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Homes to Go On Sale at Dutch Point

ANDY HART

September 04, 2008

If you had asked someone if they’d like to purchase a home in one of Hartford’s major public housing complexes 15 years ago, they’d have probably laughed or called you crazy.

But times have changed. On Wednesday, September 3, ground was broken for “The Townhomes at Dutch Point,” the homeownership phase of the total reconstruction of what was once one of Hartford’s most notorious housing projects.

After the ground breaking, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to mark the completion of Phase II of the Dutch Point project, the construction of 54 affordable rental apartments along with a 2,800 square-foot community center and a small park.

When complete, the new Dutch Point will consist of 58 homeownership units and 127 rental units.

Phase III, the homeownership portion of the project, will involve the construction of 58 townhouse-style condominiums. As many as 27 of those units will be offered for sale to qualified buyers at below market-rate prices, roughly from $115,000 to $160,000. The other units will be sold at prices ranging from $180,000 to $290,000. The condominiums will range in size from 1,008 square feet to 1,964 square feet. Most will have three bedrooms but two- and four-bedroom units will be available. The Townhomes at Dutch Point will be sold by Prudential Connecticut Realty.

Despite Dutch Point’s troubled past, speakers at Wednesday’s ceremony were upbeat about the project’s ability to attract new homebuyers. They cited its prime location – within easy walking distance of virtually all major attraction in Downtown Hartford – as one of its main assets.

Susan McCann of The Community Builders, Inc. the developer on the project, said, “We are confident that the quality and pricing of the townhomes, along with a stellar location featuring walking distance to Downtown Hartford, proximity to Colt Park and easy highway access, will attract buyers from throughout Greater Hartford.”