The First Cathedral church in Bloomfield on Thursday night presented plans to the Town Plan and Zoning Commission for a 146-unit affordable housing development on its 40-acre property at 1151 Blue Hills Ave. The 3,000-seat church, which boasts membership of 11,000 on its website, was originally known as the First Baptist Church of Hartford and […]
The First Cathedral church in Bloomfield on Thursday night presented plans to the Town Plan and Zoning Commission for a 146-unit affordable housing development on its 40-acre property at 1151 Blue Hills Ave.
The 3,000-seat church, which boasts membership of 11,000 on its website, was originally known as the First Baptist Church of Hartford and moved into its Bloomfield facility in 1999.
Now, First Cathedral is partnering with Grow America, a national nonprofit development organization, to transform underutilized portions of its property into affordable housing.
Pastor LeRoy Bailey III said the church has spent five years discussing how to best develop its land.
"We wanted to build a future and develop it," Bailey said. "Tonight, I'm excited for you to see what we are planning."
The housing component would be built in two phases. Phase one calls for 101 deed-restricted affordable units in two five-story buildings, with all units restricted to households earning 60% of the area median income or less — typically under $70,000 annually. These units would remain affordable for a minimum of 30 years under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.
"There's an acute need for affordable housing, especially in Bloomfield," said Geoffrey Person, a director with New York City-based Grow America. He noted that luxury development has been prevalent in the area recently.
The first phase would include a mix of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments. The second phase would add 45 more units in a third building.
The proposal comes amid a housing shortage in Connecticut that has driven up rental prices.
Commissioners expressed enthusiasm for the project's potential impact at Thursday’s meeting.
"The commission has been struggling the last couple years with affordable housing, so we recently passed regulation that included an affordable housing piece in all new development," Commission Chair Byron Leste said. "Your timing with coming in with a huge affordable housing project is perfect for us."
The proposed multifamily housing at 1151 Blue Hills Ave. in Bloomfield.
The development would also include a day care facility in one of the apartment buildings, doubling the church's current day care capacity. The day care would serve both residents and the broader community.
Frank Vacca, of Glastonbury-based BSC Group, the engineering firm for the project, explained that the development would reduce the property's environmental impact by replacing the existing 552-space auxiliary parking lot with 251 spaces for the housing development, significantly cutting impervious surface coverage.
The proposed buildings would be set back roughly 250 feet from Blue Hills Avenue, with existing trees and wetlands providing natural screening. The design includes a central terrace area connecting the buildings and dedicated playground space for the day care.
However, some commissioners raised concerns about the layout.
Commissioner Renae James questioned the extensive parking areas, saying they resembled "a racetrack.”
"Where's the open space for the residents to use?" James said. "If a kid wants to go out and throw a Frisbee with his friend, pass a ball around, or if we're going to have a group from one building have an outdoor picnic, where are they having that?"
As part of the project, the church would also add an "Empowerment Center" — a two-story addition to the cathedral that would provide counseling services, community workshops, and expanded space for its existing food pantry and clothing giveaway programs.
First Cathedral also plans to build a new 6,000-square-foot storage facility on the property.
The informal presentation Thursday night was a prelude to a formal application to rezone the property from its current split between R-15 residential and EO office zones to a Design Development Zone.
The development team plans to submit a formal application next month, which will trigger a zoning review and public hearing process.
In addition to Grow America and BSC Group, the project team includes Paul B. Bailey Architect LLC and land use attorney David Markowitz of Hassett & George.
