Vidal Court Revitalization

The Westwood, Palmer Square, and Greenfield Communities replace the former Vidal Court, an obsolete 216-unit state-assisted public housing project with narrow outdoor corridors and substandard conditions. Westwood provides 95 dwelling units, Palmer Square, 76 units, and Greenfield 45 townhouses in unique neighborhoods that take advantage of nearby parks and green spaces. The Greenfield phase involved a land-swap with Stamford Health System.

The Vidal Court Revitalization Area represents 216 of the 700 new dwelling units that have transformed much of Stamford's Westside neighborhood into a stable, economically balanced area that nurtures family-friendly living, while stimulating economic renewal. The communities are a model for the revitalization of the residential urban fabric of Connecticut’s inner cities, fulfilling residents’ deep desire for a “home.”

Selected by the Stamford Housing Authority, now Charter Oak Communities, Newman created a master planning vision to renew neighborhood living west of the Mill River, providing affordable housing for low- and moderate-income working families, market-rate housing, supportive housing, and home ownership opportunities. Significant about all the projects was gaining community trust and buy-in from people who had little confidence in what was going to happen to them. Development in phases allowed temporary relocation of residents, ultimately making places for all who wanted to return.