$998K Grant Celebrated At Site Of West Hartford Housing Project

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Town and state officials gathered Wednesday to celebrate a nearly $1 million grant that will turn a run-down property into much-desired affordable housing.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor and other state and local dignitaries gathered at 900 Farmington Ave. Wednesday, the site of the underutilized West Hartford Inn and a decaying, abandoned restaurant.

A developer is looking to transform the site into a mixed-income, multifamily residential complex.

Last month, Gov. Ned Lamont's office announced West Hartford was getting a $998,000 grant to investigate and remediate the 0.67-acre property.

Wednesday's event was a formal announcement of the funding, which is part of a larger, $24.6 million plan to assess and remediate 41 blighted parcels in 16 towns and cities across Connecticut.

"With help from Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program, the property behind us will be redeveloped by into a 44-unit affordable, mixed-income, multifamily residential complex," wrote Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz Wednesday.

"Together through grant programs like this, we are making our communities not only better places to live, but we are making our communities more affordable and more accessible."

West Hartford is supporting the development because it will increase affordable housing stocks in town, something highlighted in the town's plan of conservation and development.

In addition to the West Hartford Inn site, the developers would build apartments at the site of an abandoned restaurant nearby, the Los Imperios restaurant.

According to town officials, WHI Camelot plans to build 44 units of "mixed-income housing," with 80 percent of the units being deed-restricted for those with varying incomes.

Housing diversity is seen as key to future economic development.

West Hartford officials have said it could take a couple of years to completely transform the hotel into affordable housing.

The grant and loan funding are from the Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Brownfield Remediation and Development Program.

From Dec. 12: 'West Hartford Affordable Housing Project Gets Nearly $1M Grant'

For Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz's Facebook page, click on this link.