Busway Project Leads to Incentive Housing Grants
By Robin Vinci at August 5, 2024 | 9:45 am | Print
The City has received two separate grants from the state that will allow for incentive housing zones (IHZ) to be built around stops for the proposed Busway.
“The intent is to increase the housing available in and around transportation,” said Ken Malinowski, department of municipal development director. “It gets rural communities to take part in Connecticut housing matters.”
The target of the incentive housing zone is to encourage mixed-income housing development areas in the community. The grant calls for 20 percent of the housing to be affordable. Affordable homes cannot cost more than 30 percent of a median family income. The maximum income for a family of four in an affordable home unit, for example, would be $67,760 a year and housing limit of $20,328 a year or $1,694 a month.
Three areas were chosen as zones which would receive these grants. They are the East Main St. area, East St. and areas around downtown.
The East Main St. area includes East Main St. frontage on the north and east from Dwight St. south to Stanley and Smalley Streets.
The East St. area is generally bound by the Newington town line, Route 9 on the south and properties with frontage on East St. to the west and Route 9 to the north.
Minimum housing densities must be achieved. These densities are 6 units per acre for single family, 10 units per acre for duplexes or town houses and 20 units per acre for multi-families.
According to a report by Geoffrey Bray, chairman of the City Planning Commission, “The IHZ program presents opportunities for New Britain. With the recent announcement by the Governor (Dannel Malloy) that the Busway is proceeding, there will be increased interest in development opportunities in the vicinity of the bus stops.”
Bray said the East Street IHZ has the potential to establish a “sense of place” adjacent to Central Connecticut State University (CCSU).
The grant gives the City $2,000 per unit for units to be built and $2,000 per unit when the building permit is issued.
Malinowski said the City plans to pass on the funds to developers.
“In this economy for developers it may not be a priority right now, but when the economy improves, we have the commitment for funds from the state,” said Malinkowski. “We are poised and ready to use them. It is another tool in our toolbox.”
