STAMFORD, CT — Residents at The Boulevard apartment building in Stamford are bracing for possible displacement, as the property is set to be converted into a dormitory for UConn Stamford.
Several tenants, including those in the Below Market Rate (BMR) affordable housing program, are preparing to voice their concerns at a city meeting Monday.
“Everyone’s anxious. Everyone’s—we have conversations into the wee hours at night, like we’re not sleeping,” said Brittany Lawrence, a tenant in one of the nine BMR units.
Lawrence said tenants are worried about being pushed out while still fulfilling their lease agreements.
Lawrence and others are calling for a set of protections as the transition unfolds, including guaranteed relocation assistance, the ability to stay until affordable alternatives become available, and a positive landlord reference for future housing applications.
“No one should have to go home every day and wonder if they’ll have a home to go to while still paying their rent,” she added.
Ownership of The Boulevard stated that it has been collaborating with the City of Stamford, UConn, and impacted BMR households.
A company spokesperson emphasized that no mid-lease evictions will occur, though all residents must vacate by April.
The ownership group has offered several forms of support: priority placement in other BMR units, temporary housing at no added cost, and coverage of moving expenses.
“The most important thing is to make sure that at the end of the day, we have the best possible situation for these families and their children,” said Bonnie Kim Campbell, a Democratic member of the Stamford Board of Representatives.
Campbell noted that many of the tenants’ suggestions are fair but fall outside the city’s authority, with the exception of a possible policy adjustment to keep tenants within the BMR program.
UConn Stamford has yet to respond publicly regarding the transition or its direct involvement with tenants. Demand for student housing in the area continues to grow.
