NORWICH, CT — The Norwich City Council will consider creating a tax abatement program for low- and moderate-income housing and authorizing the December auction of more than two dozen city-owned properties when it meets Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The council is also scheduled to consider transferring nearly 39 acres of open space to Avalonia Land Conservancy, accepting a property on Lambert Drive in lieu of foreclosure and allowing the state to acquire city land for Route 82 safety improvements.
The council will hold a public hearing and then consider final action on an ordinance establishing a tax abatement program intended to promote rehabilitation of existing low- and moderate-income housing in Norwich.
The ordinance would allow property owners and nonprofit or for-profit developers planning to develop or rehabilitate rental properties to apply for partial or full real estate tax abatements. Applicants who do not yet own a property could apply if they demonstrate control of the site, but they could not enter into an agreement until taking title.
Each tax abatement would require a housing agreement approved by the City Council. The money equivalent to the taxes being abated would have to be used for purposes including reducing rents and improving housing quality and design, providing housing for people at varying income levels, or providing related facilities and services.
Applications would go to the city tax assessor. The assessor and comptroller would determine whether a property qualifies and make a recommendation to the council.
An abatement would end if the property stopped being used solely as qualifying low- or moderate-income housing. The ordinance would also allow the city manager, with council approval, to enter agreements with the state for reimbursement of some or all of an abatement.
The council will also consider authorizing city tax collector to sell more than two dozen city-owned properties at a public auction Dec. 4.
City departments reviewed municipally owned parcels between May 2025 and May 2026, and the Public Works & Capital Improvements Committee recommended the auction Aug. 17 after previous attempts to dispose of the properties through other methods.
The list includes properties on Baltic Road, West Thames Street, Railroad Avenue, Talman Street, Canterbury Turnpike, Sunrise Street, East Pratte Avenue, Laporte Drive, Sturtevant Street, Mohegan Road, Lafayette Street, Newton Street, Fairmount Street, John Street, Oak Street, Sunnyside Avenue and other locations.
Starting bids range from $500 for a small Laurel Hill Road parcel to $476,800 for approximately 13.18 acres in the McKay Street area. The city previously tried to sell many of the properties to adjoining owners or through real estate agents.
The proposed auction would begin at 10 a.m. Dec. 4 at Norwich City Hall. The resolution would authorize City Manager John Salomone to accept successful bids of no less than 20% below each property's listed starting bid.
Another resolution would authorize Norwich to accept 70 Lambert Drive through a deed in lieu of foreclosure.
According to the resolution on page 12 of the agenda packet, Dennis and Carol Davis have offered to convey the property to Norwich in full satisfaction of outstanding real estate taxes. As of Aug. 31, the taxes due totaled $4,632.37, while the property was assessed at $3,100.
The council will separately consider authorizing Salomone to merge two city-owned Central Avenue parcels totaling about four-tenths of an acre. One of the parcels had previously been unsuccessfully offered to adjoining property owners.
The council will consider transferring approximately 38.79 acres of city-owned open space to Avalonia Land Conservancy Inc.
The land stems from open-space requirements connected with subdivisions involving the Occum Industrial Center and Norwich Community Development Corp. properties. Portions totaling approximately 25.05 acres and 13.77 acres were previously conveyed to Norwich.
Under the proposed transfer, Avalonia would be required to retain the property in its natural state and subject it to a conservation easement. The packet identifies the land as including open space associated with the Occum Industrial Center subdivision and the proposed Norwich Community Development Corp. subdivision.
Under old business, the council will again consider a state Department of Transportation acquisition of city-owned property associated with safety improvements along Route 82.
The agenda identifies the affected city property as 256 Dunham St.. Documents included in the packet show the state offering Norwich $7,835 for the land needed for the project.
The council is also scheduled to consider a property exchange with NXT Old Tavern LLC involving the realignment of a portion of Old Tavern Road. The resolution would authorize a quitclaim deed if the Commission on the City Plan gives the proposal a favorable recommendation.
The proposed realignment would create a new cul-de-sac and reconfigure property boundaries. The resolution says the exchange is intended to result in two conforming lots.
Two appointments are also scheduled for consideration. Laurieann Messore is proposed as a regular member of the Uncas Health District through Jan. 9, 2028, and Karen Pham is proposed as an alternate tenant member of the Fair Rent Commission through Feb. 20, 2028.
The council will also consider minutes from its Aug. 3 and Aug. 17 meetings. The Sept. 8 meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at 100 Broadway.
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