Norwalk to receive $1.8 million for Oak Grove housing development

Gov. Ned Lamont gathered with housing officials and elected officials including Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling in the education center for Norwalk’s Colonial Village public housing development on the morning of April 17 to announce a $1.8 million grant for the construction of 69 new housing units and a new early education center.

Fifty childcare slots are also to be funded at the education center in the new construction, to be called Oak Grove Apartments and Learning Center. Bob Hotaling, the deputy commissioner and chief investment officer of the Department of Economic and Community Development, explained that the grant was part of the Community Investment Fund (CIF).

“It includes $175 million each year for five years to uplift towns and cities by providing inclusive growth and opportunity by focusing on unique and target investments,”Hotaling said of the CIF. “It’s a powerful tool.”

David McCarthy, president of Heritage Housing ”“ which will oversee the development ”“ was eager to share the details of the Oak Grove project.

“This is exciting for me both because the development itself will be great and a nice addition to Norwalk, but I’m also a lifelong Norwalker and I grew up a mile from this location,”McCarthy said, noting that wage levels for residency can range from 30% to 80% of the area median income. “Tenants coming in could earn from anywhere as low as nothing, if they’re out of work temporarily, or up to $134,000 for a family of four.”

The project will include 18 one-bedroom apartments, 24 two-bedroom units and 27 three-bedroom units spread across 18 buildings in keeping with the current format of the adjacent Colonial Village. The expanded education center will have two classrooms, a playground and a meal prep area plus additional flexible space.

The total cost of the project is expected to be $36 million and will be financed by tax-exempt bonds, low-income housing tax credits, a loan from the Connecticut Department of Housing and the newly announced grant payment, according to McCarthy.

Lamont emphasized the economic value of projects like Oak Grove and made the case that budget approvals could help spur similar work across the state.

“It’s one of the biggest investments we’re trying to make in this coming budgetary session,”Lamont said. “We’ve got a couple hundred million for workforce housing on top of the biggest investment in affordable housing we’ve done in many a year. If we don’t make sure that housing’s available for all these folks, unfilled jobs have to go somewhere else.”

State Rep. Kadeem Roberts, a Democrat who represents Norwalk’s 137th Assembly District, praised the local residents for their faith in bringing Oak Grove to life.

“Thank you to the people that live in the community of Colonial Village that stayed real calm with this process and that actually trusted us. Far too many times people feel like they’re getting kicked out,”said Roberts.