September 2021: Property rebirth under way

The following press release was prepared by MysteryVisits Communications in late August 2021 on behalf of Capital for Change Inc. of Wallingford, Connecticut ....

~ Groundbreaking launches property-rebirth plan to improve Hartford’s North End ~ 

HARTFORD, Connecticut – A new effort to ensure access to affordable housing was launched Thursday at a groundbreaking event hailed by developers as a rebirth for the former Barbour Gardens apartment complex.

Heritage Housing Inc., the property developer, joined representatives of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, Connecticut Department of Housing, City of Hartford, the office of U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), PNC Bank, and Capital for Change Inc. to celebrate the milestone and inspect the renovations.

Since the 1960s, the site at 383 Barbour Street has played an important role in the city's effort to provide affordable housing. But years of neglect and deterioration had pushed it toward desolation, culminating in the relocation of all residents from the buildings in 2019.

Over several years, a team effort among Connecticut-based organizations generated a renewal plan for the building that, on completion, is expected to have a positive impact on its North End neighborhood.

The $10.54 million renovation is being undertaken by Norwalk-based Heritage Housing Inc. and is part of a larger $37 million acquisition and renovation project encompassing five separate affordable housing properties in Hartford.

The developer anticipates re-opening an extensively upgraded, 74-unit complex in early 2022, including 48 units offering Section 8 assistance and 26 units of additional affordable housing.

“Many developers would walk away from a challenging property like this,” said David McCarthy, Heritage Housing's founder and president. “But we live and work in Connecticut, too, and my view is that -- if you work in the field of affordable housing and witness degradation as in Barbour Gardens -- you should do something to help.”

Brian Robinson, senior vice president for originations and capital markets for Columbus,Ohio-based National Affordable Housing Trust (NAHT), spoke at the event on behalf of Wallingford-based Capital for Change Inc. NAHT is a joint venture of San Francisco-based Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) and Washington, D.C.-based Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future.

Brian Robinson, senior vice president for originations and capital markets for Columbus, Ohio-based National Affordable Housing Trust (NAHT), spoke at the event on behalf of Wallingford-based Capital for Change Inc. NAHT is a joint venture of San Francisco-based Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) and Washington, D.C.-based Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF).

“We are proud to be part of this collaborative effort with like-minded partners, providing a meaningful and impactful investment that will transform this neglected building with unacceptable living conditions into a home for 84 families who can have an affordable, quality place to live in Hartford,” Robinson said.

“Renovating the Barbour Gardens apartments is cause to celebrate,” said Nandini Natarajan, chief executive officer and executive director of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA).

“CHFA financing and low-income housing tax credits in this property – and the four other Heritage Housing properties soon to be renovated – will improve the quality of life for residents and preserve a total of 206 affordable housing units in the City of Hartford,” Natarajan added.

The renovated complex will include a new community room and office, features that had been absent earlier, McCarthy said. Unit interiors will be entirely redone, including new plumbing, HVAC, fire protection, safety features, in-unit laundry connections, roofs and windows.

“This is going to address every deficiency in the building,” McCarthy said. “We’re also consolidating some of the smallest units into larger ones, to accommodate larger families,” he said.

Founded in 2017, Heritage Housing has worked to redevelop sites in Connecticut, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Vermont, and Michigan. The company became interested in Barbour Gardens in 2018, but faced several months of uncertainty in the wake of HUD’s Section 8 termination.

By 2019, the former Barbour Gardens had become so infested with mold and vermin that tenants’ health and safety were threatened. Local community groups led by the Center for Leadership and Justice (formerly the Christian Activities Council) organized a residents' effort to make public officials aware of the unsafe conditions. As a result, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development terminated the site’s Section 8 contract and all tenants eventually relocated. Left unoccupied, the property faced a blighted future.

As complications ensued, Heritage Housing cancelled its purchase contracts a number of times, but continued to consider the site's potential for improvement.

“We just kept working on solutions,” McCarthy said. “In many ways, people had just turned their backs on this property, and we didn’t want to do that. We want to do projects that are beneficial to the state of Connecticut, our home state.”

McCarthy commended the staff of Capital for Change for its persistence in working with his company as well as the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, the U.S. Department of HUD, the City of Hartford, the Hartford Community Loan Fund and New York-based Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Their combined effort helped shape a financial package that made the purchase and renovation feasible.

As part of that effort, in late 2019 the staff of Capital for Change closed on a $2.3 million predevelopment/acquisition loan that prevented the property from going into foreclosure. At the same time, McCarthy worked to secure permanent financing, including low-income housing tax credits.

“A project such as this is core to our mission – to broaden access to affordable housing for underserved communities,” said Carla Weil, director of commercial lending at Capital for Change. “The project is transformational for this neighborhood, with which we're familiar because the site is close to others where we’ve also invested.”

The level of financial support from Capital for Change for the project was significant, Weil said, adding that any concerns the organization’s staff might have had were reduced when they considered Heritage Housing’s track record and personal persistence.

“We had a great deal of confidence in the developer and their commitment to the changes they were proposing,” Weil said. “So, we determined that this project was important for us to support.”

The new $37 million financing package repaid the Capital for Change acquisition loan and provided funds to renovate all five properties, including Barbour Gardens. The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority provided a $20.9 million first mortgage and authorized $13.9 million of low-income housing tax credits, which were purchased by PNC Bank. The U.S. Department of HUD renewed four existing Section 8 contracts and – working with Heritage Housing and the City of Hartford – provided new Section 8 assistance to the Barbour Gardens property.

More information about Heritage Housing Inc. may be found online at HeritageHousingInc.com. More information about Capital for Change is available online at CapitalForChange.org and the organization's Facebook page, “Capital for Change, Inc.”

Capital for Change's mission is to provide flexible, creative and responsive financial products and services to benefit low- and moderate-income persons, and minority and otherwise underserved individuals, businesses and communities. Its programs and products broaden access to affordable housing, energy efficiency and job opportunities.

Capital for Change Inc. was created in 2016 through the mergers of the Community Capital Fund, Connecticut Housing Investment Fund and the Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund, shaping an organization with a statewide history of service stretching back to 1968.

August 2021: Oaklawn holds Hospitality Classic

During August 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ... 

~ Runners, walkers gather in Marshall for 2021 Oaklawn Hospitality Classic ~ 

MARSHALL, Michigan – Adam Foreman and Meghan Currie were named the first-place male and female winners Aug. 28 during the 2021 Oaklawn Hospitality Classic.

With a time of 17 minutes and 27 seconds, Foreman – a resident of Marshall – scored the top speed during the race. Currie, an Albion resident, came in with a time of 21 minutes and 35 seconds.

Other top male runners in the event were Jesse Howell of Marshall, whose time was 19 minutes and 52 seconds, and Jeff Klingler of Coldwater, coming in at 20 minutes and 5 seconds.

Other top female runners in the event were Kelsie Letts of Marshall, who ran the course in 23 minutes and 9 seconds, and Alison Thomas of Portage, whose time was 24 minutes and 12 seconds.

The overall event paid tribute to Oaklawn's “frontline heroes” who've worked long hours during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to maintain the health and safety of the communities Oaklawn serves, said the event's coordinator, Sarah M. Jack.

Under a sunny sky and conditions that Jack described as hot with a high temperature of 90, the 5k race was conducted throughout downtown Marshall beginning at the Fountain Circle, observed by approximately 50 spectators.

That race drew 199 participants and was followed by a mile-long “fun run” that involved 73 others. Corresponding virtual events brought the total involvement for the event to 286, Jack said.

Oaklawn's Hospitality Classic, which traditionally has been held annually in May, was delayed this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Last year's event was conducted online because of similar safety concerns.

This year's event did not include a 10k race and, because of the schedule change to summer, events connected to the school-based 100 Lap Club were cancelled.

Participants in this year's event ranged in age from 3 to 75. Most were from communities throughout Michigan, but other runners and walkers came from Indiana, Colorado and Georgia.

George Youngdahl of Marshall sang the National Anthem at the onset of the day’s activities, accompanied by a color guard from Marshall's Scout Troop No. 373.

The day included several activities, community celebrations and musical offerings, including performances by Motor City Soul and Fire Lake and a coney dog-eating contest sponsored by the Copper Athletic Club.

Eaton Corp. was the overall event's top corporate sponsor. John Lubis, engineering manager at Eaton Corp., expressed thanks to the Oaklawn volunteers who assisted during the day as well as to Marshall's public-safety personnel.

Among those volunteers was Oaklawn President and CEO Gregg Beeg, who handed out bottles of water to race participants at the finish line.

“We’re very grateful for all of the community’s ongoing support, and for all of the help from the volunteers,” Jack said. “They really pitched in to make this one of the most enjoyable events that we can share in Marshall.”

Full race results may be found at www.runsignup.com by clicking on the “Find a race” button. The website also allows visitors to follow many race events, including participants' statistics and times.

In past years, the Hospitality Classic's 5k course record for males was set by Duane Daughtery in 1997, with a time of 14 minutes and 56. The 5k record for females was set by Jenny Goodpaster in 2000, with a time of 17 minutes and 19 seconds.

Oaklawn plans to host the event again in May 2022, the month during which the event normally is scheduled, organizers said. Those plans are expected to begin soon and include the 100 Lap Club program among area schools.

September 2021: Improvements at Gillette Castle

During September 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park ... 

~ Second part of multi-phase improvement project completed at Gillette Castle ~ 

EAST HADDAM, Connecticut – Visitors to Gillette Castle State Park might have a tough time spotting the most recent dramatic change at William Gillette's eccentric, century-old home that serves as the park's centerpiece. 

Everything atop the “Seventh Sister” hill seems as rustic as ever. However, those with eyes as sharp as the eagles that fly nearby might note that a century of deterioration is being halted around the structure's sheltered vehicle entrance – also known by the French term “porte cochere.”

The recent work on the building's north elevation ended the second phase of the state's three-phase capital-improvement effort at the park, funded through a $1.993 million allocation in 2019 by the bonding commission. The funding also will pay for additional work in 2022 on the building's west and south elevations, to restore its verandah and resurface its terrace.

Many years of deteriorated masonry conditions had caused overhead stones to fall from the underside of the building’s main portico entrance, posing a potential hazard to park visitors, said John “Jack” Hine, the park’s supervisor.

“It was necessary for the state to engage with engineers from CME Associates Inc. to find a solution to hopefully last another 100 years,” Hine said.

Baltic, Conn.-based Mattern Construction Inc. was awarded the contract as low bidder and began work in late May, with work wrapping up in late August. Stones that Gillette's own construction crews had set in place in the early 20^th century were removed, labeled and meticulously preserved, Hine said.

The painstaking process called for disassembling the portico stone by stone. Each stone was marked with a number and transferred to a nearby staging area, where they were laid out in the exact same location and orientation.

“By mid-June, during the demolition phase, engineer Mike Culmo determined that the original columns supporting the portico roof were structurally sound enough to support a heavily reinforced concrete roof structure,” Hine said. “That resulted in a reduced scope of work that equated to a significant cost savings to the state,” he added.

“The State Historic Preservation Office wanted to ensure that the finished product was identical to the original structure,” Hine said, crediting Mattern's superintendent Rodney Young and project manager Noah Brenckle for the task's successful completion.

“They ensured that every stone was documented, marked and then replaced in its exact location in the original structure,” Hine said. Modern methods and materials were used under the stone facade to increase the structure’s longevity, he added.

Each stone cast into the roof slab was cleaned and the joints repointed, followed by work on a retaining wall at the portico's front. Final steps included installation of a zinc-coated copper roof and soldering of all seams.

“Mattern Construction is thrilled with the results of the project,” said Brenckle, the project manager. “We feel confident that this structure will be cherished and enjoyed by the coming generations.”

“As the park’s representative for the state, I am very pleased that we have a finished product that holds true to William Gillette’s vision and again will last for generations to come,” Hine said.

The work was part of a multi-phase funding package approved by the State Bonding Commission for improvements at the park, which is nestled between the towns of East Haddam and Lyme along the Connecticut River. The overall project has included reconstruction in 2020 of a large retaining wall and handicap-accessible staircase.

“Any significant improvement to the Castle is, by its nature, a major benefit to the park and a boon for all of its visitors,” said Lynn Wilkinson, president of The Friends of Gillette Castle State Park, a nonprofit, all-volunteer group dedicated to the preservation, conservation and educational activities of the castle and its grounds.

“The state of Connecticut and its Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) have demonstrated their commitment to the park and its historical preservation by directing the necessary funding to this project,” she said. “Such support is deeply appreciated.”

The organization's mission includes the preservation, restoration and conservation of the historic and unique structure and its scenic grounds. Memberships help to finance park and structural improvements while preserving the estate and Gillette's legacy. More information about the park and Gillette may be found on the Friends website at www.gillettecastlefriends.org.