Gov. Malloy Announces $11.5 Million in Small Cities Grants Awarded to 20 Municipalities to Enhance Housing Availability, Increase Economic Development

Report by Paula Antolini
July 28, 2017 3:21PM EDT

 

Gov. Malloy Announces $11.5 Million in Small Cities Grants Awarded to 20 Municipalities to Enhance Housing Availability, Increase Economic Development

07/28/2017

Joins Housing Advocates to Denounce Proposed Federal Cuts to Affordable Housing Programs by the Trump Administration

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) Commissioner Evonne M. Klein today announced that $11.5 million is being awarded to 20 municipalities in Connecticut to provide upgrades and improvements to the state’s small town infrastructure.

Awarded under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Cities program, which is administered by DOH with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the grants are awarded to small towns that have a population below 50,000 residents and will advance projects that develop and preserve affordable housing, provide services to the most vulnerable residents in their communities, and also create and retain jobs.

In addition, the Governor and other federal, state, and local officials and housing advocates today participated in an event in Hartford hosted by the Connecticut Housing Coalition urging the Trump administration to reconsider drastic cuts that have been proposed for this and other housing programs in the federal budget, which have been utilized in Connecticut in recent years to make a major impact on preventing and ending homelessness, as well as increasing the stock of affordable housing across the state.

“If the federal budget is enacted as proposed, it would have a drastic impact on this and other housing programs, impacting so many individuals who rely on this funding for safe and affordable housing,” Governor Malloy said. “In Connecticut, we’ve taken drastic steps in recent years to increase access to permanent housing, specifically focusing on veterans who have faced homelessness and those who have been chronically homeless. And – with homelessness in Connecticut currently at a record low – our efforts are showing real results, but we cannot stop. We must raise our voices to protect and expand access to decent, accessible, and affordable homes – the future of our communities depend on it.”

Since 2011, DOH and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority have funded nearly 21,000 units of housing across the state. This amounts to over one billion dollars of investment and is leveraged with another $2.5 billion in investments from the private sector and other sources. Under the Malloy administration, the rapid expansion of affordable housing has been a priority. In 2013, Governor Malloy created DOH, recognizing the need to reverse the nearly three decades of disinvestment in housing development that took place under the three previous gubernatorial administrations.

“Time and time again, Connecticut has shown the value of expanding access to affordable housing and bringing about an end to homelessness,” Commissioner Klein said. “Under the Malloy administration, Connecticut is a recognized national leader on housing matters. As a state, we are doing our part to ensure that any incidence of homelessness is brief, rare, and nonrecurring. Our federal resources are an essential part of the historic progress that we have made. These dollars must be preserved. The stability that comes from having a permanent roof over your head has as much of a social impact as it does an economic one.”

In August 2015, Connecticut became the first state in the nation certified as effectively ending chronic veteran homelessness. It is one of only three states to have effectively ended veteran homelessness, and is the only state to have matched all chronically homeless individuals to permanent housing.

 

The CDBG Small Cities grant recipients announced today are:

 

• Beacon Falls – $400,000.00 – Beacon Falls Housing Rehabilitation Program: The town will use the funding to continue its Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program to help low and moderate-income homeowners rehabilitate their homes. A total of ten (10) housing units are anticipated to be rehabilitated. Upgrades will include roof replacement, heating systems, window replacement, lead paint and asbestos removal, electrical and code upgrades.

 

• Brookfield – $400,000.00 – Housing Rehabilitation Program: The town will undertake activities to rehabilitate approximately ten low moderate income households town-wide. Upgrades will include roof replacements furnace and heating replacements, plumbing and electrical upgrades, ADA compliance modifications, septic system upgrades and energy improvements, as well as windows and doors replacements.

 

• Coventry – $800,000 – Orchard Hill Estates Rehabilitation: The town will use the funding to renovate Orchard Hill Estates, an 80-unit senior rental housing development. Renovations will focus primarily on roof replacement, widening the walkways throughout the complex to make them ADA compliant, and replacing the entrance doors.

• Durham – $700,000.00 – Mauro Meadows Housing Complex, Phase II Improvements and Upgrades: This phase includes driveway and walkway replacement and repairs. New heat pumps will be also installed in all units to reduce the current energy costs to residents. Unit bathroom showers will be updated with comparable tub assemblies, suited and they will be ADA compliant.

 

• Ellington – $450,000.00 – Regional Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program: The town will use the funding to continue its Regional Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program to help low and moderate-income homeowners in the towns of Ellington, Somers, Suffield, and Windsor Locks to rehabilitate their homes. A total of twelve (12) housing units are anticipated to be rehabilitated. Upgrades will include roof replacement, heating systems, window replacement, lead paint and asbestos removal, electrical and code upgrades.

 

• Granby – $455,402.24 – Stony Hill Village: This project will include roof replacements, siding replacements, exterior windows replacements, entrance and storm doors replacements, upgrade and site lighting replacements. In addition, one unit will be upgraded for ADA compliance.

 

• Groton – $800,000.00 – Mystic River Homes Cottages: The town, in conjunction with the Mystic River Homes, will renovate the interior and exteriors of four garden style buildings and update the community room. Exterior renovations will include energy upgrades with roof replacements, gutters and downspouts, windows, storm and entry doors, walkway grading and resurfacing, and the installation of solar panels for the community room. Internal renovations will include water heaters, kitchen cabinets and countertop replacements, flooring replacements, and bathroom upgrades.

 

• Hebron – $700,000.00 – Stonecroft Village-Public Housing Modernization: This project will include roof replacement, gutters and leader replacement, cupola replacement, as well as entry door and entrance overhang additions. Repairs will be conducted to alleviate drainage issues identified on certain buildings, the installation of rear walkways, and the repair/replacement of waste disposal fencing. Keeping your drainage system clear from any waste is important, as if your drains are clogged then water can have a difficult time passing through, which could result in the water traveling back up the drain. Companies in your area similar to spartan plumbing will be able to resolve any plumbing issues in your project so that situations don’t arise in the future. The project will also include upgrade work in three units, which are identified as needing ADA compliance improvements. In addition, upgrades will also be made to improve the plumbing and electrical throughout the units, kitchen, bathrooms, toilets, vanities, flooring and cabinets.

 

• Lebanon – $400,000 – Lebanon Housing Rehabilitation: The town will use the funding to continue its Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program to help low and moderate-income homeowners rehabilitate their homes. A total of fourteen (14) housing units are expected to be rehabilitated. This project will include roof replacement, heating system upgrades, window replacement, lead paint and asbestos removal, electrical work, chimney replacements and foundation work.

 

• Monroe – $400,000 – Monroe Housing Rehabilitation: The town plans to rehabilitate ten (10) low and moderate-income households. Upgrades will include roof replacements, furnace and heating systems replacements, plumbing and electrical upgrades, window and door replacements, septic system repairs and energy efficiency upgrades. These upgrades are essential to make these homes both livable and energy efficient.

 

• Morris – $400,000.00 – Morris Housing Rehabilitation Program: The town will use the funding to start a Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program to help low and moderate-income homeowners rehabilitate their homes. A total of ten (10) housing units are anticipated to be rehabilitated. Upgrades will include roof replacement, heating system improvements, window replacement, lead paint and asbestos removal, as well as electrical and code upgrades.

 

• New Fairfield – $400,000.00 – New Fairfield Housing Rehabilitation: The town plans to rehabilitate ten (10) low and moderate-income households. Upgrades will include roof replacements, furnace and heating systems replacements, plumbing and electrical upgrades, window and door replacements, septic system repairs and energy efficiency upgrades. These upgrades are essential to making these homes both livable and energy efficient.

• North Haven – $800,000.00 – Parkside Manor Site Safety Improvements: The housing authority plans to repair and replace driveways, parking surfaces, and walkway surfaces. Plans also include the removal and replacement of hazardous trees, the construction of a new dumpster enclosure, new site lighting, and the installation of an ADA compliant ramp and walkways at various locations.

 

• Pomfret – $688,000.00 – Seely-Brown Village Capital Improvements: This project will rehabilitate several key areas of this complex. Work will include a roof replacement, HVAC and fire detection equipment improvements, mechanical and plumbing improvements, repair of the trash removal area, kitchen expansion, a new walk in refrigerator, freezer and pantry, as well as driveway and parking lot resurfacing. In addition, interior closets doors in all apartments will be replaced with bi-fold doors which are more appropriate for the aging population at Seely-Brown.

 

• Simsbury – $750,000.00 – Dr. Owen L. Murphy Apartments and Virginia Connolly Residence Improvements: Work will include the replacement of a 6000 gallon underground fuel oil storage tank, the installation of a new generator for the complex and replacement storm doors for 140 units at Owen L. Murphy Apartments and the completion of the driveway and sidewalks.

• Southington – $400,000.00 – Southington Housing Rehabilitation Program: The town will use the funding to continue its Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program to help low and moderate-income homeowners rehabilitate their homes. A total of ten (10) housing units are anticipated to be rehabilitated. Upgrades will include roof replacement, heating system improvements, window replacement, lead paint and asbestos removal, as well as electrical and code upgrades.

 

• Sprague – $500,000 – River Street Reconstruction, 1^st and 2^nd Avenue: The town will reconstruct deteriorated street and sidewalks in the River Street area within the town’s Baltic neighborhood. This is the final phase for this project. The streets will be reconstructed with a permeable interlocking concrete pavement road surface to help promote storm water infiltration and reduce surface runoff. New concrete sidewalks and curbing will be installed to provide a pedestrian connection between residences and nearby stores and public facilities.

 

• Voluntown – $700,000.00 – Greenwood Manor Public Housing Modernization, Phase II: The town, in conjunction with the Voluntown Housing Authority, will continue modernization of this development. Work will include the renovation of twelve (12) studio units into one-bedroom units. Additionally, improvements will be made to the kitchens and the associated plumbing and electrical. Roof replacements will also be conducted as well as ADA compliance renovations will be made to the community building.

 

• Wallingford – $800,000 – McGuire Court Improvement Project: The town will use the funding to renovate McGuire Court, a 50-unit senior housing rental development. Renovations will focus primarily on upgrading the community room and unit bathrooms.

 

• Wethersfield – $625,000.00 – James Devlin Senior Housing Rehabilitation: The town will use the funding to renovate James Devlin Senior Housing Complex, a 50-unit senior housing rental project. Renovations will focus primarily on repaving the parking lots and sidewalks and replacing the baseboard heaters, thermostats, and interior/exterior doors.

 

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