New housing plan for POKO not best for area

The seemingly never-ending mess that is POKO is back in the news after combative developer Jason Milligan filed a Freedom of Information Act request for preliminary plans for the development also known as Wall Street Place. The city is in negotiations with loan-holder Citibank to restart construction, which halted in mid-2016. Milligan, who bought multiple properties surrounding the stalled project, is trying to block the development as planned by developer JHM Group, Citibank, the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency and the city.

The documents obtained by Milligan reveal a sixstory, 101-unit residential building with first-floor commercial space and a two-story garage in place of Garden Cinemas, which would be razed. Contrary to a 2008 plan that called for 34.6 percent affordable housing, the new one calls for 100 percent affordable housing.

The breakdown would be as follows: 90 apartments for single people earning no more than $53,383 a year — 60 percent of the Fairfield County median income of $89,773; and 11 apartments for

those earning no more than $59,024 a year — 80 percent of the state median income of $73,781.

This despite the fact that Norwalk already has 12 percent affordable housing, making it exempt from state requirements to build more.

Corporation Counsel Mario Coppola has characterized the newly released plan, reviewed behind closed doors by the Common Council and the redevelopment agency, as “just a draft.”

Let’s hope so.

While we have nothing against affordable housing, we agree with concerned stakeholders that Norwalk’s beleaguered downtown is not the place for it. Among those speaking out is commercial real estate agent Nancy McGuire, who owns a business on Wall Street and is president of the Wall Street Neighborhood Association.

Expressing opinions that are her own and not those of the WSNA, McGuire wrote: “Wall Street retailers and restaurants need customers to survive. If the city limits the people who can live there based on their income, Norwalk’s city center will continue to struggle.”

She added, “There are so many other options that are not being explored that would be so great for Norwalkers. This plan only benefits the developer, the bank, and the RDA.”

Wall Street Theater developer Frank Farricker recently presented an alternative calling for a POKO-centered not-for-profit arts district with 40 percent affordable housing and a parking garage built around Garden Cinemas, which would be left standing. Farricker’s plan would combine Wall Street Place with the theater, earmarking some of the affordable units for artists.

Farricker took exception to Coppola’s “just a draft” comment, noting that the newly released plan had been drawn up by Crosskey Architects, the state’s leading low-income housing designer, who Farricker characterized as “swamped” and “hard to get.”

“If he’s doing the work, somebody is paying him a lot of money…” Farricker said.

There’s no way of knowing, since Coppola has said there will be no further comment until Citibank publicly presents its plan to the Common Council, RDA, and Zoning Commission.

Stay tuned.