The Housing Authority of the Town of Greenwich (HATG) will hold the ribbon-cutting ceremony of 18 new construction townhouse units contained in six buildings representing Phase 1 of the overall Armstrong Court redevelopment project. The event is open to the public and will take place on Saturday, June 13, at 10 a.m. “This is a transformative step in advancing the quality of affordable housing for the Town of Greenwich. We welcome the public to come and tour the new units,” said Anthony Johnson, Executive Director of the Housing Authority. “We are committed to providing the opportunity to live in quality, affordable housing through fiscally responsible asset management of our resources, and these 18 units are an exceptional example of our capabilities.”
In response to the ribbon-cutting event, HATG Board Chairman Sam Romeo said, “I am happy to say this is a great day for me. It is the first step in accomplishing my vision of totally transforming Armstrong Court. When all phases are completed, it will be a jewel of the Town.” Romeo went on to credit several contributors, “I must say that none of this would have been accomplished without the support of our dedicated staff and Board of Commissioners, who have been in total support of what we have put forward.” Romeo called the completion of Phase 1, “the first major project in our long-range plan for affordable housing in the Town of Greenwich.”
The new unit mix includes six two-bedroom units and 12 three-bedroom units, with 1 ½ bathrooms in each. The units were constructed on previous underdeveloped land and under Energy Star standards with energy efficiency features. The first 18 units will serve as replacement housing to ease the relocation and rehabilitation logistics of the second phase. Phase 2 will include the gut rehabilitation of Buildings #1, 3, and 6 and expected to begin in late summer. Each construction phase is slated to take 12 months. Residents will be shifted within the complex while the units are gutted and rehabilitated. After each phase of construction is complete, residents are moved into the newly refurbished units.
The next phases of the redevelopment project will combine the current one-bedroom and two-bedroom units to produce more three-bedroom, two-bathroom units, which are in higher demand for families. “Over the next 5-7 years, we plan on bringing forward plans to build nearly 300 new units in the Town to increase our housing stock. This is an all-new Housing Authority for the 21st century. Stay tuned- the best is yet to come,” explained Romeo.
The existing buildings at Armstrong Court were originally constructed in 1951 as a 144-unit family development contained in six buildings. With the addition of 18 new units in the first phase and rehabilitation of the buildings, the total redevelopment will result in 150 units, an increase of 6 units.
The Housing Authority of the Town of Greenwich was the developer of the new construction. Charles E. McDonald served as the architect with A. Vitti Excavators as General Contractor. HATG will serve as Property Manager, as it has considerable experience in managing affordable housing.
While the Housing Authority is part of the town government and the members of its Board of Commissioners are appointed by the Board of Selectmen, the Housing Authority operates independently. The responsibility for the financing falls on the Housing Authority, not the town government. “The Housing Authority of the Town of Greenwich, unlike most housing authorities, directs and controls its projects without the need for a private development partner; this is possible because of the strength and expertise of our team,” explained Johnson.
This HATG project serves moderate-income households. Through Family Centers, the Armstrong Court Preschool offers School Readiness classes for income-eligible families with children ages 3-5 years. The preschool also houses the Greenwich Head Start Program; both are sponsored by HATG.
There are 837 units in 15 properties under the HATG, including home-ownership condominiums, scattered-site housing, various developments, and Parsonage Cottage. The Housing Authority also administers 343 families through the Section 8 Program. Total residents served through all programs is 2,574. Through resident associations and with the help of professional staff and outside support agencies (e.g., CCI, Family Centers, Department of Human Services, Commission on Aging), residents are encouraged to learn, earn, manage and improve their lives.
RSVP to Maria Morris at, mmorris@greenwichhousing.org or 203-869-0509, ext. 100.
For more information, please call Greenwich Housing Authority at 203-869-1138.
