The awarding of $2.1 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits will make Phase III of the redevelopment plan for West Hartford Fellowship Housing possible.

Existing buildings that will be replaced as part of Phase III of the West Hartford Fellowship Housing redevelopment. Courtesy photo

By Ronni Newton

The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) announced Thursday that it has awarded $14,841,228 in federal 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to 10 multifamily housing developments across the state – including West Hartford Fellowship Housing (WHFH), which received an award of $2.1 million.

The $2.1 million in LIHTC will pave the way for an investment of approximately $19 million by private investors in the project, which is a substantial portion of the capital stack needed to complete this phase – and the award that will allow Phase III of the WHFH development to move forward, the organization’s leadership said. Aging units in eight separate buildings will be replaced by a total of 77 new units in a single, modern building as part of Phase III of the project.

Phases of redevelopment of West Hartford Fellowship Housing. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

It’s been more than 11 years since the board of the nonprofit West Hartford Fellowship Housing decided to redevelop the out-of-date property – which provides affordable housing for seniors and individuals with disabilities on Starkel Road in Bishops Corner. Many of the buildings were constructed in the early 1970s, and while the property is not intended to be assisted living, it lacks elevators and other critically important amenities.

The redevelopment of WHFH has been in the planning stages for many years, and was extensively reviewed, and unanimously approved, by the West Hartford Town Council in September 2019.

Phase I, which received $1.8 million in LIHTC in 2022 and further support from the Connecticut Department of Housing, is nearing completion, and plans are underway for a grand opening this June.

Exterior of Phase 1 of West Hartford Fellowship Housing redevelopment, December 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

A ceremonial groundbreaking for Phase I of the redevelopment of WHFH was celebrated with great fanfare in November 2023, and the project’s first phase will create 43 additional affordable units, in a modern and fully-accessible four-story building that includes laundry facilities, community spaces such as a roughly 2,800-square-foot multipurpose room, cafe, conference room, fitness room, art room, and clinic. There will also be a communal laundry area with large-capacity washers and dryers, which will also save as the transitional laundry room for those still living in the older units.

In late December, members of the Town Council’s Community Planning and Economic Development Committee, as well as other Town Council members, town staff and representatives of the police and fire departments were treated to an in-depth tour of the on-track construction project. There were many “Oh wow!” moments as those on the tour visited several apartment units nearing completion as well as the public spaces.

New units include modern amenities and high-quality, low-maintenance finishes. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

Overall, the new units will not only be 80-110% larger than the current apartments, but will also contain modern appliances and other amenities including washers and dryers, and the multi-story buildings will have elevators. The development’s original layout is not conducive to accessibility, including the location of laundry facilities in a separate building. The old apartments are small, have limited resources for connectivity, are not energy efficient, and there is no program space.

Construction on Phase II is expected to begin shortly after Phase I is completed, and will be following by the third and fourth phases of the roughly $100 million project, which will ultimately replace 23 of the development’s 24 buildings. When the overall project is complete, WHFH, which is 100% affordable housing, will have expanded the number of housing units on the property by about 40%, from 210 to 302.

“Our partners have done a wonderful job guiding the entire process setting WHFH up for long-term success. I am proud to serve with a board of directors, who continues to push boundaries and keep driving progress forward,” WHFH Development Corporation Board President Keith Robertson said in a statement.

“Every day, our mission fuels our commitment to create opportunity and drive meaningful impact for those we serve,” said WHFH CEO Mark Garilli, who has been leading the project through its redevelopment phases.

Members of the Town Council’s Community Planning and Economic Development Committee, as well as other officials and staff on a tour of West Hartford Fellowship Housing with CEO Mark Garilli and other staff and board members in December 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

“Being awarded Phase III is not just a milestone – it’s a powerful platform to expand that impact,” he said. “From design to construction, to housing our mission, this project is a beacon of hope for our residents, the town of West Hartford, and the state of Connecticut. We are working hard to erase the stigma around the word ‘affordable’ and these buildings are a shining example of what affordable housing could and should be.”

Statewide, the 2025 LIHTC awards announced Thursday are expected to generate approximately $135 million in equity from private investors and support the development of 550 rental homes, including 480 affordable units and 70 market rate units.

In addition to West Hartford – which received the award under the “preservation” category, ensuring continued housing stability for existing residents, projects in Avon, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Griswold, Montville, New London, South Windsor, Stamford, and Windsor Locks were awarded LIHTCs.

“This year’s LIHTC awards represent our continued commitment to creating vibrant communities and increasing access to housing that meets the needs of families and individuals across Connecticut,” Nandini Natarajan, CHFA’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, said in a statement. “The selected developments reflect thoughtful planning and deep collaboration between public and private partners.”

“Multifamily is critical to our strategy of expanding access to housing for all income levels and life stages including older and younger generations,” said Seila Mosquera-Bruno, Chairwoman of CHFA’s Board of Directors and Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Housing in a statement. “These projects reflect our shared goal of creating more equitable housing opportunities, in every corner of the state.”

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