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Nonprofit Has Affordable Housing Plan For Sheldon-Charter Oak Neighborhood

By KENNETH R. GOSSELIN

October 27, 2011

HARTFORD —— A Hartford-based nonprofit that seeks to create affordable housing will develop 16 townhouses on land near the old Capewell factory in the Sheldon-Charter Oak neighborhood.

The Corporation for Independent Living will develop and then sell the units to buyers whose household income is at or below 80 percent of the Hartford area's median income, Martin M. Legault, the nonprofit's president and chief executive officer, confirmed Thursday.

Construction is expected to begin as soon as next week and will be partly subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the city to keep sale prices down for buyers. A construction loan from the Connecticut Housing Investment Fund would be repaid by the proceeds of the unit sales, Legault said.

The development, which doesn't include the old Capewell factory, is on 2.5 acres at the corner of Wyllys Street and Popieluszko Court. CIL acquired title to the property from the city through a foreclosure action, Legault said.

Legault said the total cost of the project and the sales prices of the 12 three-bedroom and four two-bedroom units is still being determined.

In addition to CIL, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra, U.S. Rep. John B. Larson and representatives of U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal's office are expected to attend a groundbreaking Friday.

Legault said the townhouse development will build on the momentum of the transformation of the old Dutch Point neighborhood by the city's housing authority.

CIL recently served as general contractor on three affordable "zero net energy" homes on Earle Street in the city's North End. That project was completed in August.

The nonprofit also is known for its extensive renovations in Hartford, totaling over 100 houses. They played a prominent role in the Mortsen Street-Putnam Heights renovation in Frog Hollow.