Press Releases
01/24/2023
LT. GOVERNOR BYSIEWICZ, DOH COMMISSIONER MOSQUERA-BRUNO & CITY OF SHELTON UNVEIL RIVER BREEZE COMMONS MIXED-INCOME DEVELOPMENT
(SHELTON, CT) – Today, Lt. Governor Bysiewicz was joined by Department of Housing Commissioner Mosquera-Bruno, Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti and other city officials to formally unveil the River Breeze Commons site. The complex is a 68 unit, newly constructed residential mixed-income development on the shores of the Housatonic River.
Recently, Governor Lamont allocated $13.4 million in grants to seven municipalities for infrastructure upgrades that will modernize and rehabilitate housing for low and moderate-income individuals. Additionally, $24.6 million in state funding was allocated to local communities help with the costs associated with assessing and remediating 41 blighted parcels of land in 16 towns and cities across Connecticut for the purposes of putting them back in to productive use.
“Governor Lamont and I support projects like these as one of our goals is to increase our state’s affordable housing stock for families and working individuals,” said Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz. “People want to live in Connecticut, and we have seen that influx of population with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a vibrant and walkable areas, towns like Shelton are where residents want to call home. With new developments like River Breeze Commons, we are making our communities not only better places to live, but we are making our communities more affordable and more accessible.”
“I want to thank Governor Lamont and Lt. Governor Bysiewicz for supporting the resources needed for this development,” said Department of Housing Commissioner Mosquera-Bruno. “A top priority for us are these type of mixed-income, affordable developments. We want to support families and be able to offer them places to live that they can afford and improve their quality of life.”
The development site is located between New Haven and Bridgeport, sits near the well-traveled Route 8, within walking distance of railroad service to New York City and various amenities.
River Breeze was designed as a mixed-income residential development targeting individuals and families earning between 25% of the area median income to market rate. The development includes the construction of 68 new residential apartments consisting of 22 one-bedroom units, and 46 two-bedroom units, which will range in size from 796 to 1,081 square feet.
“I'm standing here thinking about many years ago when no one wanted to be here,” said Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti. "This is just what the doctor ordered for our area. You know, sometimes you have to make believers out of people. In many respects, the affordable housing statute in Connecticut is grossly understood by the public. Employment opportunities are important to people, but also the ability for people to live in an area that they work is equally as good."
“First of all, thank you to the Governor and Lt. Governor for prioritizing affordable housing. I think this is a great development for the city of Shelton,” said River Breeze Commons Developer Tom Cruess. “This used to be a brick factory that had environmental issued that needed to be remediated before this project could go forward, and I want to thank Mayor Lauretti for his help on that. This was not an easy project to complete as we were hit with all of the issues that came with COVID-19, but we have made incredible progress, so thank you to everyone who played a hand in that.”
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For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Contact: Chelsea Neelon