Policy Development & Advocacy

Developing and advocating for housing and real estate development policy will be an important role for the Redevelopment Agency to play. Striking a balance between attracting investors, generating local value, and meeting economic development, sustainability, and affordability goals should be a focus of our efforts.

Preserve & Expand Affordable Housing

Implement Norwalk's 2025 Affordable Housing Action Plan

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In 2018, the Connecticut adopted General Statute 8-30j, which requires every municipality to adopt an Affordable Housing Plan every five years. The state encourages at least 10% of each municipality’s housing stock to be affordable. While 14% of Norwalk’s housing stock is designated as affordable, access to high quality and affordable housing to low- and moderate-income households remains an issue. Norwalk’s Affordable Housing Action Plan, adopted in 2025, calls for expanding workforce housing options, preserving existing affordable housing, and creating new affordable housing. The Action Plan received input from the Redevelopment Agency and it helps inform the Agency’s own affordable housing planning efforts as part of the South Norwalk Community Development Plan, Consolidated Plan, and other initiatives.

CDBG Strategy Development

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Develop a strategy for investing federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding in Norwalk through new and existing programs. Coordinate with 2025-29 Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plans.

Adopt 2025-29 Consolidated Plan & Anual Action Plan

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The Consolidated Plan serves as a citywide affordable housing plan and will be coordinated with Norwalk’s 2025 Affordable Housing Action Plan. Moving forward, Norwalk may consider coordinating Consolidated Planning with Affordable Housing Planning and having the Consolidated Plan serve as Norwalk’s Affordable Housing Plan. The Consolidated Plan also lays out a plan for using Norwalk’s CDBG funding it receives from the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) in order to further affordable housing and community development initiatives that primarily benefit low- and moderate-income households.

Support the Development of a Citywide Affordable Housing Plan

South Norwalk

Norwalk’s Affordable Housing Plan ought to call for expanding workforce housing options, preserving existing affordable housing, and creating new affordable housing.

Increase & Diversify Housing Supply

Develop and Maintain a Citywide Affordable Housing Inventory

South Norwalk

Aid in the development of a Citywide Affordable Housing Inventory that addresses issues of housing affordability, restricted supply of housing, and diversity of housing products available on the market.

Comprehensive Zoning Reform

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Support the City in its efforts to rewrite Norwalk’s zoning ordinance to provide for real estate market demands and meet the housing demands of people priced out of the market. Zoning reform could help encourage Mixed-Use and Transit-Oriented Development, Micro-Units, and Live-Work Units.