Westside Revitalization

Twenty years of work, representing seven new communities and more than 700 new dwellings 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.