State Funding Approved For Elmwood Community Center Project

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The State Bond Commission has approved more than $2 million for the acquisition of property in West Hartford for the construction of a "sustainable and energy efficient building" for the future Elmwood Community Center.

Officials have a consensus that the existing community building, built in 1920, is "inadequate" for programming and a new location was needed to improve services and for future expansion. The town has thus begun the process of acquiring an 8.5-acre parcel at the site of the former St. Brigid School campus at 100 Mayflower St.

A total of $2.5 million was approved by the Bond Commission. In addition to the acquisition, the funding will also complete a functional program development, feasibility study, and pre-construction services. The town of West Hartford will complement the state funding with $500,000 for the acquisition stage of the project.

• "While the current Elmwood Community Center is a cherished space in our community, the building's age and upkeep does not meet with today's range of needs, "state Rep. Kate Farrar said. "This state funding will allow the town to complete the purchase and lay the groundwork for a new community center that will enhance services in a state-of-the-art facility. I am proud this once-in-a generation opportunity is coming to our Elmwood neighborhood."

• "I am thrilled that West Hartford is receiving the funding it deserves through the Elmwood Community Center and also for traffic signal replacement at the Route 44/218 intersection. The safety of our residents is one of my top priorities as a representative for the West Hartford community and this new signal is critical,” state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest said. “Community engagement is more important now than ever as we recover from the pandemic and this facility acts as a resource for our entire community by appealing to residents of all ages."
• “When the pandemic struck, not being able to go to a place like the Elmwood Community Center was hard on many families, and it showed just how much we all rely on it as a place for our community to gather,” state Rep. Tammy Exum said. "As we return to normal, we owe it to our community to make sure the center modernizes in order to meet the growing needs of our neighbors for years to come. I am so grateful to the State Bond Commission for recognizing the importance of this community mainstay."

• "West Hartford is always looking forward and moving forward, and this is one of those opportunities to re-make a community center, provide better programs for our residents, save some money on utilities, and free-up town space for some other use. Oh, and the state is covering 75 percent of the cost. It’s really an excellent opportunity,” state Sen. Derek Slap said.
• "We are so grateful for the support of the State to purchase this strategic property in what we believe will be a transformational project of a visionary cultural and community center for our diverse and vibrant community," West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor said.
• West Hartford Town Manager Matt Hart said, "I would like to thank the members of our state delegation for advancing this important project. The future Elmwood Community Center will enable the town to better serve our residents in a newer, more environmentally friendly facility. This project will also give us the opportunity to consolidate some of our assets into one building, reducing operating costs over the long term. We greatly appreciate the state’s support for this unique opportunity."