Housing board delays Canaan Parish flood repairs to May 31
Other Committee · Meeting of May 20, 2026
New Canaan Housing Authority pushes flood-unit repairs to May 31 amid slower Riverwood leasing. Chairman Scott Hobbs and commissioners Peggy Danneman and Tim Welsh heard that flood-damaged Canaan Parish units, originally due back May 15, are now targeted for May 31, with State Farm paying just over $100,000 against roughly $148,000 in costs so far and a $25,000 deductible. Property manager Shandreka Ramey said a fire safety inspection has been rescheduled to June 16.
Commissioner Tim Welsh reported Riverwood is about 96 percent leased but seeing fewer tours than usual, with 20 units, about 20 percent of the complex, turning over in June. Danneman called a recent town affordable-housing workshop "as clear a description of affordable housing to an uneducated audience as possible," while Hobbs said the next 8-30g moratorium may depend on whether outside developments get built on schedule.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 863 words
Source: the Other Committee meeting of May 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
The Full Article
NEW CANAAN — May 20, 2026 — The New Canaan Housing Authority board of commissioners heard Wednesday that flood-damaged units at Canaan Parish will not be ready until May 31, more than two weeks past the original target, as commissioners also weighed how the town's next affordable-housing moratorium might be satisfied.
Chairman Scott Hobbs presided over the meeting, which began about seven minutes late because of technical problems. Commissioners Peggy Danneman and Tim Welsh also attended, along with property managers and several residents who spoke during public comment.
The Full Story
The board waived review of last month's minutes after Hobbs said he had not received them in time, and put that review off until next month. Public comment included praise for property manager Amy, whom resident Cindy credited with responding overnight to a disturbing incident she had reported to police over the weekend. Resident Wendy, who lives in unit 0287, asked about upcoming pest-control dates and noted that the New Canaan Town Council was that same evening reviewing an ordinance that would ban gas-powered leaf blowers, limiting residences to one per property. The measure had not yet been approved as of the meeting.
Property manager Amy told the board a contractor, Barrett, is scheduled to remove dead and dying trees on the property after a rescheduling, and that filters will be changed throughout the complex May 27-29. She said she has been working directly with police on an ongoing tenant issue and has issued a verbal warning that could escalate to a lease violation. The authority is also soliciting bids for asphalt work at Millport and reaching out to its security camera vendor, Silent Watchman.
Property manager Shandreka Ramey reported four vacancies at Canaan Parish, including two tax-credit two-bedroom units, a project-based Section 8 two-bedroom unit and a three-bedroom unit being handled as an internal transfer. She said the building's elevator, which had gone out twice in recent days, is running again, and that painting is complete in units damaged by an earlier flood, with carpet and lighting work underway ahead of a revised May 31 completion date. A fire safety inspection by the New Canaan Fire Department has been rescheduled to June 16. Ramey also said a new staff member, Marilyn, sent an introductory letter to all Canaan Parish residents.
On the flood claim, the board was told State Farm has paid an initial installment of just over $100,000, while costs incurred so far total roughly $148,000 before accounting for work by the authority's contractor, referred to in the meeting only as AP, which has not yet submitted an invoice. A $25,000 deductible applies, and the claim remains open.
Welsh gave an update on Riverwood, saying leasing activity and property tours have slowed heading into a season that typically sees more interest, with 20 units, about 20 percent of the property, turning over in June. He said the complex is about 96 percent leased, an improvement over last year, and that tenants continue to raise concerns about paving and parking conditions.
Hobbs, Danneman and fellow commissioner Mike Sweeney attended a town affordable-housing workshop the previous night. Hobbs said the session identified the railroad yard, the Richmond Hill yard, Locust and Morris Court as potential development sites, and that the timing of pending projects, including two developments by a property owner referred to as Carp, could determine whether the authority needs to convert additional Riverwood units to meet the state's affordable-housing thresholds. Twenty-one Riverwood units have already been converted from market rate to AMI units to satisfy bond requirements, Hobbs said, though AMI units do not count toward the state's 8-30g point system; further conversion to SMI units could be needed by 2028 if other projects do not move forward.
"I think it was as clear a description of affordable housing to an uneducated audience as possible." — Peggy Danneman, commissioner
"So much of what the right decision will be will come down to what the conditions are in about a year to two years." — Scott Hobbs, chairman
"If the big or any of the projects don't get done for rental in time, that just may hurt the idea of the moratorium." — Wendy, resident and public commenter
Why It Matters
New Canaan's affordable-housing math depends heavily on the authority's own properties. Whether the town avoids another 8-30g moratorium fight in the coming years may hinge on whether outside projects get built on time, or whether the authority converts more Riverwood units to lower-income thresholds, a step officials said could be delayed until 2028 or avoided altogether depending on other development. Meanwhile, residents displaced by flooding at Canaan Parish are now looking at a delayed May 31 return date, and the authority is still absorbing roughly $148,000 in flood-related costs beyond what its insurer has paid so far.
Key Motions & Votes
- Vote: Motion to enter executive session Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Motion to adjourn Tally: Approved unanimously
No other formal votes were taken at this meeting; no votes were taken during executive session.
Source
Town Of New Canaan: New Canaan Housing Authority meeting, May 20, 2026