Through the off-site affordable housing option created for 41 Richmondville, our planning team was able to collaborate with the Town of Westport, Abilis (a nonprofit agency serving individuals with special needs and disabilities), and leverage funds/in-kind construction services to adaptively reuse 136 Riverside Ave into Special Needs Housing. 136 Riverside Ave is a historic building, owned by the Town, and nestled within the Saugatuck Elementary School/Pal campus. It was long vacant, for sale, and in need of significant capital investment at the time. Through various land-use applications and town agency meetings (8-24, Text Change, Site Plan, Special Permit, Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, etc.), a total of 5 Special Needs Housing units were able to be constructed, including a unit for an affordable staff person.
This innovative arrangement not only satisfied regulatory requirements but also delivered a direct social benefit to the community. It created a framework for other potential public/private partnerships and developments in town to help leverage off-site funds to serve Westport’s diverse housing needs. The design team included Tanner White Architects and our surveying and engineering team.
The primary challenge lay in creating the regulatory framework, coordinating with a skeptical neighborhood, and structuring zoning text that supports the needs of Special Needs Individuals and the adaptive reuse of vacant town-owned buildings.
By combining zoning expertise, creative problem-solving, and collaboration with team members and community partners, Redniss & Mead helped deliver the long-term provision of deed-restricted special-needs housing at 136 Riverside Ave. This effort showcases how thoughtful planning can expand inclusive housing opportunities in Westport.