New public housing coming to Darien

Ground broke July 17 on a new public and affordable housing complex in Darien, expected to open in 2014.

The Heights will include 106 units, including 23 new townhomes and a community center. The project will be funded by Citi Community Capital, Darien Housing Authority, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and the Town of Darien.

“Every family needs a safe, decent, affordable place to call home, and this project will help make sure that home is available to more than 100 additional families here in Darien,” said U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) in a press release.

The complex will replace roughly 40 existing units at the former site of the 60-year-old Allen O”™Neill housing development that was built to accommodate veterans returning from WWII.

“This project marks another critically important step forward in keeping Connecticut diverse and vibrant as a community,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in a press release. “Connecticut thanks Darien ”“ as well as the developers and state agencies ”“ for their faith and fortitude in pursuing this promising project and overcoming many challenges. As a state senator I came to know well the residents of Allen-O’Neill homes, admiring them for the longstanding dedication and commitment to Darien, and I am delighted to see this tradition along with the physical structure renewed and reinvigorated.”