Bailey Blaikie ’19

A 94-unit apartment complex is currently under construction at 1177 Post Road East for which 30 percent of the apartments will be deemed affordable housing under the 8-30g affordable housing statue. The proposal was approved by Westport’s Planning & Zoning Commission in September 2016. Real estate developers Phil Craft, Arthur Hersh, Steve Lawrence and Scott Lawrence, all partners from 1177 PRE Associates, LLC, hope to have it completed by June 1, 2018.

“I think this is an important addition to our town, and I hope that the pursuit to make Westport more accessible is continued,” Peri Kessler ’18 said.

The building is set to have 38 one-bedroom apartments and the rest will be studio apartments. Twenty-nine of the 94 units are set aside to be affordable housing. The project involves renovating the 42,000 square foot building and a four-story addition over the parking lot.

“The initiative that is being put into creating more affordable housing in Westport is very important,” Luke Welch ’19 said.
The partners are hoping to build this affordable housing for people like firemen, teachers, policemen and other town staff and employees.

“[Westport] needs more affordable housing options for the people that make Westport work,” Craft said.

The requirements for the affordable housing units will be according to the income of the prospective resident. The rest of the apartments will be sold at market rate. Hersh believes the remainder of the apartments will be desirable to empty nesters, millennials and divorcees looking to stay in Westport.

“I can’t believe how many people have wanted to put their name on a list [for the affordable housing],” Hersh said. “The excitement is unbelieveable in the community.”

The motivation to include affordable housing in this development came from the idea that the developers wanted to “address a need of the community that has never been met,” according to Hersh.

In addition to the apartments, the building will also consist of a gym, a game room with pool tables and card tables and meeting areas for members of the community.

The partners are also aiming to build the apartments to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified (LEED). LEED is a rating system to evaluate the environmental performance of a building. However, the certification is still in the works for this project.

“[Affordable housing] will not only benefit those who will live in the affordable housing, but also benefit the community as a whole,” Kessler said.