Massive WeHa Affordable Housing Project Breaks Ground

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Local and state leaders Tuesday officially broke ground on a large renovation and addition project that will improve the housing for elderly/disabled residents.

The town leases property on Starkel Road in the Bishops Corner part of town toWest Hartford Fellowship Housing Inc., which operates a 169-unit affordable rental housing campus for elderly and mobility-impaired individuals on town-owned property.

But the aging site is in need of a renovation and overhaul, with state leaders and local dignitaries gathering at 10-50 Starkel Road Tuesday to break ground on Phase I of WHFH's massive reconstruction project.

According to the state Department of Housing, this endeavor will replace 23 of the existing 24 buildings with six new buildings and add 87 additional units to the 169 units WHFH provides.

WHFH has plans to update the existing units by improving accessibility, creating program areas and program spaces, and improving security and safety.

In January, the West Hartford Town Council voted with no dissenters to approve a new lease for WHFH at the site, a precursor to the nonprofit being able to obtain the necessary funds to do the project.

Over the summer, the council approved tax breaks for the organization as well.

Those expected at the groundbreaking were: Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz; West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor; Clare Kindall, president, West Hartford Fellowship Housing; Nandini Natarajan, chief executive officer, CT Housing Finance Authority; Seila Mosquera-Bruno, commissioner, CT Department of Housing; and Juana Matias, regional administrator, US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

Affordable housing is an ongoing community goal in West Hartford, with several projects in town being built and/or planned.

For more information on West Hartford Fellowship Housing, click on this link.

From July 12: 'Tax Breaks For Affordable Housing Providers Approved By West Hartford'

From Feb. 1: 'West Hartford OKs Lease Allowing Senior/Disabled Housing Expansion'