Town Meeting Minute™ — Issue 7: Density Pressure, Waterfront Moves, and the Policy Signals Arriving Before Construction

Posted by Tim Bray on March 29th, 2026

Town Meeting Minute™ — Issue 7

Density Pressure, Waterfront Moves, and the Policy Signals Arriving Before Construction

Across southeastern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island, the latest municipal signals continue to point in a similar direction: more pressure on housing, more discussion around zoning flexibility, and more attention on redevelopment tied to infrastructure, waterfront locations, and long-term community planning. In some towns, the movement is formal and visible through adopted regulations. In others, it is still taking shape through planning studies, public hearings, housing conversations, and redevelopment filings.

At Seaport, we continue to watch these local decisions closely because the market often shifts long before…

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Changing Markets – Issue #5: The Affordability Illusion

Posted by Tim Bray on March 25th, 2026

Changing Markets – Issue #5: The Affordability Illusion

Affordability hasn’t disappeared — it’s been redefined.

If a buyer can make the monthly payment, does that mean the home is truly affordable?

That is the story many people want to believe.

In today’s market, buyers are constantly being told to focus on the monthly number. Lower the rate. Use a buydown. Stretch a little further. Find a way to make the payment work.

But affordability is not defined by whether a buyer can make the payment today. It is defined by whether that payment is sustainable over time, while still leaving enough room to handle the realities of ownership and the pressures of everyday life.

The Gap No One Wants to Look At

Over the past several years, home…

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Community Calendar – Issue #5 | Spring Is Waking Up Across Southeastern CT & RI

Posted by Tim Bray on March 22nd, 2026

March 23 – April 5, 2026

As March gives way to April, Southeastern Connecticut and nearby Rhode Island are beginning to shake off winter and step into a more active season. Local businesses are gearing up, outdoor spaces are becoming destinations again, and the shoreline is starting to buzz with the kind of energy that reminds us why so many people love living here.

From live music and artisan markets to nature programming and local tastings, here is our latest look at what is happening around the region over the next two weeks.

Live Music & Nightlife

The shoreline starts to come alive this time of year, especially on the weekends. Downtown Mystic and New London both continue to offer strong options for those looking to get out, hear…

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Changing Markets — Issue #4: The Jobs Are Coming Faster Than the Housing

Posted by Tim Bray on March 19th, 2026

Changing Markets — Issue #4: The Jobs Are Coming Faster Than the Housing

Changing Markets is a Seaport Real Estate Services series focused on identifying the shifts shaping real estate before they fully materialize.

Everyone is watching mortgage rates.

Will they drop? Will buyers come back? Will prices adjust?

But in Southeastern Connecticut, the real story is happening beneath the surface.

The jobs are coming faster than the housing.

In previous issues, we explored how the market is fragmenting and how local decisions are shaping housing supply. Today, we’re focusing on what may be the most important shift yet.

The Market Most People Are Missing

For years, Connecticut has struggled with limited housing inventory.

Even…

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The Seaport Multifamily Brief — Issue 3 | March 2026: Coastal Markets Hold the Line Amid Supply Constraints

Posted by Tim Bray on March 18th, 2026

The Seaport Multifamily Brief — Issue 3 | March 2026

Coastal Multifamily Holds the Line — But the Story Is More Nuanced Than the Data Suggests

Executive Summary

At first glance, multifamily data across New London County (CT), Middlesex County (CT), Washington County (RI), and Newport County (RI) suggests a familiar narrative:

Low supply. Stable rents. Strong pricing.

But on the ground, a more important story is unfolding.

Seaport Insight:

Supply is not absent—it is concentrated. And where it exists, it is actively testing absorption.

New London County, CT — A Market Splitting in Real Time

New London County is no longer a single multifamily market. It is evolving into three distinct submarkets, each behaving differently.

…

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Town Meeting Minute™ – Issue 6: Housing Pressure, Zoning Changes, and the Local Decisions Shaping Real Estate

Posted by Tim Bray on March 15th, 2026

Town Meeting Minute — Issue 6: Regional Housing Pressure, Zoning Rewrites, and Infrastructure Capacity

Across New London, Middlesex, Newport, and Washington Counties, local governments are dealing with growing pressure around housing, zoning modernization, infrastructure capacity, and the tension between state policy and local control.

Below is our latest Town Meeting Minute review using the Seaport Impact Score™, our internal framework for evaluating how local government decisions may influence real estate markets before visible development occurs.

Town of Groton, Connecticut — Housing Potential and Short-Term Rental Regulation Review

Status:Under Discussion
Confidence:High
Seaport Impact Score™:91
Capital Sensitivity:Housing,…

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Preston CT, Water, Sewer, and the Future of Route 2

Posted by Tim Bray on March 10th, 2026

Preston, Water, Sewer, and the Future of Route 2

A Town Meeting Minutes Special Edition

There has been growing discussion about the possibility of expanding water and sewer infrastructure along the Route 2 corridor in Preston.

For some residents, that idea represents opportunity — the ability for existing commercially zoned properties to finally become viable for modern businesses that require water access. For others, it raises understandable concerns about growth, traffic, and whether Preston could lose the rural landscape and character that make the town special.

Both perspectives deserve thoughtful consideration.

But there is one point that is often misunderstood in these discussions.

Utilities Do Not Decide What Gets Built

…

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Community Calendar: Local Events in Connecticut & Rhode Island (March 9 – March 22, 2026)

Posted by Tim Bray on March 8th, 2026

Community Calendar – Issue #4March 9 – March 22, 2026

Welcome back to the Community Calendar, our bi-weekly roundup of local events and activities across Southeastern Connecticut and Coastal Rhode Island. Each issue highlights live music, arts and culture, community gatherings, and family-friendly programming taking place over the next two weeks.

We intentionally leave out town meetings and administrative listings to keep the calendar easy to scan and focused on events people actually attend and enjoy.

Want to submit an event?Email info@seaportre.com with the subject line Community Event Submission.

Connecticut

New London County

• St. Patrick’s Day Parade – New London
  Sunday, March 15 • 1:00 PM • Downtown New London
  Annual…

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393 Acres, One Dollar, and a 15-Year Vision: Inside the Preston Riverwalk Redevelopment

Posted by Tim Bray on March 5th, 2026

393 Acres, One Dollar, and a 15-Year Vision: Inside the Preston Riverwalk Redevelopment

For decades, one of the largest pieces of undeveloped land in Southeastern Connecticut sat quietly along the Thames River.

If you’ve driven Route 12 in Preston, you’ve likely seen the remnants of the former Norwich State Hospital campus — a massive property filled with empty buildings, overgrown roads, and a history stretching back more than a century.

Today, that same site is slowly transforming into what could become one of the largest redevelopment projects in the region’s history: Preston Riverwalk.

This story isn’t just about development. It’s about environmental cleanup, long-term planning, infrastructure challenges, and the enormous effort…

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The Market Is Splitting: Why Some Homes Are in a Seller’s Market While Others Are Not

Posted by Tim Bray on March 5th, 2026

The Market Is Splitting: Why Price Range Now Matters More Than Ever

Series: When the Market Changes – Lessons From Real Estate Cycles

In real estate, markets rarely move in one single direction.

Instead, they tend to evolve gradually. Certain segments begin to change first while others remain strong. Over time those shifts spread across the broader market.

Today we are beginning to see the early stages of that process.

Across many towns in Southeastern Connecticut and coastal Rhode Island, the market is no longer behaving as one unified environment. Instead, it is fragmenting by price range.

Some price tiers remain firmly in seller territory, while others are moving toward balance.

Understanding this shift requires returning to…

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