It’s the guarantee of a hot shower after work that Stonington Acres resident Yajaira Rodriguez says she appreciates most about her renovated apartment on Stonington Street near Colt Park.
Rodriguez cut the ribbon for the revitalized and expanded Stonington Acres (née Twin Acres) on Tuesday morning, following a series of remarks given by those responsible for some part of the project.
The mixed-income development was built in 1958. Sheldon Oak Central, a Hartford-based non-profit developer, acquired the properties in 1993. Those original 40 units have been recently renovated, with five new units created. These are all two- and three-bedroom homes for families with low and moderate income.
The changes include the addition of high-performance insulation, installation of energy-efficient heating systems, along with renovated kitchens and bathrooms. Some units have third floors added.
In her remarks, Chair of CSS/CON, Lynn Ferrari, said that there has been a significant increase in homeownership in the Sheldon/Charter Oak neighborhood in the past two years. With Coltsville National Historic Park moving ahead, Ferrari said the timing of the Stonington Acres opening could not be better.
Evonne Klein, Connecticut Department of Housing Commissioner, said that Dannel Malloy is the first governor in thirty years to invest in affordable housing.
The development, costing $12.3 million, has also seen landscaping improvements and redesigned parking. Funding for this project has been supplied by Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits, State of Connecticut FLEX funds, State Housing Tax Credit Contribution, City of Hartford HOME funds, HUD Project Based Section 8 Subsidies, and TD Bank.