State awards funds for housing project in New London
New London — The state Department of Housing has awarded The Connection Fund Inc. up to $2.75 million to assist in the rehabilitation and conversion of the former St. Mary Star of the Sea School on Huntington Street into 20 affordable apartments.
The money is part of the $28 million awarded statewide to support the development of affordable housing and the latest round of funds distributed under the state’s Competitive Housing Assistance for Multifamily Properties (CHAMP) program. A portion of the apartments being developed are expected to provide housing to chronically homeless individuals.
"The beautiful St. Mary Star of the Sea property will not only help to fulfill the goal of ending chronic homelessness, but will also help The Connection fulfill its mission of building safe, healthy, caring communities and inspiring people to fulfill their potential as productive and valued citizens," said Connection President and CEO Peter Nucci Jr. in a prepared statement.
The Connection Fund Inc., a nonprofit, affordable housing developer based in Middletown, won approval for the project last year from the Planning and Zoning Commission to change the building’s use from a school to a multifamily dwelling. The units are expected to have on-site access to staff during normal business hours and a property manager and case manager on call.
The Connection Fund will build and manage the housing units. St. Mary Church will act as the landlord for the development.
The Connection Fund Inc. is related to The Connection Inc., which operates The January Center, a residential sex offender treatment facility on the grounds of Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Institution. The Connection Inc. and The Connection Fund Inc. are operated by separate boards of directors.
As a condition of approval, the commission stipulated that the complex cannot lease to registered sex offenders. The conditions of state and federal financing also prohibit leasing to registered sex offenders.
The 120-year-old Catholic elementary school, which was founded by the Sisters of Mercy, closed in 2012.
“The recent announcement from The State Department of Housing is great news for Bishop Michael R. Cote’s Initiative on Housing that began almost three years ago,” said Peter Harding, director of housing development for the Diocese of Norwich, in a written statement.
A timeline for the project was not immediately available.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
