New Affordable Housing Proposal, New Task Force

First Selectman Dave Campbell has handed over his recent proposal for senior affordable housing at Edgerton Street to three Darien residents. The project will ultimately run a a nonprofit, a move that severs Campbell's ties from the project, and all but removes town government from the equation.

"That's how it should be," said Campbell. "Government just shouldn't be involved in these things. This is no longer my thing."

Born of the proposed Senior Center shuffle that involves knocking down the building and moving the program to the Town Hall or 35 Leroy Ave., is Campbell's late idea for an affordable housing development at Edgerton Street.

The plan, still subject to debate and alteration, calls for 20 units of senior affordable housing on the Senior Center site. Campbell said the development would operate similar to Clock Hill Homes, where the town leases the land; but unlike Clock Hill Homes, the Edgerton project would be privately funded and deed restricted. It's a plan that caters solely to Darien seniors and answers the "biggest" of the town's affordable housing needs, said Campbell.

Shovel won't meet the ground for a long time yet, said Campbell, and a finalized plan will ultimately come before the Representative Town Meeting. In the meantime, Campbell has passed his vision over to Darien natives he considers best suited for the task at hand: Jenny Streeter, Carolyn Murray and Bob Calve.

"The basic idea is: what's the best affordable housing option at this site and how can we best go about taking the idea to the next step?" said Streeter, who is leading the project.

The three volunteers have yet to meet, and as such, have yet to discuss how the process will unfold. Still, Streeter says whatever the process it will involve a lot of discussion and a lot of listening.

"We want to have as much community input as possible," said Streeter. "It's an absolutely critical component to understand the neighbors' concerns."

And Streeter speaks from first-hand experience. She worked with Campbell on both the Darien High School and Darien Library developments.

Where Streeter admits she has little experience with affordable housing projects, she says Murray brings a wealth of knowledge.

"Carolyn has been very involved with Person to Person and with affordable housing in both Darien and Stamford," said Streeter. "And Bob owns Fox Hill Builders; he's bringing the construction expertise."

Streeter said the group may well expand in the future, but little has been decided.

"Dave's plans are great, but they're not finalized," said Streeter. "He handed me his rough drawing, and here we are, starting from scratch—really and truly."