With Governor Lamont noting that “a home is more than a roof over your head; it’s a community,” Westport inaugurated 122 Wilton Road this morning.
The ceremony — attended by Congressman Jim Himes, other officials, and local housing advocates — marked the official welcome for the town’s newest apartments.
All 19 units are affordable, under a state formula. Residents will include “the working poor”: retail workers, landscapers and others who struggle to find housing in what many speakers noted is a national crisis.
Nearly 400 people applied for the 19 apartments, located at the Wilton Road/ Kings Highway North intersection.
While praising Westport as being “a welcoming town in a welcoming state,” Governor Lamont noted, “we have to do a lot more of this.”
Governor Lamont, speaking at 122 Wilton Road this morning. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Other speakers echoed that theme.
Connecticut Commissioner of Housing Seila Mosquera-Bruno — who came to the US as a single mother at the age of 24 — said that without housing assistance, she would have been unable to obtain a master’s degree in urban studies, or complete a fellowship at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
State Comptroller Sean Scanlon said that his parents divorced when he was 6. His mother had no car or education, but through assistance made sure he grew up in “every apartment in Guilford.”
“When we build housing, we build Connecticut,” said the man who “signs the checks” for projects like these.
The ceremony’s host, Helen McAlinden, president and CEO of Homes with Hope — the non-profit working to end homelessness, which oversees the project — greeted the 100 guests. She gave a special welcome to the families that have already begun moving into 122 Wilton Road.
The apartments were built by Richard Friedman, president of the Garden Homes Fund. The private foundation focuses on affordable housing.
Rev. Pete Powell also spoke. A founder of the Interfaith Housing Association — Homes with Hope’s predecessor — he reminded the audience that one of the first locations for Westport’s homeless shelter was at the Vigilant Firehouse (now OKO restaurant), a few hundred yards away on Wilton Road.
“This has been an unimaginable journey,” Powell said.
He cited the many men and women who have worked to alleviate housing in Westport in the 40 years since the IHA began, and were on hand to celebrate the opening of the new apartments.
Representative Jim Himes spoke of the importance of addressing housing shortages nationwide.
“If Westport can do 19 units, and every town does the same, we will move the needle,” the US congressman said.
After the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, Homes with Hope offered tours of the building.
Among the ribbon-cutters, from left: Rev. Pete Powell (bowtie), Interfaith Housing Association founder; State Representative Dominique Johnson (blue blazer), 2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore (with scissors), Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden, Congressman Jim Himes, Connecticut Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno, Governor Ned Lamont, Garden Homes Fund builder Richard Friedman. (Photo/Dan Woog)
I wonder if anyone ever asked the occupants of the residence immediately to the right of that property how they felt about it being there. Imagine building a multi-million dollar home and then watching that building go up next to it. Go figure.
Robert – Please read this: https://06880danwoog.com/2024/09/27/122-wilton-road-affordable-apartments-life-changing-for-local-residents/
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor!!!” Lamont and Himes, election season, new migrant housing and a Westport photo op all in the same place at the same time. It’s not a coincidence. It’s POLITICS!!!
despicable.
It’s not only despicable John, it’s despot-able!!!
I was of course referring to your comment. enough trolling for one day. Give it a rest.
Okay. But! I’ll be back!!!! Jack!!!
Congratulations Helen and all of those who worked so hard with Home with Hope to make this happen. A very proud moment for Westport. Let’s hope other towns follow our lead. If you want to support Homes with Hope grab a ticket to Stand Up happening tomorrow night at the Quick Center https://fairfield.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS:MULTI:QC2425:REN0928:&linkID=fairfield-multi&dataAccId=448&locale=en_US&siteId=ev_fairfield-multi
The best way to get affordable housing in town is clustered or higher density developments like this, and placing them either in a walkable area to necessities or on a public transportation line is ideal. I applaud Westport’s efforts to get more economic diversity and enable the people who work in town to be able to live here.
Congratulations! Wonderful story and a boon to those who deserve the community’s help.
As a 40 year YIMBY I bear witness to the positive presence of affordable housing in one’s backyard.
However, unsafe and unhealthy traffic conditions that affect our residential and commercial neighborhoods which are not being adequately addressed must be given higher priority by the elected officials than they seemingly give to self-congratulatory photo ops.
Mr. Liepolt,
Good to hear from you. Unfortunately, I departed Staples before your tenure I have little doubt we would’ve had a blast in class (or in my case after class). I’m sorry you had to wait 40 years to get nice neighbors. I agree with you on the photo ops. There should be a rule that politicians hold their photo ops at the intersection of the Post and Wilton roads until proper traffic conditions are achieved. Attendance at the photo op would be restricted to the “public servants” for safety reasons.
I have been a neighbor of The Saugatuck, one of Westport’s affordable housing enterprises, since the 1980’s. Its success has been due to the involvement of great people, an activist residential neighborhood and a determination to make it work—sometimes despite political interference.
You “walk the talk” and I’m sure, (although I don’t know first-hand) as a teacher you taught by example.
I do not read much about the sources of funding. I gather the property and building were acquired using State/Federal funds, as well as from other sources. The amounts appear to total something over $7 million. I would be interested in learning if there are repeatable aspects to this successful outcome, in particular the financial structure.
Funding came from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The purchase price was $7.4 million.
They played the trump card by using the term “affordable housing” which allowed the developer to disregard public safety,traffic congestion, environmental issues and the warning of the WFD Chief who said a fire truck could not safely back into this complex
.
A local child pornographer, who worked at the local YMCA supervising kids birthday parties, lived in a Westport apartment owned by Interfaith Housing Assoc. of Westport, a woman whose family has the WPD on speed dial for violent disputes, also lives in “affordable housing”. The CEO of Homes for Hope indicates a social worker will be on site to help the new residents of this nightmare on Wilton , while they accomodate to living in our community. Ask yourself this question. What vetting was done before tossing the keys to these residents who require on site supervision from a social worker?
The poor elderly live yards away in Canal Park which hasn’t been updated since 1981. No garages for these old people who risk breaking a hip carrying groceries in the rain and scraping the snow and ice off their windshields. Why couldn’t these residents be given new housing with underground parking and the flotsom and jetsom be tossed the keys to these units now also home to mental patients?
Take notice Lamont lives in Greenwich with an unobstructed view of the water, now that he disregarded the law by tearing down hundreds of trees. Clooney spouts progressive ideology from his estate in Lake Como. Biden’s billionaire friends made sure Marthas Vineyard evacuated the migrants within 12 hrs. Even Nantucket, which was the last sanctuary to be invaded by migrants, was the scene of rape of a minor from Bkln.visiting family on this previously safe island.
The point is friends, why kick off the covers Monday morning ? Why work,sacrifice, save money to provide for your family when you can simply just choose to live wherever you want,send your kids to schools wherever you choose, get free medical insurance, free meals,free transportation, free clothes,free school supplies, free walking around money. Why work when some do-gooder will wave a magic wand and make all your dreams come true?
Can it really be a post about affordable housing until Caroline Bennett calls her fellow human beings flotsam and jetsam and misspells both words? That’s our cue for what always follows: A stream-of-consciousness rant by someone who claims to be a lawyer, to own a “Benz,” and to have mothered three children through the Ivy League. Privilege has its privileges, I guess. And ignoring that privilege is what Bennett does best.
Mea cupla on the typos,Mr.Prince. My driver hit a pothole.