Set on 4.8 acres of wooded land in central Wilton, Wilton Commons is a congregate senior housing facility that provides an ideal mix of convenience and rural living for its residents. The first phase includes 51 apartments with on-site amenities such as a central dining room, a library, crafts and recreation rooms, meditation space, beauty shop, and a small store. Twenty-three units congregate services will be added in phase two when state and federal funding become available.
Wilton Commons is a mixed-income development, serving people over the age of 62 and up to 60 percent of the area median income. While residents must be self-sufficient, some need a number of community-based support services. Once phase two is completed, it is anticipated that trained staff will be available to help residents gain access to medical and other local services.
A local nonprofit organization, Wilton Commons, Inc. (WCI), was created to bring the project to fruition. WCI board members actively worked to gain the support of Wilton residents for the affordable senior housing site. Housing Connections staff provided knowledge about the housing development process and helped WCI chose a nonprofit developer that helped manage all phases of the building project from obtaining local approvals, and securing project financing, to overseeing construction and lease-up.
Wilton Commons is funded through a mix of federal, state and local dollars totaling $9,700,000. Sources include the National Equity Fund, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, and some $2 million in private grants and donations.
