Nearly 100 people showed up on Saturday, July 16 for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Phase 2 of the Armstrong Court project at Building #6. Anthony (Tony) Johnson, Executive Director and CEO of Greenwich Communities and Sam Romeo, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, hosted the event. They welcomed many residents and dignitaries from across the state to celebrate the progress Greenwich Communities has made, together with state and federal collaboration.
Phase 2 is a $27 million project to renovate 42 housing units in Buildings # 1, 3, and 6. The one- and two-bedroom apartments have been renovated into three-bedroom units, which will better accommodate families with children. The units are equipped with new kitchens, stainless steel appliances and many other improvements. During Phase 1, 18 new townhouses were constructed.
Anthony Johnson welcomed the crowd. “I want to thank our residents for allowing us to do this construction while they were still living here. We were able to create enough space with the construction of Phase 1 and buying other buildings in town, so we were able to maintain residents on site during construction. That’s amazing. Try moving 84 people around. With their cooperation, we were able to do that!”
The existing buildings have been completely rejuvenated, unrecognizable from the previous structures. “If you put a thermal camera on the older buildings during winter, they appear red hot on camera, which indicates significant heat loss revealing a very energy inefficient building,” Anthony explained. “Additionally, exterior balconies were enclosed which added additional living space to the apartments.”
Sam Romeo thanked everyone for their help. “Moving forward after Armstrong Court, we own properties that can accommodate another 300 units into our housing inventory.” He continued to acknowledge the residents. “We work for the residents. They don’t work for us. I want them to know I am here for them. I’m here for the residents, I’m here for the community, and we’re going to continue to strive for great housing opportunities here in the Town of Greenwich.”
Congressman Jim Himes spoke enthusiastically, reminding everyone that he started out as the Greenwich Housing Authority Commissioner. “This is so gratifying for me. I deal these days with the federal budget and dealing with HUD and CHFA and all the requirements and all of the ins and outs of the financing which is really difficult, and they don’t get enough credit. The Greenwich Communities staff and leadership you’ve provided is spectacular. Most of all I want to thank the residents. The folks that live here and at all the Greenwich Communities residences couldn’t live in our community if it weren’t for places like this. With the effort that is made and all the complexities, it allows these families to be an important, vibrant part of our community that we love so much, and that’s what we’re doing here.” Acknowledging the crowd he continued, “If you involve the community and you get the Federal, State and Municipal governments working together, and you get Democrats and Republicans, which we have here today, you can do wonderful things. If you can do it in places like Greenwich and Darien, you can succeed anywhere throughout the state. There are so many folks who had a hand in this. You’re really changing both our community and people who live in our community for the better.”
First Selectman Fred Camillo spoke, reminiscing about his grandmother who lived in an Armstrong Court apartment when Fred was growing up. Now he is a strong supporter of Greenwich Communities. “We are leading the way in the state of Connecticut. Solutions are best made by those who live in those towns they know the towns best. We’ve been making that effort for decades, but it’s never been as successful as now, under the leadership of Tony Johnson and Sam Romeo. Thank you for all you’ve done and continued great success.”
Seila Mosquera-Bruno, Commissioner of Connecticut’s Dept. of Housing and Board Chair of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) spoke. “It takes a long time, it takes a lot of people, it takes a lot of effort. As a department, we have a little over $5 million invested in this project. We have made a lot of changes. We have made a commitment that we will support these types of projects. The Governor’s mandate is to make sure that all residents in the state can live in a decent, safe, healthy energy efficient home. Throughout the pandemic, it’s been over 2 and a half years, we didn’t stop building housing. We have completed about 14,000 units with CHFA and the Department of Housing. That’s $600 million in bond financing from the state and over $3 billion in economic construction activity.”
Alanna Kabel, Director of Community Planning and Development at HUD, spoke. “This is our largest affordable housing development block grant in the country, and this is an absolutely wonderful example of what that program can achieve when we all work together.”
Following Alanna, State Senator Ryan Fazio took the microphone. “Today makes very clear how committed Greenwich is to affordable housing in our community and it is largely because of the great leadership. It makes clear that we can do it our way. We can do it with local discretion in partnership with the state and federal government rather than having a one-size-fits all approach.”
Included among other dignitaries who spoke: State Representatives Kimberly Fiorello and Harry Arora, plus Kelly McDermott, the Deputy Managing Director – Multifamily Division for the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), and Greenwich Communities Commissioner James Boutelle. In attendance: Rhonda Caldwell, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Marina Marmolejo, Department of Housing, Greenwich Communities Commissioners Robert Simms, and Vincent DeFina, as well as Selectwoman Janet Stone McGuigan, Former selectman John Toner, and RTM Members Linda Moshier and Irene Dietrich, John Brice, AIA, Principal, Geddis Architects and George Yankowich, Project Manager.
