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HOME Connecticut News
Incentive Housing for Economic Growth Act
(Enacted 2007)
News in 2009:
(4-17-09) Visualizing Density for HOMEConnecticut Incentive Housing  - 2 half-day workshops: To Register direct with the Partnership for Strong Communities - Click here for May 14, 2009, workshop in Bridgeport; Click here for May 15, 2009, workshop in Hartford.
(4-16-09) Town of Wallingford Files First HOMEConnecticut Incentive Housing Application on April 14, 2009 - see article and copy of 159 pg. application, from Shipman & Goodwin LLP. Attorney Tim Hollister comments, “We hope that Wallingford’s application will provide a template for other towns using or considering HOMEConnecticut, and will encourage widespread use of this program."
(3-10-09) Overcoming the Obstacles to Affordable Housing - March 24, 2009 seminar presented by the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce's Affordable Housing Committee. Panelists include: Diane Randall, Partnership for Strong Communities; Joan McDonald, Commissioner of CT. Department of Economic & Community Development; Noel Bishop, First Selectman, Westbrook; Christine Nelson, Town Planner, Old Saybrook; Chandler Howard, Liberty Bank; and HBA of CT members Tim Hollister, Shipman & Goodwin; Liz Verna, Verna Properties.
(1-23-2009) More good news! 1-9-2009 Memo to OPM from the Partnership for Strong Communities , noting one-third of all municipalities in the state either have received grants, applied for grants or are preparing grant applications. Incentive Housing Map of Connecticut , showing the municipal interest in incentive housing zones.
News from 2008 and earlier:
(12-29-2008) Good news from HOMEConnecticut! See OPM's memo to the Governor on the status of incentive housing program: Planning grants for affordable housing have been awarded to 26 towns (plus seven applications pending).
David Fink of the HomeConnecticut Steering Committee reports that the list of towns with pending applications has grown since the OPM report was issued. A total of 35 towns have now submitted applications and that number is expected to top 50 by the end of January 2009.
(9-30-2008) See the complete list of 65 municipalities with interest in HOMEConnecticut housing . NOW is the time for developers to approach these towns to explore appropriate locations where they can build the HOMEConnecticut housing the town is interested in having built.
(9-29-2008) Developers Take Note: More Towns Are Interested in HOMEConnecticut housing solutions: To update the report directly below, add East Lyme to the list of eleven towns that have already received planning grants (now 12 total). In addition, five municipalities have passed resolutions to apply for technical assistance grants (New Canaan, Thomaston, Coventry, Tolland and Newtown); sixteen more towns are actively moving to apply, with several partially through the application process.
It is reasonable to expect that twenty or more municipalities will create incentive housing zones (IHZs) in the next year or two. Now is the time for developers to approach these towns to show them the housing that you can provide in their IHZs.
(9-11-2008) "HOMEConnecticut Interest, Approvals Expand" - from the CT Partnership for Strong Communities (9-11-2008)
Municipal interest in the HOMEConnecticut program is strong, and growing. There are now 11 municipalities approved by OPM for planning grants under the HOMEConnecticut program: Beacon Falls, Bridgeport, Darien, Ledyard, New Britain, Old Saybrook, Plainville, Plymouth, Oxford, Simsbury, and Wallingford
Also, East Hartford, East Lyme and New London have submitted applications that are pending at OPM. Coventry, New Canaan and Tolland have approved resolutions to apply. At least 15 additional towns are in the process of preparing applications. It is estimated that more than three dozen municipalities will have applied by year's end, making it important for OPM to accurately assess how many towns will ultimately create Incentive Housing Zones and apply for incentive payments during the next biennium. The two-year budget-making process is getting underway this month, as OPM and other agencies work to craft the Governor's budget recommendations.
Under the HOMEConnecticut program, municipalities can receive grants for technical assistance and planning to determine whether they need the mixed-income housing envisioned under the program, where it could be developed, and what style and mix of units should be created. The statute gives municipalities total control over the location, amount, type and design of the units. Towns receive $2,000 per unit allowed in the Incentive Housing Zone at the time the zone is approved by OPM, and another $2,000 per multifamily unit or $5,000 per single-family unit when building permits are issued for their construction.
OPM Information about the HOMEConnecticut program can be found at http://www.ct.gov/opm/cwp/view.asp?a=2985&q=413024&opmNav_GID=1807&opmNav=|
or by calling Dimple Desai at 860/418-6412.
(6-30-2008) "HOMEConnecticut Expands Reach" - from the CT Partnership for Strong Communities
"The Office of Policy and Management has now received 8 formal applications from Connecticut municipalities seeking planning and technical assistance grants under the HOMEConnecticut statute, with more than 30 towns actively preparing applications. The grants, available from a $4 million state appropriation to help towns plan Incentive Housing Zones, are for market analysis, architectural consultants, legal assistance and other eligible expenses listed at: http://www.ct.gov/opm/lib/opm/igp/grants/eligible_funding_activities_under_the_heg_program.pdf. Applications from Ledyard, Plainville and New Britain have been approved, while applications from Darien, Oxford, Simsbury, Old Saybrook and East Hartford are pending. Many other municipalities from every region and level of wealth are preparing applications. OPM is offering grants of up to $50,000 to municipalities that want to create Incentive Housing Zones. Housing in the zone must be mixed-income - 80% of the units are market rate, the other 20% affordable for residents earning 80% of the area median income - and meet minimum density levels under the statute. In return, towns received incentive payments of $2,000 per unit allowed in the zone, and another $2,000 per unit when issuing building permits in the zone."
HOMEConnecticut Press Conference: Solutions Advance But Problems Persist - from the CT Partnership for Strong Communities
Guidance Document for HOME Connecticut Technical Assistance Grants - From Shipman & Goodwin LLP
News articles about HBA's support for HOMEConnecticut's Housing Program for Economic Development
The HOME Connecticut Legislation (Incentive Housing for Economic Growth):
HBA's open letter to all legislators in Support of SB 1057 - while this major housing initiative did not pass during the regular session, legislators finally saw its tremendous benefits and adopted it as sections 33 and 38-50 of SB 1500 (Public Act 07-4, June Special Session) .
See more information and background on incentive housing on the HOMEConnecticut web site.
Back to our Housing & Economic Development page.
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