1. Notice of Scoping for 45 Meadow Street
Address of possible location: 45 Meadow Street, Norwalk, CT 06854
Municipality where proposed action might be located: Norwalk
Project Description: Meadow Gardens is a public housing complex built in the 1960s that contains 4 residential buildings with a total of 54 dwelling units and a small community center. The Norwalk Housing Authority (NHA) received approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to demolish Meadow Gardens due to physical obsolescence. The units are now fully vacant. Phase 1 of the redevelopment project (starting November 2024) includes the abatement of hazardous building materials and demolition of all structures. NHA is using a Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Brownfields grant for Phase 1. After demolition, NHA will dispose of the property through a ground-lease. The new construction project will be financed using 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTCs), a Department of Housing (DOH) loan, a bank loan, a sponsor loan, and a DECD Community Investment Fund (CIF) grant. There will be 30 project-based vouchers (PBVs) in the development to help sustain its operations. There will also be 6 Continuum of Care vouchers to provide permanent housing and supportive services to 6 unhoused families. The new construction project consists of 8 residential walk-up buildings and 1 standalone, single-story community center. The residential units are a mix of flats and two-story townhomes. Each unit has a private entry. There will be a total of 59 units, 30 of which will be restricted to 30% of area median income (AMI) and the remaining 29 units to 50% of AMI. The proposed unit mix includes 15 one-bedroom units, 19 two-bedroom units, 18 three-bedroom units, and 7 four-bedroom units. Included in this count are 7 ADA-accessible units. The community center is approximately 4,300 sq. ft. and will house the property manager’s offices, fitness gym, and a Learning Center. The Learning Center is an after-school and all-day summer program for K-5th grade students living at the property. It is operated by the Norwalk Housing Authority and free to families. There will also be a playground, outdoor fitness equipment, and surface parking on site.
The development will have all electric utilities and be built to EnergyStar requirements. Current plans propose 4-6 electric vehicle charging stations and having the residential buildings be “solar ready.” The lowest lying area of the property is in the 100-year floodplain; however, no structures are being built in the floodplain.
The project received zoning site plan approval in November 2023. A.P. Construction has been procured as Construction Manager/General Contractor and Amenta Emma Architects is lead designer. Plans are currently at 90% construction documents. Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) has approved the project’s Flood Management Certification. The development team is targeting a March 2025 tax credit/DOH closing. The construction timeline is estimated at 18-20 months.
Project Map: Click here to view a map of the project area.
Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: November 8, 2024.
Any person may ask the sponsoring agency to hold a public scoping meeting by sending such a request to the address below. If a public scoping meeting is requested by 25 or more individuals, or by an association that represents 25 or more members, the sponsoring agency shall schedule a public scoping meeting. Such requests must be made by: October 18, 2024.
Written comments and/or requests for a public scoping meeting should be sent to
Name: Mithila Chakraborty, Ph.D.
Agency: Connecticut Dept. of Housing
Address: 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106
E-Mail: mithila.chakraborty@ct.gov
Inquiries and requests to view and or copy documents, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, must be submitted to the sponsoring state agency:
Name: Mithila Chakraborty, Ph.D.
Agency: Connecticut Dept. of Housing
Address: 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106
E-Mail: mithila.chakraborty@ct.gov
What Happens Next: The sponsoring agency will make a determination whether to proceed with preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) or that the project does not require the preparation of an EIE under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA). A Post-Scoping Notice of its decision will appear in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor.