Thread by @propublica

1/ For months, we’ve investigated how wealthy towns keep themselves exclusive.

They speak in what many see as code:

- frail public infrastructure
- clogged streets
- a lack of sidewalks
- concerns over “neighborhood character”

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2/ Connecticut has more law firms than any other state specializing in land use, a key indicator of restrictive zoning.

But don’t take our word for it. Here’s what community members from CT’s wealthy Gold Coast have said about dense or affordable housing 👇🏽👇🏽

3/ “To me, this is ghettoizing Westport,” Chip Stephens, a planning and zoning commissioner, said in response to a mix of single-and multifamily housing that would accommodate up to 12 families on a 2.2 acre property. propub.li/2VYq5Rc

4/ “Those people won’t be able to afford to live in Old Greenwich. They won’t be able to afford to shop in King’s [gourmet grocery store],” a Greenwich resident said about plans for an apartment complex next to the town’s commuter train station.

5/ “Because of our proximity to Vernon and Manchester, we don’t really need any [affordable housing]. They have such a wide range of options. People don’t come to Bolton because Bolton has a higher cost of living,” said a town official.

6/ “The drug addicts are going to be here, believe me,” one Branford resident testified in November 2017 about a proposal to demolish a 50-unit, run-down low-income housing project for seniors and replace it with 67 units for poor families.

7/ This is Connecticut, a state with more separate — and unequal — housing than nearly everywhere else in the country.

This separation is by design. propub.li/2VYq5Rc

8/ Take Westport, CT, for example. 1 out of every 30 housing units in Westport is dedicated to low- or moderate-income residents, compared with 1 in 8 next door in Norwalk, or 1 in 5 in Bridgeport 9 miles away. propub.li/2VYq5Rc

9/ “Within the tri-state region, Westport remains an attractive and desirable location relative to many nearby communities, and we must invest in keeping our town in that position,” Westport’s Republican first selectman said last year.

10/ Even if elected officials support affordable housing, the resident opposition can be intense.

👉🏽 Petition drives launch
👉🏽 Pamphlets are mailed
👉🏽 Lawn signs go up
👉🏽 FB groups form to strategize
👉🏽 Fundraising campaigns pay for land use attorneys and environmental experts

11/ “I think the vestiges of our racial past are far from over.” —former Gov Dannel P. Malloy.

These aren’t “vestiges.” It's a living process in zoning boards across CT.

In 1/4 of municipalities, the % of low-income housing *decreased* since 1990.n propub.li/2VYq5Rc

12/ This story is part of an ongoing series in partnership with @CTMirror. And we're not stopping here.

Are you’re worried about affordable housing in your Connecticut community? We want to hear from you.

Email us at [e-mail].

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