Bloomfield approved a housing project that will bring 92 income-restricted apartments to First Cathedral’s campus.
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An affordable housing development on the campus of Bloomfield's First Cathedral has cleared local approval, the first phase of a project that could eventually add roughly 150 apartments.
The Town Plan and Zoning Commission on Aug. 27 approved a resubdivision of the 40.49-acre church property and a site plan for Phase 1 of the housing, called Legacy Village. The applicant is Community Development Properties Bloomfield Inc., an affiliate of the national nonprofit developer Grow America. First Baptist Church of Hartford, which operates as First Cathedral, owns the land.
Phase one will include two four-story buildings with 92 apartments. The apartments will range from studios to three-bedroom units, including 12 designed for wheelchair accessibility.
All 92 apartments will be income-restricted, with a 40-year affordability commitment. The project is being financed through the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority and state Department of Housing using federal low-income housing tax credits.
Households earning 70% or less than the area median income (AMI) will be eligible, according to project officials.
The Rev. Leroy Bailey III, pastor of First Cathedral, said residents have told church leaders that the community needs more affordable housing.
“It’s very hard to be able to afford to live in Bloomfield,” Bailey told the commission.
The approved resubdivision creates a 14.7-acre residential parcel for the housing development, leaving First Cathedral with about 25.8 acres.
A second phase of about 45 apartments is planned, although it remains subject to financing.
Clarification: An earlier version of this story contained incorrect information about the AMI bracket eligible for the affordable housing.
