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Norwalk Redevelopment News 🌳 November 2024

November 14, 2024

News & Updates

TOPICS: SoNo Train Station Area • Residential Improvement Projects • Pinnacle Infrastructure and Streetscapes • MLK Corridor Equitable Mobility Enhancement • South Norwalk Lexington and South Main Community Development Plan • CDBG Con Plan • Current Community Engagement

From the Desk of the Executive Director

Hello Residents and Business Owners,

Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter, where we’ll keep you informed about the exciting progress being made on a number of important issues and projects the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency has been working on. As we continue to work to revitalize our growing city, we remain committed to creating vibrant neighborhoods, fostering equitable economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life for everyone who calls Norwalk home.

The Agency’s activities are guided by a five-year Strategic Plan, which lays out a vision for the future. The plan seeks to identify and prioritize the key objectives, projects, schedules, financing and partnerships required to create a pathway forward that aligns with goals identified by the Agency and the City of Norwalk. We are currently looking at the next five years and updating our Strategic Plan. It has been and remains an exciting process. We are looking forward to releasing our refreshed Strategic Plan early next year!

This year, the Agency conducted a series of surveys to assess ways to improve local sustainability. The first two surveys yielded valuable insight into residents’ and business owners’ thoughts on the housing needs in Norwalk and stormwater management. We will soon open up our third and final survey, which will focus on business improvement districts. Please considering taking the short survey and encourage others to do the same.

In this issue, you'll find updates on:

Current projects: Learn about the progress being made on development activities around the South Norwalk Train Station, and West Avenue.
MLK Corridor Equitable Mobility Enhancement Project. This project, funded with a $14 million federal RAISE grant, will reinvent and enhance mobility in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive corridor.
South Norwalk Community Development Plan: This planning initiative will focus on the development of policies and strategies to improve residents’ quality of life, help identify economic opportunities and address concerns such as affordable housing, transportation, and connectivity.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Consolidated Plan: The CDBG Consolidated Plan is currently being drafted and will guide the use of CDBG funds received by the City of Norwalk.

We look forward to continuing to work together to build a stronger, more equitable and sustainable Norwalk for generations to come.

Brian Bidolli
Executive Director

SoNo Train Station Area Improvements

There are multiple on-going and planned improvement projects happening in the area surrounding the South Norwalk train station. The Redevelopment Agency and City of Norwalk received $6 million in state funding through the Community Investment Fund and the Community Challenge Grant Program for improvements that include:

Traffic safety and pedestrian enhancements
Multimodal transportation accommodations
Stormwater management
Street beautification
Upgraded utility service

At this time, the projects are in various stages of the development process. Following a complete street design to make the streets safer and more visually appealing, the initial focus has been on infrastructure improvements and utility undergrounding on Chestnut Street, Henry Street, Mulvoy Street and Franklin Street and will be followed by streetscape and roadway enhancements.

We are also currently conducting a $1.3 million Brownfield cleanup at the SoNo Train Station, funded by a grant from the State of Connecticut and the EPA. The remediation is expected to be completed by the end of this year, paving the way for the construction of 200 new mixed-income housing units at 15-17 Chestnut Street. For updates on all of these projects, please visit the SoNo Train Area Improvements page on our website for more information.

Residential Improvement Projects

The Norwalk Redevelopment Agency is actively working with community stakeholders, municipal staff and a consulting team of experts to develop a Community Development Plan for South Norwalk, centered on the Lexington Avenue and South Main Street area. In response to concerns about the rising cost of living and economic inclusion among many long-time residents of the neighborhood, this planning initiative will focus on the development of policies and strategies to improve resident quality of life throughout the planning area and throughout the City.

The team developing the South Norwalk Community Development Plan will analyze existing conditions in South Norwalk, assess social vulnerability, identify infrastructure needs, examine future conditions and develop recommendations for implementation and strategies for performance monitoring during plan implementation. The plan aims to create a clear roadmap for equity, focusing on the economic, aesthetic, social and environmental impacts of development. A key objective is to identify economic opportunities and ways to improve quality of life while addressing concerns such as affordable housing, transportation, and connectivity. This planning effort seeks to engage a wide range of stakeholders while building on South Norwalk's history, diversity and cultural richness.

For the plan to be effective and relevant, we will look to residents and community leaders for their insight, experience and ideas. During the planning process, we will organize various community engagement initiatives which will be publicized in various forms of media. If you have comments you would like to share or suggestions for reaching South Norwalk residents, please visit our project page on our website.

To stay informed about Residential Improvement Programs:

While both programs are not currently accepting applications, please stay informed by visiting the SNIP webpage to learn when the next round of applications will open.

Pinnacle Infrastructure and Streetscapes

In order to deliver equitable improvements surrounding the new development at 467 West Avenue, funding has been secured through the Urban Act Grant Program and the Office of Policy and Management.

The project includes the removal of overhead wires to enhance the street’s visual appeal and sidewalk improvements throughout the adjacent area to deliver a complete and consistent street design for both residents and business owners. The installation of crosswalks and other traffic improvements will further make the area more walkable and safer for pedestrians.

Press Conference on November 4, 2024

MLK Corridor Equitable Mobility Enhancement Project

On November 4th, the City announced it has been awarded a $14 million federal RAISE grant to fund the MLK Corridor Equitable Mobility Enhancement Project. These grant funds will pave the way for many improvements along approximately two miles of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Drive and to six additional roadways in the nearly 33-acre area surrounding the South Norwalk Train Station.

“We're grateful for all the support we received to secure a $14 million RAISE grant which will have a huge impact on improving safety, sustainability and social equity in the MLK Drive Corridor.”

“Thank you to our entire federal and state delegation, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Connecticut Department of Transportation for this transformative investment.”

― Brian Bidolli, RDA Executive Director

The MLK Corridor project will include connectivity enhancements to improve all modes of transit within the area. Some of the improvements include: bicycle, pedestrian, and transit accommodations; wayfinding signage; landscaping; drainage; and digital transportation messaging signage with real-time transit information.

If you can't see the video, above, click here to see the video on Facebook.

To stay informed about the MLK Corridor Equitable Mobility Enhancement Project:

To learn more about the proposed project plans and offer us your valuable feedback, be on the lookout for public meetings likely in early 2025 and visit the MLK Corridor Equitable Mobility webpage. Dates and times of community meetings will be listed on the Redevelopment Agency calendar.

Update on the South Norwalk Lexington and South Main Community Development Plan

About the Plan

The South Norwalk Lexington and South Main Community Development Plan, launched earlier this year, is tasked with analyzing existing conditions, assessing infrastructure needs, anticipating future conditions, developing public policy recommendations, and setting up a way to monitor achievements over time as policies and projects are implemented in South Norwalk. The project seeks to address issues and concerns affecting overall quality of life in the neighborhood, and balance the impacts of development with resident needs.

Community Meeting Next Week

If you would like to get involved in the planning process, please consider attending the community meeting on November 18th or visiting the Plan’s project page on the Redevelopment Agency website to submit your comments.

November 18, 2024

6:00 - 7:30

In person at the South Norwalk Library, 10 Washington Street, Norwalk

Or, attend Online.

CDBG Con Plan

We are currently working with consultants to draft the City of Norwalk’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan. To develop the Consolidated Plan, the City conducts a needs assessment and market analysis using data and community consultation. The information collected helps to inform the identification of priority needs, which are then used to develop goals for the five-year plan. These goals will guide the use of funds through 2029 as the City develops its Annual Action Plans and makes decisions for how funds will be used in each new year of CDBG funding. On October 21st, we hosted discussions on specific community development topics and a general discussion on the overall needs that may benefit from CDBG funding. The public was invited to attend and all the meetings were held as hybrid meetings at the Norwalk Housing Authority’s EnVision Center.

If you would like to share your thoughts on what the greatest needs in Norwalk are or to request more information, email Stephen Ivan at Sivan@norwalkct.gov.