Wilton Commons Project Will Begin in October

A group of seniors gathered at the Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday night to welcome the announcement that Wilton Commons, a 51-unit affordable housing project for Wilton seniors, is scheduled to break ground near the beginning of October.

The announcement came from George Ciaccio, the Chair of Wilton Commons Inc.

“All funds are committed or in place,” said Ciaccio with a wide smile.

Right now, Ciaccio said they had 82 percent of their $2 million [fundraising] goal, but have “200 outstanding pledges, with 150 to be committed by the end of the month and the rest to collected by the end of the year,” he said of the that have been ongoing for 10 years since the project’s inception.

The project itself will cost about $, most of which has been funded in grants. Wilton Commons will be built on 4.8 acres of land, allowing more than enough room for upgrades in the future.

“Originally we wanted 125 units, but it was cut in half because of funding,” said Ciaccio. “Another 21 units will be added when funds are available.”

The project will be built by the Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern Connecticut. Its executive director ,Larry Kluetsch, was present at the meeting and expressed an eagerness to get started.

“Construction will start as early as the first day after the funds close in October,” said Kluetsch.

Kluetsch said the project would take about 12-15 months to complete, and if all goes well, Wilton Commons will be open by next Thanksgiving or Christmas time.

“The foundation will be laid in before snowfall,” he said.

“We’re ahead of the curb on this one,” said First Selectman William Brennan, noting that surrounding towns like New Canaan and Ridgefield were also looking into affordable housing.

Ciaccio gave an earnest thanks to the Board of Selectmen with a special thanks to Selectman Richard Creeth for his help. When the conversation with the Board had finished, the crowd expressed their feelings with a round of applause—a somewhat unusual act at a Board of Selectmen meeting.