Other Planning Efforts
Along with and helping to shape the Wall Street/West Avenue neighborhood, the city is also conducting a Citywide Plan/POCD, a citywide Parking study and a Transit Oriented Development plan around East Avenue.
West Ave/Wall Street Study on Industry

Mature Industries with a Strong Fairfield County Presence
Industries in Fairfield County that are considered mature have a strong presence in the County but haven’t seen job growth at the national level over the last seven years. All of these industries have a higher than average effect on the area economy in terms of employment and wages. Therefore, Norwalk should consider strategies to determine what support these industries might need to maintain their presence. Industries in this category include:- Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers
- Publishing Industries (except internet)
- Broadcasting (except internet)
- Telecommunications
Growing Industries with a Strong Fairfield County Presence
Industries identified in this group have both a strong presence in Fairfield County and are growing nationally. The city should have a development strategy to maintain its reputation as an attractive area for these industries to remain or locate in order to take advantage of their continued growth.This category includes the following industries:
- Nonstore Retailers
- Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries
- Other Information Services
- Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries
Potential Industries
These industries don’t have a strong presence in Fairfield County but are growing nationally and account for a growing proportion of jobs in the region. Because there are a number of workers that commute from Norwalk to Manhattan, the skill set to support these industries most likely exists in Norwalk. Also, the proximity to existing firms and workers may make them viable candidates to attract to the area. Norwalk should research these industries further to determine whether they are a good fit for the city. Potential industries include:- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing
- Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
- Credit Intermediation and Related Activities
- Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities
- Insurance Carriers and Related Activities Management of Companies and Enterprises
Priority Industries to Retain
A number of industries have previously done well in the region and employed a lot of people but have recently experienced lower than expected growth than would have been expected over a period of time. The city may want to investigate further to understand the reason for low growth and how Norwalk can support these industries. Retention industries include:- Food and Beverage Stores
- Other Information Services
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Waste Management and Remediation Services
- Ambulatory Healthcare Services
- Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
- Social Assistance
Housing Profile of Wall St.– West Ave. Neighborhood Shows More Rentals, Older Buildings

Housing Stock by Occupancy Type, 2016

Pricing
Another distinction of the housing market in Fairfield County relative to Connecticut is housing prices. Housing that is occupied by the owner tends to be much more expensive in the county and in Norwalk compared to the state overall. Both Norwalk and Fairfield County have a much smaller portion of owner-occupied housing units valued below $300,000 than does the state overall.Value of Owner-Occupied Units, 2016

Future Housing Demand
When looking at the future of housing in Norwalk, the study looked at a number of factors including growth in the adult population and shifts in the age distribution. According to EMSI, the population of Norwalk is expected to increase by 3,700 over the next 10 years. The overall change in the number of projected households for Norwalk through 2028 is an increase of over 1,800 households, most of this growth will be in households with a head of household that is under 35 years old and those aged 65 and older. These population and demographic changes means that more housing and more variety of housing will be needed. The findings suggest the need to consider additional housing options such as micro-units or studio apartments, which could be more accessible financially to younger workers or those of retirement age. Considering the future needs of these groups, housing that will attract young professionals permanently to the area as well as more reasonably priced housing options for working families will be important for the future. The potential new developments in Norwalk will most likely increase the population in Norwalk and in turn increase the demand for additional units and more housing variety throughout Norwalk’s neighborhoods. This additional housing stock and options would help dispel concerns that housing is currently too expensive in Norwalk. Read the Full Draft of the Wall Street/West Avenue Neighborhood PlanTimeline: Redevelopment
Other Planning Efforts
Along with and helping to shape the Wall Street/West Avenue and Washington Street/South Main neighborhoods, the city is also conducting a Citywide Plan/POCD as well as a citywide Parking study.
Have A Say: You Live, Work & Visit Here!
We need everyone who lives, works and visits these neighborhoods to have a say. If you are one of the following, we would like to hear from you:
- Resident
- Property owner
- Business owner
- Public official
- Institutional agency
- Visitor
Help us to capture the true, current temperature of the Wall Street/West Avenue and Washington Street/South Main neighborhoods and make your mark on Norwalk's future.
If you have any questions about the Redevelopment planning efforts, contact Tami Strauss at tstrauss@norwalkct.org or call 203-854-7810 x46787