If all goes well, construction could begin in the fall.

By Avice Meehan

The Foundation for Norfolk Living has submitted a consolidated application to Connecticut’s Department of Housing for the Haystack Woods development off Old Colony Road, an important milestone before construction can begin.

“Fingers crossed that construction could happen this fall,” said Kate Briggs Johnson, chair of the foundation’s board and an architect with expertise in energy-efficient design. “We are determined but may not succeed. History tells us that the state and the lenders may not move so fast.”

Johnson’s optimism is tempered by experience. With site work completed in late 2023, the foundation had hoped to break ground this past spring on building 10 energy-efficient, affordable homes. But the project team had to take a step back to work through the state bidding process and requirements for including small businesses owned by women and under-represented minorities.

The state is providing significant funding for Haystack Woods. Johnson said the precise total will be determined once the application has been fully reviewed and construction estimates are finalized. Johnson said that David Jones, a local contractor who built the prototype house, led the process for selecting subcontractors and is acting as construction manager. 

The state has already invested $2.9 million to cover pandemic-related price increases; the additional cost of building a public road, including blasting for ledge removal; and utility infrastructure. Out of the total, $2.486 million was allocated to Guerrera Construction, which won the competitive bid for site work. The balance covered site acquisition and administrative costs.

In the meantime, the foundation is speaking with local lenders about construction financing and identifying tax credits and other incentives tied to the use of solar energy. 

Home ownership will be structured like a condominium and the foundation will own the land. The mix of homes includes four one-story dwellings with two bedrooms each; three 1.5-story dwellings with three bedrooms, and three two-story dwellings with three bedrooms. The cost of ownership will be pegged to 30 percent of a qualifying buyer’s income with income ranges set later in the process.