Wilton, Connecticut, August 18, 2025
News Summary
Wilton Center Lofts, a four-story apartment project at 12 Godfrey Place in Wilton, Connecticut, received approval as a 40-unit building with 50% of units designated below-market-rate. The approval followed a contentious planning commission review that raised concerns about limited on-site parking, loading zone layouts and emergency access, but legal pressure from the state’s 8-30g affordable housing statute and participation in the Build for CT program influenced the decision. The approval includes conditions such as fire marshal sign-off on electric bicycle charging stations. The project is part of a statewide effort using low-interest financing to expand below-market and middle-income housing.
Wilton Center Lofts Approved with Half the Units Held for Affordable Rents; Approval Tied to State Build for CT Program and Local Debate
The Wilton Planning & Zoning Commission approved a four-story apartment project at 12 Godfrey Place that will yield 40 units, with 50% of those units designated as affordable. The project moved forward under a legal pathway that encourages affordable housing development and is now under construction, with work visible in August 2025.
Top line: what was approved and why it matters
The developer revised an initial plan and resubmitted under a state law that gives developers leverage to pursue affordable housing if local approvals are denied. The Planning & Zoning Commission voted to approve the revised 8-30g application reluctantly and attached conditions, including sign-off from the fire marshal on electrical charging infrastructure. Commissioners cited concerns about on-site parking, loading-zone size, and safety, but legal advice and past court rulings left the commission with limited grounds to deny the project outright.
How this fits into state housing efforts
The Wilton project is one of 20 developments statewide approved for incentives through the Build for CT program. The program, authorized by the state legislature with a $200 million bond-backed fund, offers low-interest financing and gap subsidies to encourage developers to include below-market-rate apartments. To date, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority has cleared 20 Build for CT projects that together add about 2,700 units. Developers have drawn roughly $88 million in low-interest financing so far, which has been used to create about 740 middle-income units—defined as units for households earning between 60% and 120% of area median income.
Program mechanics and scale
The state finances Build for CT through bonds. CHFA issues loans that are repaid and recycled to support new projects. On average, the program equates to about $125,000 in financing per below-market unit, though amounts vary by project. Two projects—including the Wilton Center Lofts and a Village at Saugatuck development in Westport—stand out for setting aside 50% of units as affordable, the highest share among approved projects.
Examples and numbers to watch
The largest Build for CT award so far went to a waterfront project in Bridgeport receiving $20 million to support 160 apartments. That project will mix market-rate units with rents affordable near the local median. Mid-August rental data showed average Bridgeport rents at roughly $1,540 for one-bedrooms and $1,850 for two-bedrooms, offering context for affordability targets. CHFA officials report multiple additional projects in line for funding and dozens of developers seeking information.
Local politics and planning context in Wilton
Wilton officials and residents have been debating how to meet state housing goals while preserving local planning priorities. Since the 2020 census, local approvals added 933 new units, of which 100 are affordable. That produced a modest increase in affordable-unit share and left Wilton well short of the state’s 10% affordability benchmark. Town commissions have weighed requiring 10% affordability for new developments, but analysis and subcommittee debate concluded that a 10% requirement alone would not get the town to a 10% overall rate.
How the approval unfolded
The developer initially proposed a larger or different configuration and pressed the commission during a period when a new master plan and zoning rules were delayed. After a threatened redesign under the 8-30g pathway, the applicant submitted a 40-unit proposal for the 0.62-acre site just west of the Wilton Library. Commissioners described the approval process as difficult and emotionally charged. Several voted reluctantly in favor to secure conditions; the chair cast the sole no vote. Commissioners stressed that denials of 8-30g projects must be tied to demonstrable public-safety impacts to survive court challenges.
Statewide context and other local projects
Build for CT sits alongside a second state tool called Time To Own, which provides down-payment gap financing for homebuyers. Municipalities across Connecticut—from small towns to cities with booming apartment markets—are interacting with these programs in different ways. Some towns that historically had few apartments are now seeing multiple projects, while others remain wary of state-level changes. In one riverfront Connecticut town, two projects will add nearly 20 below-market units, demonstrating how incentives can shift developer interest.
Implications and outlook
The Wilton Center Lofts approval showcases a broader tension between local land-use control and state policy tools designed to increase affordable housing supply. State incentives have prompted projects that might not have included affordability without support, but towns face legal and political constraints in rejecting or reshaping those projects. Officials and developers say more proactive local planning and targeted incentives will be needed to meet state affordability goals while addressing concerns about parking, traffic, school impacts and infrastructure.
Nearby and related proposals
Separately, a developer has proposed a 208-unit mixed residential project on a former office campus near the commuter rail station that would include 10% affordable units under current local rules. Public comments for that proposal have been split roughly evenly between supporters and opponents, who raised typical concerns about schools, traffic and downtown vibrancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Wilton Center Lofts project?
A four-story apartment building at 12 Godfrey Place with 40 units, half reserved as affordable housing. The project replaces a roughly 10,000-square-foot building on a 0.62-acre lot and is under construction.
How did the project get approved despite local concerns?
The developer submitted under the state 8-30g statute that enables affordable housing projects to bypass typical denials. Town counsel advised the commission that without clear health or safety evidence a denial would likely fail in court, so the commission approved with conditions focused on safety and operations.
What is Build for CT and how does this project relate?
Build for CT is a state program backed by bond financing that offers low-interest loans and gap funds to encourage below-market apartments. Wilton Center Lofts is among projects approved for incentives under the program, which aims to expand affordable units across the state.
How much funding has Build for CT provided so far?
CHFA has provided about $88 million in low-interest financing across 20 approved projects, supporting roughly 740 middle-income units; the program was authorized at $200 million.
What concerns did local officials raise about the Wilton project?
Officials noted limited on-site parking, a small loading zone, and electric bicycle charging arrangements that could affect emergency access. The commission imposed conditions such as fire marshal approval for charging facilities to address these concerns.
Key project and program features at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Project name | Wilton Center Lofts (12 Godfrey Place) |
| Units | 40 apartments; 50% set aside as affordable |
| Site size | 0.62 acres; existing building ~10,000 sq ft to be demolished |
| Approval route | Resubmitted as an 8-30g affordable housing application; approved with conditions |
| Key conditions | Fire marshal approval for charging infrastructure; other operational conditions tied to safety |
| State program | Build for CT participant; part of a statewide effort backed by $200M in bonds |
| Build for CT totals (to date) | 20 projects approved; ~2,700 total units; ~$88M in financing used for ~740 middle-income units |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- CT Insider: Build for CT affordable housing program
- Wikipedia: Affordable housing in the United States
- Wilton Bulletin: Wilton Center Lofts planning & zoning
- Google Search: Wilton Center Lofts
- The Hour: Wilton apartments — Toll Brothers & CommonFund
- Google Scholar: Wilton affordable housing
- Westfair: Are the Wilton Center Lofts a little too lofty?
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Wilton, Connecticut
- CT Insider: Wilton office-to-residential conversions
- Google News: Wilton affordable housing
