Posted on January 7, 2022
(image credit: Google Maps)
Members of the Berlin legislative delegation – State Rep. Donna Veach, State Rep. Cathy Abercrombie and State Senator Rick Lopes, senate chair of the housing committee and vice-chair of the aging committee for the Connecticut General Assembly applauded the announcement that Berlin would receive a $193,600 state grant to advance a long-awaited affordable senior housing project.
The over $193,000 in funding through the state’s Brownfield Remediation Program will be for the demolition of the vacant Knights of Columbus building (143 Percival Avenue). In its place, the Berlin Housing Authority plans to construct 50 affordable senior housing units on the 4.2-acre location.
The affordable senior housing project has been a long-sought initiative for around two decades. The town bought the vacant property, with the intention that the property be used for senior housing. However, funding has been an obstacle in efforts to move forward on the project.
“As a member of the town council, I know first-hand this has been an ongoing project Mayor Mark Kaczynski, our town councilors and housing authority have worked on for several years,” Rep. Veach said. “This upgrade will benefit our seniors in a big way and I’m extremely excited to see this project move one step closer toward completion.”
“Building affordable housing for our seniors has been a sought-after goal of numerous community members in Berlin. This new funding will be a big help in getting this project off the ground,” said Sen. Lopes. “I want to thank Governor Lamont and the Department of Economic and Community Development for recognizing the community benefits that will come from demolishing the vacant Knights of Columbus building to create space for new senior housing.”
“I am thrilled to learn that a state grant for the demolition of this blighted property in Berlin has been allocated and this parcel will now be repurposed with affordable senior housing units,” said Rep. Abercrombie. “This is a welcomed start to the new year. Thank you DECD and Governor Lamont for including Knights of Columbus in this round of funding.”
The Brownfield Remediation Program is overseen by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. The program provides financial and technical assistance to towns and cities in Connecticut, along with economic development agencies, brownfield owners and possible developers. The program is dedicated to revitalizing brownfield sites for re-use including residential, commercial, and open space purposes.
More information on the Brownfield Remediation Program can found at www.ctbrownfields.gov.