Six families received keys to newly renovated homes at Armstrong Court on Saturday morning, as Greenwich Communities hosted a “Welcome Home” Key Presentation and Community Breakfast in the Winston A. Robinson Community Room.
The gathering brought together United States Congressman Jim Himes, First Selectman Fred Camillo, Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, Board of Estimate & Taxation member Joe Kelly, many more VIPS, commissioners, staff and neighbors to mark the completion of a major renovation and to welcome the new residents into the Chickahominy complex.
Armstrong Court’s former one- and two-bedroom apartments have been reconfigured into three-bedroom, two-bath homes designed for families. The redesigned units are intended to provide energyefficient, modern living spaces within walking distance of downtown Greenwich.
Congressman Himes situated the event within a wider context.
“This is what happens when local commitment is supported by state and federal partnership,” Himes said. “We have a housing crisis. We need to do more of this.”
Standing before the assembled families and officials, Sam Romeo, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, described the property in personal terms.
“This is our family complex,” Romeo said. “Today we welcome these residents into our family. We’ve done a lot of work here and we plan on doing a lot more.”
The morning’s focus shifted from renovation plans to lived experience when new resident Beatrice Betancur addressed the room.
“It’s a beautiful place. Me and my family are so happy for this opportunity to live here in Greenwich. This is going to change our lives. We’re very grateful,” Betancur said.
Anthony Johnson, CEO and Executive Director of Greenwich Communities, framed the moment as both celebration and commitment.
“It’s a great opportunity to welcome six new families to Armstrong Court,” Johnson said. “To have a place in Greenwich that’s affordable, beautiful, and safe — that’s what we offer. We offer opportunity.”
Greenwich Communities manages approximately 1,235 units of affordable housing across 13 residential properties. Founded in 1946, the organization has more than 350 additional units in planning and development, including 52 units at nearby McKinney Terrace.
Selectwoman Lauren Rabin reflected on the broader meaning of the ceremony, describing housing as foundational to civic life.
“Welcoming new families to Armstrong Court was a powerful reminder that housing is more than walls and a roof — it’s stability, dignity, and the foundation for opportunity. Seeing these beautiful, modern apartments filled with hope and possibility was truly heartwarming. Armstrong Court represents what’s possible when we come together with intention and compassion. Affordable housing done right, and the Greenwich Communities way, strengthens our entire community — and today we saw that vision become reality for families who now have a place to call home,” Rabin said.
Camillo connected the project to both policy and memory. Calling the ceremony “yet another example of Greenwich leading the way on affordable housing,” he added, “I want a salute Greenwich Communities for continuing to improve the lives of so many here in town and doing so with local guidance and leadership.”
He then spoke about his family’s ties to the neighborhood. “As someone who grew up here in town and had a grandmother who lived there, it was especially gratifying to see how beautiful this complex has become for the residents in town. I know that those who live there now will enjoy it and will have lasting memories just like those who have called this wonderful place home since the 1950s still do.”
Kelly emphasized the role of local governance in shaping the outcome.
“When we all come together to solve a problem, incredible things can happen! The new homes in Armstrong Court are a testament to this. They’re something we can all be proud of, and they show what local government can achieve when it has control over planning and zoning,” Kelly said.
Romeo also addressed a perception frequently associated with the town’s name.
“When people hear ‘Greenwich,’ they think everyone here is wealthy,” he said. “But not everybody. What we’ve built here shows what’s possible when a community commits to doing it the right way.”
After the formal remarks, families received their keys to sustained applause. Children stood close to parents, neighbors lingered over a light breakfast, and officials toured the renovated apartments — updated kitchens and bedrooms that will soon carry the marks of daily life.
In a town where housing debates often unfold in public hearings and planning documents, Saturday’s ceremony centered on something direct and visible: six sets of keys, handed from one generation of residents and leaders to the next.
For the families stepping across their thresholds at Armstrong Court, the moment marked not only a renovation completed, but a place to belong.
