Housing Authority Reviews Canaan Parish Flood Recovery Effort

Other Committee · Meeting of February 18, 2026

New Canaan Housing Authority board reviews flood recovery, ice dam complaints. Property manager Amy told the board Millport has five vacant units and confirmed minimum qualifying income for a one-bedroom tax credit unit is $58,000, with a maximum of $65,000. A colleague identified as Shandrina said seven residents were relocated after a flood and sprinkler failure at Canaan Parish, with repairs affecting roughly 50 apartments and a 24-hour fire watch still underway.

Board member Rick credited maintenance staff Aziz, Gunnar and Leonard with working "around the clock" on the fix. Riverwood property manager Tim reported 97 percent occupancy. Residents Wendy and Jim raised complaints about a dead tree, cracked pavement and ice dams at Millport.

The board approved minutes and voted to enter executive session, emerging with no votes taken.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 909 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of February 18, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

NEW CANAAN — February 18, 2026 — The New Canaan Housing Authority board heard an extended update Wednesday on recovery efforts at Canaan Parish, where a burst-pipe flood and a related sprinkler system failure have displaced seven residents and triggered insulation repairs in roughly 50 apartments.

The board also fielded resident complaints about ice dams, a dead tree overhanging an apartment roof and deteriorating pavement at Millport, and confirmed that a new board member, identified only as Marilyn, still needs to be sworn in once the Town Council formally approves her appointment. No substantive votes were taken beyond routine procedural motions; the board closed the public portion of the meeting to enter executive session, from which it emerged saying no votes had been taken.

The Full Story

Property manager Amy, who oversees Millport, opened the management report portion of the meeting by telling the board five units are currently vacant, two of which are being held for residents relocated from Canaan Parish. She said the property has few one-bedroom vacancies and that many applicants for low-income tax credit units do not qualify. For the complex's federal Restricted Assistance Demonstration, or RAD, units, Amy said income must fall below roughly $24,000, a "poverty-stricken level" she said keeps that waiting list short.

Responding to questions from resident Cindy during public comment, Amy said the minimum qualifying income for a one-bedroom tax credit unit is $58,000, with a maximum of $65,000 for a single applicant or $70,000 for a two-person household holding a Section 8 voucher. She said current rent on a one-bedroom tax credit unit is $1,649 a month, a figure set by the state and subject to change in April.

A staff member identified as Shandrina (also heard as Shandria) gave the most detailed update on the Canaan Parish flood, saying the authority relocated seven residents: two into Millport units, three split between the property's north and south buildings, and two into a nearby complex. She said a fire watch has run 24 hours a day, seven days a week since the incident, and that a state Inspire inspection originally scheduled that day was postponed, with the authority hoping to schedule it later than the currently offered August date. She said two-bedroom units in the north building and a project-based Section 8 unit will become vacant once displaced residents are able to move back.

Board members Rick and Peggy, along with a person identified as Scott, discussed the technical cause of the sprinkler and insulation failure at length. Scott said contractors are removing and replacing blown-in insulation with batt insulation around the sprinkler piping in affected units and installing remote temperature sensors so staff can monitor conditions inside wall cavities during future cold snaps. Rick credited maintenance staff identified as Aziz, Gunnar and Leonard with working "around the clock" on the repairs and said Aziz also proposed adding protective covers to sprinkler heads.

Riverwood property manager Tim reported the market-rate property is running at about 97 percent occupancy and 95 percent leased, helped by two units filled with residents displaced from Canaan Parish. He said the property came in over budget on revenue for the year but under budget on expenses.

During public comment, resident Wendy asked the board to address a dead tree near a building she identified as "6E" with branches overhanging a roof, as well as gaps in pavement left by gas line work that she called a tripping hazard. Scott asked her to show him the tree in person so he could direct landscaping crews. Resident Jim asked about the authority's plan for preventing ice dam damage; staff said they have been using a product called Roof Melt on affected buildings, primarily town houses, and are considering purchasing snow rakes and evaluating heat tape for chronic problem spots. Board member Peggy offered to lend the authority a snow rake from her own home.

"So for one person in any of our complex looking for a one bedroom, the minimum income is going to be 58,000." — Amy, Millport property manager

"They've worked literally around the clock on this issue over the past few weeks, and I particularly owe them a debt of gratitude." — Rick, board member, on maintenance staff

"It's as good an outlook as I've seen since I've been dealing with it." — Tim, Riverwood property manager

Why It Matters

The flood and subsequent sprinkler failure at Canaan Parish have displaced seven households and forced the authority into a multi-week repair project affecting an estimated 50 apartments, with costs and cause still under informal review by board members weighing possible legal exposure. Residents at Millport, meanwhile, are dealing with unresolved ice dam damage and pavement left uneven by prior gas line work, issues board members said would likely wait for spring repairs. The board's discussion of income limits for tax credit and Section 8 units, which currently range from $58,000 to $70,000 depending on household size, directly affects who can qualify for affordable housing at the properties the authority manages.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Approval of the previous meeting's minutes Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Motion to enter executive session Tally: Approved unanimously

• Action: Executive session held to discuss Millport-related matters — no votes taken; board returned to open session.

- Vote: Motion to adjourn Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Town Of New Canaan: New Canaan Housing Authority meeting, February 18, 2026