Berlin Gets $1.56M For Affordable Housing, Pedestrian Improvements

BERLIN, CT — Berlin is receiving a $1.56 million state grant to aid a large affordable housing project in town and a project to improve pedestrian and passive recreation experiences.

Gov. Ned Lamont Tuesday announced the State of Connecticut is awarding approximately $36.5 million in grants to eight cities and towns under the second round of his administration’s recently launched Connecticut Communities Challenge Grant program.

One of those towns is Berlin.

Berlin is overseeing a $3.63 million housing initiative at 848 and 880 Farmington Ave., as well as 362 Main St.

The Town of Berlin and its private partner, Newport Realty Group LLC, will construct 10 mixed-income rental units at Newport Center, located directly across from the train station, half of which will be affordable to families making less than 80 percent of the area median income.

With additional partners — including the Meriden-New Britain-Berlin YMCA, the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department, the Berlin Board of Education, the Cromwell Board of Education and the Berlin Land Trust — funds will also support improvements to enhance the pedestrian experience, including pedestrian access and open space walking trails.

Administered by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), the program was created in 2021 to fund a wide range of revitalization projects that will spur the growth of thousands of new jobs.

“We created this grant program as a component of our efforts to spur economic growth and the creation of new jobs as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Lamont said

“These projects will bring foot traffic, mixed-use environments, and a significant number of new housing units to eight Connecticut communities,” DECD Deputy Commissioner Alexandra Daum said.

The first round of grants under this program was released in April and included $45 million to support projects in 12 towns and cities.

A third round is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2023.

For the full announcement, click on this link.