Norwalk Redevelopment News 🌳 October 2025
News & Updates
TOPICS: From the Desk of the Executive Director • Greenest City in Connecticut • For Vendors: Webster Lot RFP • South Norwalk Lexington & South Main Community Development Plan • Brownfield Clean-up Project: South Norwalk Train Station • Pinnacle Streetscapes • Columbus Court • South Norwalk Improvement Program • Historic Façade Improvement Program
From the Desk of the Executive Director
Hello Residents and Business Owners,
We would like to take a moment to update you on several projects currently underway at the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency. Before we do, I want to express our sincere appreciation to Mayor Rilling for his leadership and partnership throughout his tenure. His vision helped refine the Agency’s priorities and strengthen our focus, enabling us to better serve Norwalk’s residents and business community. We thank Mayor Rilling for his many contributions and wish him continued success in the future.
In August, the Agency proudly accepted the Phoenix Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the National Brownfields 2025 conference, recognizing the transformative Soundview Landing and Ryan Park redevelopment. In partnership with the Norwalk Housing Authority, Trinity Financial, and Weston and Sampson, the project reimagined one of South Norwalk’s most historically challenged sites into a model of resilience and community vitality. The project reimagined Washington Village with Soundview Landing’s 273 mixed-income, energy-efficient homes, preserved all 136 original affordable units, and added 24 fully accessible units. Meanwhile, Ryan Park was raised above the floodplain and redesigned with new playgrounds, sports courts, solar lighting, and green spaces, ensuring residents have a safe and vibrant place to gather. Together, these efforts exemplify how thoughtful redevelopment can bring new life to historically contaminated brownfield sites to honor history, address environmental risks, and create lasting opportunity for the South Norwalk community.
Further in this newsletter, we’re proud to share several initiatives that highlight how planning, investment, and collaboration are shaping the future of our community. You’ll find updates on:
- South Norwalk Lexington and South Main Community Development Plan: The plan, a comprehensive initiative focused on housing, safety, and economic vitality, was recently released and can be found on the Agency’s website.
- Current projects: A multi-phase environmental remediation effort at the South Norwalk Train Station is paving the way for new housing, and we are actively undergrounding utilities and making streetscape improvements around Orchard Street, West Ave, Butler Street, and Quincy Street.
- Benefits from grant funding: Our Community Challenge Grant will support improvements made at the South Norwalk Train Station and has already provided assistance for improvements made at Columbus Court and nearby residential properties.
These efforts reflect our commitment to creating vibrant neighborhoods, fostering equitable economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life for everyone who calls Norwalk home and/or a place to work. We look forward to continuing to work together with you to build an even stronger community.
Brian Bidolli
Executive Director
Executive Director’s Update
In 2024, the City of Norwalk and Redevelopment Agency released a draft of the City of Norwalk’s first Sustainability and Resilience Plan (SRP). The SRP serves as a roadmap that builds on the City’s sustainability and climate resilience efforts while placing Norwalk on a fast track to becoming the greenest city in Connecticut. The city followed a recommendation in the SRP and hired a new Director of Sustainability who is heading the Office of Sustainability and Resilience. To learn more, visit Norwalk's Office of Sustainability and Resilience page.
For Vendors: Webster Lot RFP
The Redevelopment Agency is currently soliciting Requests for Proposals (RFP) from qualified development companies and urban infrastructure and real estate investors for the redevelopment of 55 Martin Luther King Jr Drive (Webster St Parking Lot). RFPs are due soon.
View the full Webster Lot RFP on our For Vendors page.
South Norwalk Lexington & South Main Community Development Plan
The Redevelopment Agency recently completed and released for the City of Norwalk the South Norwalk Lexington and South Main Community Development Plan, a comprehensive initiative focused on housing, safety, and economic vitality. As development continues in the SoNo district, surrounding neighborhoods—particularly the community south of the train station—face mounting development pressures. The plan outlines policies to balance growth, improve quality of life, preserve neighborhood character, and reduce the risks of gentrification and displacement so that adjacent working-class neighbors can share in Norwalk’s growth.
Developed in partnership with expert planning and economic consultants, the plan reflects priorities voiced by residents during extensive community outreach sessions.
Drawing from best practices and real-world case studies, it highlights strategies to expand affordable housing, increase homeownership opportunities, expand connectivity, and maintain neighborhood identity.

These recommendations were organized into an implementation matrix that provides a clear roadmap for actions, including: the use of environmental sensors to improve air quality; code enforcement to address blight; essential transit investments; small business support; and partnerships to improve access to healthy foods and community resources.
Looking ahead, the plan envisions a neighborhood with safer streets, sustainably improved infrastructure, and enhanced public spaces to support long-term residents. Together, these steps lay the groundwork for a South Norwalk that grows equitably, honors its history, and creates opportunities for all.
Brownfield Clean-up Project:
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) at the South Norwalk Train Station
In August 2025, the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency (RDA) concluded a multi-phase environmental remediation effort on a portion of the commuter parking lot in the South Norwalk Train Station located at 30 Monroe Street. Like many properties with an industrial heritage in South Norwalk, this site was designated as a brownfield. Norwalk Redevelopment Agency’s investigation of the property identified the presence of heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and other contaminants in the soil beneath the parking lot. If no action had been taken, this site would have remained an underutilized brownfield in the heart of South Norwalk.
With the support of environmental remediation grants from the Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Connecticut’s Department of Economic & Community Development, the RDA was able to remove significant contaminated soil from the site. This project has reduced the potential harm posed by this brownfield to the South Norwalk community, which will soon include the new residents of a 200-unit mixed-income apartment building currently under construction on the site.
Later in the fall, additional environmental investigating and planning at the section of the property near Henry and Mulvoy Streets will be conducted.
To stay informed about Transit-Oriented Development at the South Norwalk Train Station:
Visit the RDA page on the City’s website.
South Norwalk Improvement Program Highlights

To date, the South Norwalk Improvement Program (SNIP) has provided assistance to the owners of 18 properties for a total of 36 residential units in South Norwalk. Roofs, siding, and windows on units designated for low- to moderate- income earning residents were replaced along with other various repairs that will extend the life of the Norwalk properties and beautify the area.
One property owner told us, “I was very pleased to have learned about the program. It allowed me to rehab the siding and roof to match the investments I made to the inside of the units to provide clean and updated affordable units.”
The source of the funding, $750,000, for this third round of property improvements that targeted the MLK Corridor is the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.
To stay informed about the South Norwalk Improvement Program:
The application period is currently closed but interested owners can be added to our information list to receive notification should additional funding become available. Email your name(s), address, phone number and email address to sivan@norwalkct.gov
Columbus Court + Community Challenge Grant
The City is investing $6 million of Community Challenge Grant funds to make transit-oriented development improvements to the South Norwalk Train Station area. These funds support utility undergrounding and streetscape upgrades that will beautify the neighborhood, and the addition of sidewalks and modifications to the roadway that will improve safety and traffic flow to offset any impacts of increased population density in the area.
Through the grant, direct assistance was provided to preserve and improve existing affordable housing at Columbus Court, and four nearby residential properties that received roof and siding replacements and driveway repairs. Together, these projects help create a more balanced and attractive residential environment around the station. Utility undergrounding work is already underway, with overhead wire removal nearly complete. Additional streetscape and roadway improvements are scheduled to begin in spring 2026.
Pinnacle Streetscapes and OPM
The Redevelopment Agency is utilizing $3 million of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Urban Act funding and an additional $2 million of funding from the Office of Policy and Management to deliver a series of utility undergrounding and streetscape improvements around Orchard Street, West Ave, Butler Street, and Quincy Street. The undergrounding of overhead utilities provides a significant visual improvement to the area, while the streetscape enhancements were designed to ensure nearby residential neighborhoods benefited alongside new development.
Streetscape improvements include new sidewalks and crosswalks, street trees, and other various improvements targeting pedestrian safety and walkability. Planned utility undergrounding work has been completed, with streetscape improvements and another section of utility undergrounding on Orchard Street to commence in 2026.
Historic Façade Improvement Program Highlights
Norwalk’s historic homes are getting a fresh look! Through the City’s Historic Façade Improvement Program, seven properties recently received upgrades that included window and roof replacements as well as siding and façade repairs; preserving their charm while strengthening neighborhood character.
When funding is available, the Historic Façade Improvement Program provides match grants to homeowners of eligible properties that contribute to Norwalk’s historic resources. The program helps offset the cost of critical exterior repairs—such as window restoration, roof replacement, and siding work—while ensuring all work follows historic preservation guidelines to protect the historic integrity of the building.
To qualify, a property owner must demonstrate that their property has a historic designation or that the property is located in an established historic district.
To stay informed about the Historic Façade Improvement Program:
While the application period is currently closed, interested property owners can join our mailing list to receive notification when funding becomes available again by emailing their name, address, phone number, and email address to sivan@norwalkct.gov.
Additional funding opportunities:
Owners of historic resources may also want to explore additional funding opportunities offered by the State Historic Preservation Office, available here.
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