Neighbors Raise Over $20K To Fight High Street Housing Plan

FAIRFIELD, CT — When school is in session, Heather Dubrosky and her daughter walk past Fairfield's Judd Estate every day on their way to Holland Hill Elementary.

"It's such a hidden treasure in our neighborhood," she said.

The prospect of development on the High Street property, which contains a 19th century Queen Anne-style house and nearby wetlands, has Dubrosky speaking with local politicians, attending government meetings and conducting research at town hall in an effort to stop a proposed building project.

"To put any type of development there just broke my heart," she said.

Dubrosky is one of a group of neighbors who oppose the affordable housing project planned for the site. In recent months, community members have raised more than $20,000 and hired a lawyer to fight the proposal. They've generated donations online, but also through a variety of grassroots efforts, such as a recycling collection, tag sale and community events.

"It really has united us as a community," Dubrosky said days before a public hearing on the project.

The house at 980 High St. was built by carpenter William Judd in 1895, according to a town archive of Fairfield's historic properties. The Judd family owned the home until 2018, Fairfield property records indicate. Deer can regularly be seen on the 2.5-acre site.

The property was purchased for $2.1 million in late 2018 by Fairfield Housing Corp., a nonprofit controlled by the Fairfield Housing Authority. The development proposed by the housing authority would include 40 units in five buildings, Executive Director Carol Martin has said. Two-story townhouse-style units would be located above first-floor residences. Eighty percent of the apartments would qualify as state-designated affordable housing. Fairfield Housing Corp. plans to restore the lot's existing house as office space and a community room.

The effort to prevent the project started in January when abutting neighbors of the Judd Estate received a letter from the authority about the development. In the intervening months, the neighbors' cause has gained momentum. An online petition opposing the project has more than 1,700 signatures and a GoFundMe campaign has almost $14,000 in donations. A Facebook group called Save Fairfield's Historic Judd Estate has more than 600 members. Large crowds have attended several meetings about the project.

In July, Dubrosky's nephew, 17-year-old Eagle Scout Ethan Dubrosky, collected enough recyclables to generate more than $3,000 for the neighbor group fighting the proposal. A tag sale yielded over $1,100 and a play date fundraiser for kids featuring local musician Tom Weber also helped raise money for the effort.

"Every penny counts, no matter what," Heather Dubrosky said, adding the group is considering holding more fundraiser events.

The neighbors hope to eventually raise $40,000 to pay costs associated with opposing the project, she said. They are in the process of hiring a consultant and conducting independent environmental and traffic studies on the proposal, according to Heather Dubrosky. Among their concerns are the potential for increased flooding, traffic, light and noise pollution, and parking issues.

A consultant hired by the Fairfield Housing Authority found the development would have minimal impact on traffic in the area, Martin has said. Experts speaking on behalf of the Fairfield Housing Corp. have told local conservation officials that the proposal would not harm the wetlands and could be beneficial for the property.

A public hearing for the development was delayed in July when the housing corporation, which is seeking an inland wetland permit, distributed new plans for the project. The new hearing before the Inland Wetlands Agency is set for Wednesday. Town staff recommend the proposal be denied without prejudice. After the proposal goes before the wetlands agency, the next step would be for it to be considered by the Town Plan and Zoning Commission.

The amount of housing stock in Fairfield that is considered to be affordable by the state is 2.5 percent. The wait time for an affordable housing apartment in Fairfield is seven to ten years. More than 1,000 people tried to get on the housing authority's wait list, which is capped at 100, during an enrollment period in June.

"No one's against affordable housing, we all understand the need," Dubrosky said, adding residents' concern is that the development is being proposed for a location that's inappropriate.

Wednesday's hearing will take place at 7 p.m. in the Board of Education seminar room at 501 Kings Highway East.