Pequonnock Replacement Program: 60 Rental Units

 

Scattered site public housing fulfills an important function in Bridgeport: providing subsidized housing options in a neighborhood setting. As the City’s preferred developer for the Pequonnock Replacement program, BNT developed 60 new units of affordable housing for families receiving public housing assistance. The Replacement Program was initiated by CT Legal Services after the demolition of the aging complex Pequonnock Apartments left Bridgeport in need of more public housing.

In partnership with the City, the Bridgeport Housing Authority and Connecticut Legal Services, BNT is proud to announce that all 60 units of the Pequonnock replacement program have been identified, and all but 12 are complete or in construction. These units were developed in three phases.

Phase I:  This phase consisted of 23 units scattered throughout the City of Bridgeport.  Eleven units were newly constructed and twelve were rehabbed to like-new condition. The total development costs of this phase exceeded $7,000,000.  Funding was provided by the State of Connecticut, the Department of Economic and Community Development, the City of Bridgeport, and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority.

Phase II:  This phase included the acquisition and subsequent turnkey of 27 units located on Hanover/Norman Street in Bridgeport, CT and was funded by the City of Bridgeport.

 

Phase III:  This phase represents the last phase of the Pequonnock Replacement Program and consists of 10 units located at 212 Maplewood Ave. and 547 Brooks St.  These units will be renovated to like new condition.  The total development cost of the phase exceeds $1,800,000 and is funded by the State of Connecticut, Department of Economic and Community Development, the City of Bridgeport, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, and United Illuminating.  Construction has begun and these units are expected to be complete before the end of the 2010.

 

Architect	David Barbour Architects
Clerk of the Works	Housing Development Team The Management Team
Contractor	Daley Construction Brown Construction UI Roofing
Legal Counsel	Stephen L. Litchman Stephen Mednick

Barnum Avenue

 

Impressive in design and history, the Victorian Gothic Villa at 101 Barnum Avenue has endured its share of hardships. Constructed in 1853 on the banks of the Pequonnock River, the house was moved to its current location in 1890. Decades later, significant damage by fire and water left the property blighted and in dire need of rehabilitation. BNT, in collaboration with Mutual Housing Association, renovated this East side treasure into four units. Exterior renovations included restorations that replicated the original design for the porch and front entries.  The molding and trim for the exterior doors and windows were also restored - repairs that have significantly enhanced the curb appeal of the building and helped to build neighborhood stability.  The homes themselves each have an efficient, compact floor plan, plus an unfinished basement level for utilities and storage.

With a total development cost of more than $1 million, the 101 Barnum Avenue project received support from the State of Connecticut Department of Economic Development, the City of Bridgeport, the Connecticut Department of Culture and Tourism, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, and the Connecticut CDFI Alliance. 

 

Architect	Jim Evans Associates
Contractor	Brown Construction

 

 

35 Alex Street

Bridgeport resident Bernadette White won the lottery. Her reward - not a monetary sum - but a life changing opportunity: a chance to purchase the brand new house at 35 Alex Street and make it her own.

Built in collaboration with BNT and the Fairfield County Housing Partnership, this 3 bedroom single family house was designed to create a sense of "home." Its features include exposure to light, a street-side "formal" entrance and a rear, private "family" entrance, convenient off-street parking, a fenced-in yard, 2.5 baths, a full kitchen with oak cabinets, a laundry room, a deck and a full basement, Kohler fixtures, and Mohawk carpet.

Priced at only $180,000, a random lottery to choose the home's potential owner was held on September 10, 2007. To qualify, applicants had to be Bridgeport residents and first-time homebuyers. Additionally, applicants had to have completed a homebuyer education program, be pre-qualified for a mortgage, and have income that did not exceed 80% of the AMI. The total development cost of this home exceeded $300,000 and was supported by the City of Bridgeport, the Connecticut Housing and Investment Fund, and Community Capital Fund.

BNT completed fifteen homes (22 units) for low-income families leveraging over $2M of public and private financing through its Homeownership Initiative Program (HIP). Below is a list of each property.

Address	Number of Units	Completed
201 Norman	2	3/94
841 Iranistan Ave	2	3/94
81 Fremont St	2	10/94
297 Hanover St	1	2/95
235 Hanover St	2	8/95
1044 State St	1	7/96
1052 State St	1	7/96
283 Hanover St	1	8/96
1060 State St	1	12/96
1054 State St	1	12/96
273 Hanover St	2	6/97
257 Hanover St	1	7/98
170 Black Rock Ave	2	9/98
285 Hanover Street	1	6/99
140 Black Rock Ave	2	5/01