West Hartford, CT – West Hartford Fellowship Housing (WHFH) was recently awarded $1.8 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), which equates to approximately $18 million in equity from private investors.
WHFH will apply the tax credits to fund improvements to its existing Starkel Road campus. The redevelopment and expansion, undertaken by WHFH Development Corporation, will provide up to an additional 88 affordable housing units to the Bishops Corner community.
WHFH has developed a 4-phase plan to raze and replace 23 existing buildings with six multi-story buildings. Town and state traffic commission approvals were obtained in 2019 for the project, with the intention of having 100% of the units to be designated as affordable.
Phase I of the redevelopment involves the demolition of three single-story buildings, the removal of 22 units, the construction of a 3-story building with an elevator consisting of 65 units with new expanded common spaces for community services and programs. This is the only phase where residents would need to be displaced temporarily until construction is complete. Goals of the redevelopment are to increase unit size, add washers and dryers, improve handicap adaptability/accessibility, offer additional storage and functional common spaces, and enhance energy efficiency.
WHFH Development Corporation has partnered with a seasoned professional team, including architect Paul B. Bailey, development consultant Millennium Reality Company, and owners representative Construction Solutions Group (CSG) to oversee the design and construction process and ensure that the best interests of WHFH and residents are met. On-site property manager, Barkan Management, is responsible for day-to-day operations and coordination with the residents.
CSG Project Executive Mark Garilli has been serving as executive director for WHFH since January 2021. Garilli will be leading the organization through its redevelopment phases.
