Connecticut Affordable Housing Project Includes Self Storage Facility

Fairfield County, Connecticut is experimenting with a new model for low income housing -- a housing development designed to appeal to professionals, with a fitness center and self storage facility on the premises. The new affordable housing development, called 80 Fair Street, opened this year in Norwalk. The self storage facility, United Storage Norwalk, donates all of its profits to charity. For example, this weekend, in one of its first events, United Storage Norwalk will host a flea market, to be held on Saturday from 11 to 4, and Sunday from 11 to 2. All the flea market profits will be donated to the Norwalk Emergency Shelter and the Norwalk Housing Foundation College Scholarship Fund.

Not only does United Storage Norwalk donate all of its profits to charity, but the self storage facility ended up becoming a driving force in the financing for the new development. “80 Fair Street was intended to be an affordable housing project that was going to be completed by the Human Services Council of Mid-Fairfield County,” explained Carl Kuehner, the President and CEO of Building and Land Technology, in an article in Wednesday’s Stamford Plus Magazine. Building and Land Technology was the developer for 80 Fair Street.

Unfortunately, one of the neighboring property owners sued the Human Services Council over the 80 Fair Street project, arguing that the building would block the view of its signage from Route 7. The Human Services Council pulled out of the project. “We were approached by the City of Norwalk,” Kuehner said, “and asked to acquire the land in order to help the City complete the affordable housing project....To fund the development BLT constructed the self storage project adjacent to the apartment building, and consistent with the original intent for this project, BLT is donating all profits from the apartments and the self storage facility to Norwalk area charities.”

The development at 80 Fair Street, in addition to the self storage facility and fitness center, includes 59 one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Sources used:

“Apartments: 80 Fair Street.” 80 Fair Street.

Bosak, Chris. “Community leaders: keep 80 Fair Street housing affordable.” The Hour. Feb. 6, 2010.

“Local business encourages community to use their space and donates all profits to Norwalk area charities.” ConnecticutPlus.com. June 10, 2009.

“United Storage Norwalk hosts flea market for charity.” Inside Self-Storage.  June 17, 2010.

United Storage Norwalk. “Charity flea market will benefit Norwalk Emergency Shelter & Norwalk Housing Foundation College Scholarship Fund.” Stamford Plus Magazine. June 16, 2010.

United Storage Norwalk. “Mayor Moccia officially welcomes United Storage Norwalk to the community.” ConnecticutPlus.com. July 13, 2009.