Woodbridge voters approve 70-year ground lease with New Samaritan to preserve 30 elderly housing units

Woodbridge electors voted unanimously on July 8 to approve a proposed 70-year municipal ground lease with New Samaritan Corporation for The Warner at 19 Lucy Street, a 30-unit elderly housing complex built in 1991. Moderator Jeff Ginsburg called the special meeting and put the resolution to a voice vote after a presentation and public comment period.

The agreement, as described by Kelli McDermott, CEO of New Samaritan, would designate all 30 units as affordable to households at 80% of area median income (AMI) for the length of the lease while the town would retain control of the underlying land through a master lease. "This master lease agreement is going to make all 30 of those units designated as affordable to households making 80% of area median income or less in the town of Woodbridge, throughout the time period of that new lease agreement," McDermott said.

Town leaders and McDermott said current tenants who exceed the 80% AMI threshold would be grandfathered and not forced to move; units would have to meet the income requirement at turnover. The First Select noted the change would substantially increase the town's stock of deed-restricted elderly units and help Woodbridge toward state point-based housing goals.

McDermott and town staff outlined the financing and scope: the Connecticut Department of Housing has committed roughly $2.5 million, and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) has committed about $1 million to leverage rehabilitation work, and a town-contracted capital needs assessment estimated about $2 million of needs on the site. McDermott said the combined state resources would be used for exterior work (roofs, doors, windows), interior accessibility upgrades (walk-in showers and accessible community facilities), a new addressable fire alarm panel (roughly $100,000), and other targeted repairs.

Under the proposed tax agreement, the developer would pay a payment-in-lieu amount equal to 5% of gross rent instead of the full property tax; town staff estimated last year's property tax on the site was about $42,000 and that the new arrangement would yield roughly $25,000 to the town. Officials described the PILOT as a tool to stabilize operating budgets and make the deal underwriteable while preserving affordability.

Residents pressed officials on maintenance, safety and waiting-list questions during the public comment period. One resident, Bertha Rose, said she supports the project because it addresses immediate needs: "I like all of that," she said, naming roofs and community-room work. Ray Desardo asked whether Woodbridge residents could receive priority on the waiting list; officials said state rules for state-subsidized housing do not permit town-based waiting-list preference. McDermott explained that the existing waiting list would be retained for eligible applicants but that state eligibility rules must be followed.

McDermott gave a projected schedule: if the necessary approvals and financing align, she said New Samaritan expects to be in a position to close with the state, CHFA and the town between September and December 2026, with renovation work likely to begin in February 2027 and take about 10–12 months in a best-case scenario.

After the presentation and a period of public comment in which several residents voiced support, Moderator Jeff Ginsburg called for a final motion to approve the proposed municipal ground lease. He called the voice vote; those present answered "Aye," and he declared the motion adopted unanimously.

Next steps identified by town staff and New Samaritan include finalizing state financing and CHFA approvals, executing the lease documents, and scheduling the close and subsequent rehabilitation work. The town noted it will continue to exercise oversight under the master lease structure and will have recourse through existing code and health-department enforcement if maintenance or health-and-safety standards are not met.