Colonial Village Transformation

Resident Participation Plan

The Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk (NHA) intends to undertake a major physical transformation of Colonial Village, a property that is owned and managed by NHA and is occupied and used as affordable public housing. NHA has notified all residents of Colonial Village of this intention and shall, in conjunction with the residents of Colonial Village, implement this Resident Participation Plan (RPP) which sets forth the steps and actions that will be taken by NHA to include the Colonial Village residents in decisions related to the major physical transformation of the property. This plan is intended to implement the requirements of Connecticut General Statute 8-64c.

Plan Implementation

The NHA shall:

1. Give notification to all residents explaining residents’ right to organize and participate in tenant organizations, such as the Resident Advisory Board or a local Colonial Village tenant association, without interference from or adverse action by NHA.
2. Hold monthly meetings on the status of planned transformation of the property. Meeting notices will be in the monthly newsletter that is distributed to all tenants; notices will be posted on www.norwalkha.org. Residents can expect an agenda to be circulated at every meeting and the minutes of each meeting will be disseminated to all residents shortly thereafter via the NHA newsletter as well as being posted on norwalkha.org. All meetings will be held virtually due to Covid-19.
3. Provide residents with information about groups and organizations that are separate from NHA and may serve as a resource to residents on matters including housing policy and resident outreach, training, organizing and legal rights. Residents may contact Anna Keegan, Acting Director, Norwalk Human Relations & Fair Rent Dept. at 203-970-4200 or Margaret Suib, Norwalk Fair Housing Officer at 203- 854-7820 should they have any questions.
4. Provide for the inclusion, at the discretion of residents, of resident advocates or other tenant assistance providers in all resident participation activities.
5. Make all significant documents related to the major transformation, including copies of design plans and applications for financial assistance, available for inspection. Given Covid-19, residents can view the documents online at norwalkha.org.
6. Provide residents information on major physical transformation, relocation, or other activities such as:

• • The details of the major physical transformation that NHA intends to undertake and the projected timeline for such activities;
  • The design of housing units, building, amenities and common areas, including the number, size and configuration of housing units;
  • Architectural design and landscaping;
  • Relocation benefits;
  • The level of occupancy that will be maintained in advance of the major physical transformation;
  • Plans, procedures, and qualifications for the occupancy of units by current and new residents, including preferences, in any, for current residents at the conclusion of such major physical transformation; and
  • The governance of the entity that will own, lease or otherwise control the real property or portion thereof and how such governance may affect such residents, including any changes to grievance procedures, residents’ rights and residents’ opportunities to participate in management decisions.

7. Provide opportunities for resident involvement, advice and recommendations concerning major activities such as:

• Temporary and/or permanent relocation plans;
• Potential resident employment or the potential use of resident-owned businesses in such major physical transformation and in future property management operations; and
• Future resident services, property management, security and any enrichment features affecting residents’ quality of life.

I certify that this plan was adopted by the Norwalk Housing Authority at its Board Meeting held on May 14, 2020.

Signed