New London — New London Landmarks will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday at a historically significant home the nonprofit has renovated at 23 Franklin St.

The house, purchased by New London Landmarks at a city tax auction in 2018, is the former home of the late Linwood Bland Jr., who served as the president of the New London branch of the NAACP from 1962 to 1968.

New London Landmarks started renovating the home in 2019 and now has a buyer, said New London Landmarks’ executive director Laura Natusch.

“This project benefits our community in multiple ways,” Natusch said in a written statement. “It preserves a mid-nineteenth century house built by Edward Hempstead and listed on the National Register of Historic Places; it honors the legacy of former New London NAACP president Linwood Bland Jr., who lived there for forty years; and in a census tract with a 10% homeownership rate, it will provide a low-income homebuyer with an affordable homeownership opportunity.” 

The house, which was vacant and condemned, required substantial rehabilitation. Natusch said the house now has a new roof, as well as new plumbing, heating and electrical systems. The general contractor, Chris Kling, was able to save the plaster walls, original wood floors, original windows and nearly all of the original clapboard siding.

The project received funding from the state’s Housing Tax Credit Contribution Program via Eversource, as well as from the City of New London, the State Historic Preservation Office and Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities (ECHO) and private donations.

“This has been a labor of love since we first saw this house and decided to purchase it,” Natusch said. “Now we’re excited to show the results to our community.”

Parking will be available in All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation’s lot at 19 Jay St.