Virtual Ground Broken On $4M Great Hill Cottage Community Homes

GUILFORD, CT — Once completed, the 10 affordable and sustainably-designed cottage homes being developed by the non-profit Green Planet Company of Guilford will produce as much energy as they consume saving hundreds of dollars in annual utility expenses to the homeowners who inhabit them, according to Green Planet's Christopher Widmer.

The new development "community" on a 12-acre lot located a half mile from the town center at 376 State St., will feature 1,400 – 1,700 square foot cottages designed to meet the federal Department of Energy’s 'Net Zero Energy Ready' program standards which require that the homes have high thermal insulation values in an air-tight envelope with high efficiency lighting, appliances and mechanical systems including fresh air ventilation.

The first two cottage closest to State Street should be complete in April / May 2021 and the remaining eight further back would be complete by November / December 2021, Widmer said.

In a virtual groundbreaking Tuesday, the project was described in detail.

The cottage and site design utilize the "scenic wooded setting with as light a footprint as possible including night sky-friendly lighting, a gravel drive and timber bridge stream crossing."

The existing pond there will be restored to provide a healthy habitat for birds and aquatic life and a common garden and screened pavilion built from site harvested timber is also planned.

Green and sustainable design features include a gravel driveway system with stormwater storage and lower heat island effect, site design with limited site disturbance – clustered dwellings with shared common elements, shallow frost protected foundation system, walking paths to State Street and access to public transportation, cottages 100 feet away from wetlands, night sky friendly exterior lighting design, stormwater management measures, preservation of existing trees in site planning, timber harvesting of trees from site and pond restoration and bridged stream crossing.

The cottages will have "small, efficient design," and prefabricated building elements including SIP walls and roof, floor framing.

Other 'green' energy & environmental design features

The project is certified to DOE Net Zero Energy ready program standards, has a compact floor plan, high performance thermal envelope, minimal air infiltration with high indoor air quality , thermally-efficient windows and doors, high efficiency HVAC systems, water conserving plumbing fixtures and solar-ready construction.

The green-approved interior and exterior building materials include myriad renewable or recycled materials.

Cottages will range from $180,000 to $260,000

When done, the cottage homes will be marketed and sold to families at 80 to 100 percent of the area median income. Sales prices of the cottage units will range from $180,000 to $260,000 depending on income and family size with the total of mortgage principal and interest, taxes, insurance and HOA fees not to exceed 30 percent of the household income.

Funding for the $4 million dollar project is coming primarily from Capital for Change’s PATH program through the state department of housing. Wilder said both have also provided pre-development and acquisition loans. Additional funding sources will include NAA tax credits, STEAP funds, town infrastructure funds and the Federal Home Loan Bank HOW program.
Green Planet Company is collaborating with the Homeownership Center of Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven to provide ownership structure, marketing and homebuyer training.

On hand to celebrate the project Tuesday were Sheila Mosquera-Bruno, state department of housing commissioner, Mathew Hoey, Guilford First Selectperson who spoke about the local need for affordable housing, Carla Weil, Director Commercial Lending, Capital for Change PATH Program, and state Reps. Sean Scanlon and Vincent Candelora.