West Hartford Hearing On Large Housing Complex Pushed Back

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Plans to convert a former nursing home site into a large, multi-family housing development require a zone change to be approved by the West Hartford Town Council.

But folks looking to testify about Vessel Holdings LLC/Vessel Technologies Inc. transforming 29 Highland St. into an apartment complex will have to wait.

The Town of West Hartford this week announced a planned public hearing for the zone change allowing for the development will be delayed by about a month.

Originally, the council was expected to hear testimony from the applicants and public on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

But town officials Monday said those plans will be pushed back to the Feb. 25 West Hartford Town Council meeting.

"As a result, no public comments or applicant presentations will be heard at the Jan. 28 town council meeting," wrote the town Monday.

Vessel is seeking a zone change from a single-family housing zone to one allowing for multi-family units within the town's special development district.

Because of this, West Hartford's town council has the say on such a proposal before the West Hartford Plan and Zoning Commission takes up site plans and/or special permit reviews.

Once Vessel is cleared to begin building, it will take what was once a nursing home — Hughes Health & Rehabilitation in West Hartford — and transform the site into 112 units of multifamily, residential housing.

According to the project narrative filed with the town, the development will feature 98 one-bedroom units, six two-bedroom units, and eight three-bedroom units.

The nursing home/rehabilitation center closed in 2023, the family-run operation citing a downturn in business and an increase in expenses.

Now, plans call for turning that into something West Hartford officials have been striving to do in recent years, namely seeing more affordable housing go up to keep younger families in town.

For all documents related to the application, click on this link.

From May 1, 2023: 'Independent Nursing Home Facility Closing in West Hartford: Report'