & FREEDOMS.
love the list too bad most of the points you mention don't aply to workers who work for LAZ and other city agencies,of course not all of them but your first seven would be a start.
Amen!
Here are some issues with what you suggest:
-Why spend money random drug testing someone that's never been arrested? And if they have been in trouble than they're already getting drug tests by the probabtion officer.
-Random house searches are unconstitutional if there is no suspicion of illegal activity
-The fugitive and previous convicts rules are already in place for residents. But if the person is not on the lease there's nothing the Housing can do...
-As for the education pieces, if you mandate it, you have to supply the supports: a decent school system, tutors, and funds for college...In which case things get a lot more expensive...
By pushing the bad people out of the housing without a solution gives you Woodward Ave. A group of young people who can't hang out in housing and whom you can't prevent from hanging out on the street...and/or an overcrowded shelter. Or an overcrowded prison and an inflated crime rate.
We have laws about loitering, though enforcing them without being called racist or acused of racial profiling is tough. And We dont need a homeless shelter as we have now. Its a home to alot of people. While its unconstitutional to randomely search someones home, theres nothing requireing us to give anyone a home just because they cannot afford it here. Also we could recognize them as "guests" of the city with no home type privacy rights. But its better to just not have inviting circumstances from the beginning. We wouldnt need grants if we didnt need to figure out how to pay for houseing people who cant afford it here.
Ken
We HAD laws about loitering. They were ruled unconstitutional and repealed a long time ago. There are laws about loitering for specific criminal puposes, like prostitution, but it is necessary to prove the purpose, or intent, to make a case, so they are seldom used. If you can prove prostitution, that is the charge used.
In short, it is not against the law to hang out on the street and it is a whole lot more comfortable, in hot weather, than being inside some tiny apartments. Selling drugs and carrying guns is illegal and we need aggresive enforcement for those crimes. If we can curtail those crimes, the young people hanging out on street corners will not be a problem.
Jane D:
In response to your points:
1) "Why spend money random drug testing someone that's never been arrested? And if they have been in trouble than they're already getting drug tests by the probabtion officer."
A) By the fact that people in public housing are entities of the state living off what people earn, really means that it SHOULD BE UNPLEASENT so they get out and off of government handouts. This isn't meant to be pleasant, it is meant to be what it really should be - embarassing to live off the public for so long. You should give up freedoms when you take from others. And if they aren't doing drugs - no worry.
Also, really, "already getting testing" by the P/O? Um, yeah...
2) "Random house searches are unconstitutional if there is no suspicion of illegal activity"
A) Same reasoning - loss of rights when you decide that you can no longer take care of yourself and you live off taxpayers money. We also have to ensure the safety of others.
3) "The fugitive and previous convicts rules are already in place for residents. But if the person is not on the lease there's nothing the Housing can do..."
A) Then lets change your answer - that is entirely my point. Keep them out. Keep residents accountable for the company they keep. That is why there should be RANDOM SEARCHES... to catch the dregs of society.
4) As for the education pieces, if you mandate it, you have to supply the supports: a decent school system, tutors, and funds for college...In which case things get a lot more expensive...
A) We have most of these things under neon and the hsa, and all the minority scholarships/programs/grants and taxes from us... Just rearrange funds/programs and MOST IMPORTANTLY - MANDAROTY PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT that can alleviate the burden of over hiring/overpaying. You can't tell me that the bajillion programs going on in SoNo if they weren't realigned - these ideas would EASILY be managable. Plus you can pay for college by joining the reserves - again give back to the government for their support to you.
5) "By pushing the bad people out of the housing without a solution gives you Woodward Ave. A group of young people who can't hang out in housing and whom you can't prevent from hanging out on the street...and/or an overcrowded shelter. Or an overcrowded prison and an inflated crime rate."
A) Okay, so your suggestion is for the taxpayers to continue to support them AND all the while they (at least) break some non-violent laws and (at worst) commit murder.
But I did suggest solutions (reread) and then if these morons still don't want to be respected and contributing people of society that the suggestions above would give them the opportunity to become then what can I say? They are just absolute fricken IDIOTS they and deserve the consequences that come their way. But I have some more suggestions for your "concerns":
Bring the death penalty back and ENFORCE IT for murders and pedophiles (if they haven't got payback from the streets by then). That will help with an overcrowded system.
Then, if the prisons are really still crowded - boot camp -- then send them to the front lines of whatever war we may be engaged in at the time. Let them be the first to go into unknown terrritory. If no war, then why not put them to hard labor that no one else wants.
Oh and YES we CAN prevent the youths from hanging out in the streets or at the shelter - that was just a ridiculous response. It is called loittering and parenting....And if parents don't care about their kids - send them off to boot camp for mandatory military service. If that is too harsh - then boot camp/community service here - Some parts need alot of trash picking up - in the hot sun - may do them good.
Maybe there will be a decrease in crime if they are put to hard labor or sent to the military (but then again, the drug dealer in the hospital was a marine - so I guess there aren't any guarantees in any of this...
Its all a crap shot - and sorry to say - if they don't care about their future, then who care about it being a crap shot.
This will be a complete waste of money unless the NPD learns how to control crime .
Knock it Down and 3 other housing complex in Norwalk also relocated them to Texas or Alaska Housing Authority. Norwalk Crime will go down eventually
I find it interesting when people make these type of comments...If Norwalk could afford not to have housing, they wouldn't. We just recently had to go up to Hartford to beg for more education funding...If you start knocking down housing there's no way your getting more and in fact your going to get less...How much property taxes do you think you will get from a development across from the junk yard or next to the shelter or across from the train tracks and other hazardous wastes? Not much...There's a lot of federal funding that comes into Norwalk on the grounds that we have a significant low-income population and there are a lot of benefactors besides people in housing that will miss those funds. Well people in housing won't miss out because those dollars follow them. It will be Norwalk residents employed at non-profits and providing other social services that will lose out...
great post,junk yards and hazardous waste sites here in Norwalk are the same
There has been so many types of chemicals found in village creek area including asbestos maybe from car brake pads the area has been and will be closed for years,
Recently the EPA has noted how many HUD units are feet from a junk yard and now is actively involved in defending the health of those who live here,Why hasn't Norwalk board of health said anything?
No one has probably told them,thay are too busy selling the idea all is well on Meadow Street.
Spraying today at city carting it smells great and this couldn't of been done earlier?
Don't worry about value of land in South Norwalk as time passes it can only go down so developers can buy some more,this seems like it was the plan shortly after Moccia took office.