NEW LONDON CHAPTER

NEW LONDON CHAPTER

What is the New London Chapter of the SE CT CLT?

The New London Chapter is the eyes and ears of the SECT CLT in the city of New London. We stay connected to local housing and land issues, identify projects that can make a meaningful impact, and share what’s working—and what’s challenging—for ground lessees and community members.

Our chapter is rooted in:

Deep community engagement
Listening to diverse voices
Presenting new ideas and evaluating ongoing work
Partnering closely with the CLT staff and board
Building trust and shared leadership

Why this matters:

New London has some of the highest housing challenges in Connecticut:

Homeownership rate: Under 40% (Among the lowest in CT)
Eviction rate: Among the highest relative to renter population
Cost burden: ~52% of renters and ~30% of homeowners pay more than 30% of their income for housing

The stakes are high—and community-led solutions like CLTs are essential.

Join the New London Chapter:

Every meeting is open to New London Residents, and we encourage you to share your ideas, your experiences with housing and land, and the change you want to see in New London.

At each meeting, you can expect:

A welcoming community space
A shared meal
Childcare available (email us ahead of time)
Updates on local housing and land issues
Planning for events, workshops, and chapter projects
Space for your ideas, concerns, and solutions

The New London Chapter meets quarterly, you'd like to join email nlchapter@sectclt.org.

If you’re looking to connect with neighbors, learn about CLTs, or help build a more stable and equitable New London…

this is the space for you.

We begin every chapter meeting with a grounding question: “How do you define a Community Land Trust?”

Here are a few of the powerful definitions shared by members:

“The idea of owning land is relatively new… CLT helps us recover a sense of common ground, common ownership.”

“The community land trust’s strength is derived from solidarity.”

“In our capitalist society, basic needs like housing have been commodified. The CLT creates a practical pathway to housing as a human right.”

Workshop Highlight

One of the highlights of 2025 for the New London Chapter was our workshop on Accessory Dwelling Units in New London. It was a practical exploration of current regulations for adding an “in law” apartment or converting attic or garage space to one’s primary dwelling.

ADUs are a green, efficient and relatively affordable way to add value to one’s home and increase density without displacing green space or people. There is a video of the presentation and discussion online HERE (thanks to Bob Stuller). If you would like a copy of the powerpoint presentation, please email nlchapter@sectclt.org.