Hartford’s Planning and Zoning Commission has backed the city’s plans to shed one of its unused Parkville neighborhood properties to allow for a proposed $6.7 million senior-housing complex on-site.
The commission recently issued a favorable recommendation for the city to sell 126 and 130 New Park Ave., 161 Francis Ave. and 8 Francis Court to North Haven-based nonprofit New Samaritan Corp. for $87,000.
Hartford’s city council, which has the power to overturn PZC decisions, is now expected to vote on the land sale at an upcoming meeting.
As previously reported, New Samaritan, Connecticut’s largest nonprofit developer of affordable senior housing, says it plans to build 22 one-bedroom units at the corner of New Park Avenue and Francis Circle. The four-story, multifamily building would include a kitchen, activity area and rooms for physical and occupational therapy, among other spaces.
The land is adjacent to a Stop & Shop supermarket and a CTfastrak station.
In 2013, the city council voted against a controversial proposal to sell the city-owned property for the development of a Stop & Shop gas station. The city has owned the property since 2010, land records show.
Plans show tenants will likely seek rental assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
New Samaritan has pledged $2 million for the proposed affordable housing complex and is looking for HUD to approve an additional $4.5 million in funding before it breaks ground on the development.
New Samaritan has developed about 2,500 housing units in Connecticut and Massachusetts since its founding almost 50 years ago.
