Elizabeth Torres is a Community Development Advisor for Vita Nuova.
She is a leader in helping urban communities redevelop. She has spent her entire career working with communities on housing and neighborhood investment initiatives. She is an expert in affordable housing, mixed-use development, and funding programs. With Vita Nuova, Ms. Torres led the Parkville Arts and Innovation efforts in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood in Hartford, CT, served as project manager for the Mad River Development in Waterbury, and is working on several other projects in New York, Puerto Rico, and Indiana. Since 2018, she has focused on building the capacity of neighborhoods and nonprofit organizations to create and preserve affordable housing. She has led energy transition efforts, including green and affordable housing, energy efficiency efforts, and solar development in urban communities. She is an excellent facilitator and mentor to communities and nonprofits seeking to revitalize their neighborhoods and communities.
During her career, she has supported the development of almost 400 affordable housing units, leveraging financing from traditional banks, CDFI’s, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the state of Connecticut, and local municipalities. In addition, she led the Lead Safe Program in Bridgeport, creating thousands of lead-safe units within the city. Previously, Ms. Torres served on the City of New Haven Board of Education, CT Trust for Historic Preservation, Connecticut Housing Coalition, and Bridgeport Regional Business Council. She is known for launching social enterprise businesses, including a full-service property management firm and a thrift store. Ms. Torres embodies an understanding of and commitment to placemaking – ensuring that all communities have a space that promotes health, happiness, and well-being.
