Hurdles but progress in quest for affordable housing

CORNWALL — An affordable senior housing complex planned by the Cornwall Housing Corporation is moving forward, at a pace set by the state and federal governments.

The Board of Selectmen approved a plan at its last meeting to write the letter of support required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The letter was requested by Housing Corporation representatives Maggie Cooley and Marie Prentice.

The town is being asked to waive future permit application fees, and the state will be asked to waive its portion of fees.

Prentice described the process of getting HUD approvals as a lengthy one but said the agency will provide the subsidies needed to make the apartments affordable. Application guidelines were received months later than expected, she said. A consultant is making sure the paperwork is completed properly.

It was the state that was behind a recent bump in the road.

“Despite the slow pace, things were moving along until the Connecticut State Historic Preservation office advised an archeological survey was needed because important archeological sites exist within a half mile of the proposed building site.

“No one is sure exactly what those sites are,� Prentice said. “It seems they may be connected with the ironworks, but we don‘t expect to find much of anything.�

First Selectman Gordon Ridgway offered assurances that anything of historical significance would have been dug out decades ago.

“That whole area was surfaced out for gravel during World War II,� he said.

That’s one reason why the section of frontage through the village center appears to be carved out of the surrounding hillside.

Since that meeting, after spending $3,000 on  an archaeologist, the Cornwall Housing Corporation has cleared another hurdle. As the process evolves, input will continue to be sought from the public at informational sessions.