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 as 40-Unit Project with Half the Apartments Set Aside as Affordable
What happened: A four-story apartment project at 12 Godfrey Place in Wilton, Connecticut, won a reluctant approval from the local planning and zoning commission. The development, now named Wilton Center Lofts, was approved as a 40-unit building with 50% of units designated as below-market-rate housing, a higher share than the standard 8-30g guideline. The commission’s approval came after a tense, drawn-out review process and amid a broader state push to expand affordable housing through a new incentive program.
Why it matters
The Wilton project is one of 20 developments statewide to receive support through the Build for CT program, a state initiative intended to encourage developers to include below-market apartments in their projects. The program has approved projects that together add about 2,700 housing units and has provided roughly $88 million in low-interest financing so far. Those funds have been used to underwrite about 740 middle-income units—defined by the program as serving households between 60% and 120% of area median income.
Local debate and legal pressure
The Wilton Center Lofts approval illustrates the clash between local planning priorities and state tools designed to expand housing. Town officials repeatedly signaled discomfort with the project—citing concerns over insufficient on-site parking (40 spaces for 40 units), a tight loading zone, and the configuration of an electronic bicycle charging station that could affect emergency access. The commission described long meetings and strong public reaction throughout the review.
Those concerns collided with the state’s 8-30g law, which gives developers standing to challenge denials of affordable housing projects in court. After an initial back-and-forth in which the developer withdrew a prior application and resubmitted under the 8-30g pathway, the commission concluded that without clear health or safety evidence it risked losing a legal fight and incurring significant costs. The approval included conditions intended to address safety issues, including fire marshal sign-off on charging stations.
Project history and details
The site is a 0.62-acre parcel just west of the Wilton Library where a roughly 10,000-square-foot building once stood. The developer reduced the plan from an earlier proposal of 42 units to 40 units in its 8-30g submission. The design work on the project was prepared by an architecture firm based in the region. The developer entity lists a Westport address for project paperwork. Leasing was expected to begin the summer after the approval, and the project was under construction as of August of that year.
Statewide context: Build for CT and related programs
Connecticut’s General Assembly authorized a $200 million Build for CT program in 2023, funded by bonds. The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority has approved the initial set of 20 projects under the program, which together represent a meaningful but limited share of statewide housing approvals—about 18% of the nearly 15,200 units approved by municipalities in 2023 and 2024. On average, the program has supplied roughly $125,000 in financing per below-market-rate unit, though the per-unit amount varies across projects.
The program operates by recycling repaid loans so CHFA can support additional projects. State officials report that developers initially feared program participation would be complicated, but many have since returned with follow-up projects. Several additional developments—across multiple cities—were noted as close to receiving Build for CT support, and dozens more developers had reached out to explore the program.
Examples and comparisons
The largest Build for CT award to date went to a waterfront project in Bridgeport, with $20 million of support for a 160-unit building that will reserve a portion of units at rents affordable to households around the local median income. In other examples, two projects—one in Westport and Wilton Center Lofts—stand out for setting aside 50% of units as affordable, the highest share among approved projects so far. Developers and town leaders say that state gap financing often makes affordability components viable that otherwise would not proceed.
Broader policy debate and local planning
The Wilton decision unfolded alongside heated state-level debate over a proposed housing bill aimed at removing barriers and encouraging more housing production across Connecticut. In Wilton, planning officials and many residents have been wary of state mandates that they say could override local planning and strain services. Town records show that recent approvals increased overall housing units substantially, but the town still falls short of statewide affordability targets.
Local officials emphasized that incremental approvals—like Wilton Center Lofts—fit into larger efforts but warned that without broader, proactive planning and adjustments to local zoning, towns will continue to face difficult choices under state statutes designed to expand affordable housing supply.
What comes next
The project will move forward subject to the commission’s conditions and required sign-offs. At the state level, the Build for CT program will continue to consider applications, with officials encouraging a range of project sizes where smaller developments may be impactful in smaller towns. Additional reporting requirements now require six-month updates to the legislature on the program’s activity and outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Wilton Center Lofts?
A: Wilton Center Lofts is a four-story apartment project at 12 Godfrey Place approved for 40 units, with half of the units designated as below-market-rate housing.
Q: What is Build for CT?
A: Build for CT is a state program providing low-interest financing and incentives to developers to include below-market units in new housing projects. It was authorized by the state legislature in 2023 and funded through bonds.
Q: How much support has Build for CT provided so far?
A: CHFA has approved 20 projects for Build for CT, providing about $88 million in financing that has helped create roughly 740 middle-income units within those projects.
Q: Why was Wilton’s planning commission reluctant to approve the project?
A: Commissioners raised concerns about parking, loading-zone design, and potential impacts to emergency access. They also cited frustration with the necessity of approving 8-30g projects where denial risks costly legal defeat absent clear health and safety evidence.
Q: What is the 8-30g process and how did it affect this project?
A: The 8-30g statute allows developers to challenge municipal denials of affordable housing projects. That legal leverage influenced the commission’s decision, as denial without strong safety evidence would likely have failed in court.
Q: When will the apartments be available?
A: Developers expected leasing to begin the summer after approval; construction was underway as of August of that year. Exact leasing dates depend on final permits and market timing.
Key Features at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project name | Wilton Center Lofts |
| Address | 12 Godfrey Place, Wilton, CT |
| Units approved | 40 apartments |
| Affordable set-aside | 50% of units below-market-rate |
| Site size | 0.62 acres |
| Existing structure | Approx. 10,000 sq ft building to be demolished |
| On-site parking | 40 spaces |
| Program participation | Approved under Build for CT |
| Build for CT statewide totals (to date) | 20 projects, ~2,700 units approved, ~$88M in financing |
| Largest Build for CT award | $20M for a 160-unit waterfront project in Bridgeport |
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
Author: Construction FL News
FLORIDA STAFF WRITER The FLORIDA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at constructionflnews.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Florida and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Florida Build Expo, major infrastructure projects, and advancements in construction technology showcases. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida and the Florida Home Builders Association, plus leading businesses in construction and legal services that power the local economy such as CMiC Global and Shutts & Bowen LLP. As part of the broader network, including constructioncanews.com, constructionnynews.com, and constructiontxnews.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into the dynamic construction landscape across multiple states.
