Hartford Heritage Homes

Hartford Heritage Homes consists of the rehabilitation of two blighted historic homes on Sigourney Street and the construction of four new townhomes on Hawthorn Street. In total, eight units will be created, five single-family homes and one three-family home. The project is part of the homeownership development strategy of Northside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance (“NINA”), a nonprofit community development corporation whose mission is the revitalization of Hartford’s Asylum Hill neighborhood. Over the last ten years, NINA has built or rehabilitated over twenty homes for sale in Asylum Hill. The historic homes at 115 and 117 Sigourney Street will be restored to their original use as a single-family home and a three-family home. The four new townhomes on Hawthorn Street will be constructed to complement the Gothic Revival home immediately behind the development site. This home was built by John and Isabella Beecher Hooker in 1855 and is one of the most historic homes in Hartford. It was Mark Twain’s original Hartford residence before he built his famous mansion on Farmington Avenue.

Funding commitments are substantially in place to enable construction to begin this summer on the historic homes on Sigourney Street and the two new townhomes at 86 and 88 Hawthorn Street. NINA now seeks CRDA support to complete this development by constructing the two remaining townhomes at 80 and 82 Hawthorn Street.

CRDA Funding Request:

$450,000 ($300,000 grant/ $150,000 loan)
$300,000 grant will subsidize the construction of the new townhomes on Hawthorn Street.
$150,000 loan (proposed terms: 4%, 24 months) will help finance the renovation of the historic homes on Sigourney Street. CRDA loan will be repaid from State Historic Homes tax credit proceeds earned on the project.

Project Benefits:

Transit-oriented development: the homes are all within walking distance of the CTFastrak station at Sigourney Street.
Leveraged investment: CRDA funds will be leveraged with over $2.2 million of additional investment from Aetna, The Hartford, LISC, Eversource, and the State DOH.
Neighborhood revitalization: the project will continue the positive momentum underway in the area which has included the construction of new or newly-renovated homes on Imlay, Laurel, and South Marshall Street.
Historic Restoration: two blighted historic structures listed on the State Register of Historic Places will be restored as owner-occupied homes.
Historic Infill: the new townhomes are designed to complement the adjacent Gothic Revival mansion on Hawthorn Street, Mark Twain’s first home in Hartford.
Increased homeownership: the homes will provide opportunities for moderate-income families to own homes in Asylum Hill, a neighborhood with a very low rate of homeownership.
Experienced Developer: NINA has built or restored over 20 homes for sale in Asylum Hill over the last decade and received numerous awards and accolades for its work.
Demonstration Project: The Hawthorn Street townhomes could serve as a model for other townhome developments in Hartford including the Capitol Avenue blocks between Main Street and the State Capitol.