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 approves 40-unit downtown lofts with half the units kept affordable amid statewide housing push
What happened
Wilton’s planning and zoning commission approved a four-story apartment building at 12 Godfrey Place that will contain 40 units, with 50% of them set aside at below-market rents. The project, known as Wilton Center Lofts, sits on a 0.62-acre parcel just west of the town library and replaces a roughly 10,000-square-foot building. The project shrank slightly from an original 42-unit proposal and was changed to an 8-30g submission before the commission gave a reluctant approval with conditions.
Why it matters
The approval came while the state rolls out Build for CT, a bond-backed program aimed at adding below-market apartments. Wilton Center Lofts is one of 20 projects approved so far by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority under the program. The state-level program is shifting developer calculations by offering low-interest financing and gap funds to include units aimed at households earning roughly 60% to 120% of area median income.
Statewide context and program numbers
To date, CHFA has approved 20 Build for CT projects that together will add about 2,700 housing units. Developers have received roughly $88 million in low-interest financing through the program so far, which has supported about 740 middle-income units in those projects. On average, the financing equates to about $125,000 per affordable unit, though the amount varies by project. Program funds are recycled as loans are repaid, allowing CHFA to support new projects over time.
Big and small projects
The largest Build for CT award so far goes to a waterfront mixed project in Bridgeport, where a developer received $20 million to build 160 apartments, with many offered at rents affordable to households near the local median income. Smaller projects also qualified; two developments—one in Westport and Wilton Center Lofts—set aside half their units at below-market rents, representing the highest percentage of affordability among approved projects to date.
Local debate and legal pressure
Wilton’s vote was described by commissioners as begrudging. The project was filed as an 8-30g affordable housing application after town regulators delayed master plan work and the developer pushed back. Town staff warned commissioners that denying an 8-30g project without clear public safety findings would likely fail in court, leaving the town with no conditions. The approval includes required sign-off from the fire marshal on the proposed electronic bicycle charging set-up and other safety-related conditions.
Design and site considerations
The proposal calls for demolition of the existing structure and construction of a four-story building designed by a local architecture firm. Concerns raised during review included limited on-site parking—40 spaces for 40 units—loading-zone size, and whether some features could obstruct emergency access. Commissioners cited frustration with the project process and with state rules that make it hard to refuse such filings.
How Wilton fits into broader goals
The project ties directly into a bigger push at the state level to increase housing supply and affordability. The state program was created by a $200 million authorization from the legislature in 2023 and is financed through bonds. It works alongside another new program that helps homebuyers with down payments. Lawmakers also debated a separate bill aimed at speeding approvals and encouraging affordable housing across towns, drawing strong local reaction and a bipartisan letter from local officials urging the governor to veto the bill.
Where towns stand now
Wilton currently sits well below the state’s target share of affordable housing. Including units approved but not yet built, the town is at about 4% affordable housing compared with the state goal metric. Local leaders and residents argued during recent planning sessions that a simple rule requiring future projects to include 10% affordable units will not be enough to hit the town-wide 10% goal on its own.
Statewide ripple effects
CHFA reports strong interest in Build for CT. Officials say about 40 developers have reached out about the program beyond the current pipeline, and several more projects are close to applying in towns that include Colchester, Meriden, New Haven and West Hartford. Municipalities from large cities to smaller towns have projects in the mix. Program leaders say gap funding can make affordability feasible in projects that otherwise would be all-market.
Other local projects and public input
The Wilton meeting also covered other apartment proposals, including a large plan by a national builder to convert a former office site near the train station into more than 200 units, with 10% offered at below-market rates under current local rules. That proposal drew dozens of public comments, split between support and concern about schools and traffic. The town encouraged residents to continue formal comments to the town planner ahead of future hearings.
Bottom line
The Wilton Center Lofts approval is a local example of how state incentives and statutory rules interact to change housing outcomes. The project adds downtown housing and a significant share of below-market units, but it also highlights ongoing tensions between local control, planning delays, safety standards, parking and the legal tools developers can use to secure approvals.
FAQ
What is Wilton Center Lofts?
Wilton Center Lofts is a 40-unit apartment building approved for 12 Godfrey Place in Wilton. Half of the units will be offered at below-market rents.
What is Build for CT?
Build for CT is a state program financed by bonds that offers low-interest loans and gap financing to encourage developers to include below-market apartments in new projects.
How many projects and units has Build for CT approved so far?
CHFA has approved 20 projects totaling roughly 2,700 units. About $88 million in low-interest financing has been provided so far, supporting around 740 middle-income units.
What does middle-income mean here?
In this program, middle-income households are those earning about 60% to 120% of the area median income.
Why did the Wilton commission approve the project reluctantly?
The commission noted concerns about parking, loading and safety, but legal rules tied to 8-30g filings make denials difficult unless strong public safety reasons are shown. The commission approved the project with conditions to address some safety items.
How does this affect local housing goals?
The project increases downtown housing and raises the town’s count of affordable units, but Wilton remains below the state’s target percentage and will likely need more tools and proactive planning to close the gap.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project | Wilton Center Lofts at 12 Godfrey Place |
| Units | 40 apartments; originally proposed as 42 |
| Affordability | 50% of units set aside at below-market rents |
| Site | 0.62-acre parcel; demolition of ~10,000 sq ft building |
| Approval type | 8-30g affordable housing filing; approved with conditions |
| Key local issues | Parking adequacy, loading zone size, charging station layout, emergency access |
| Design | Four-story design by local architects; revised from earlier three-story proposal |
| State program link | Part of broader housing discussion amid the Build for CT rollout |
| Build for CT totals (so far) | 20 projects approved, ~2,700 units, ~$88M in financing, ~740 middle-income units |
| Next steps | Project to meet conditions such as fire marshal approval; leasing expected after construction progress |
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
