HOPE VI Overview

Hartford Housing Authority (HHA) and the Committee to Strengthen the Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood (CSS/CON) began organizing residents and planning for the redevelopment of the Dutch Point Colony public housing complex in 1998. In March 2002, HHA and CSS/CON signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining intentions and roles for the submission of a HOPE VI revitalization application to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Dutch Point. In May 2002, The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB), the nation’s largest non-profit developer of affordable housing, was selected as HHA’s development partner as the result of a competitive selection process. HHA convened an Advisory Committee of the Dutch Point residents, CSS/CON, the Good Shepherd Area Committee, local businesses, government agencies and elected officials to provide guidance to TCB in undertaking the HOPE VI application.

By the 1990s, the Dutch Point Colony housing complex, which was built in 1941, suffered from severe physical distress resulting not only from deterioration of the structures and surrounding infrastructure, but from a fundamental mismatch between the barracks-style design of the units and the needs of contemporary residents. Physical deficiencies included inadequate bedroom sizes, insufficient number of handicapped-accessible units, poor insulation, cracked brick facades, and interior problems such as water infiltration and rodent infestation. Poverty and crime, especially drug-related crime, were equally compelling reasons to implement a comprehensive revitalization plan to replace an obsolete public housing complex with a state of the art mixed-income community.

HUD awarded HHA $20 million of HOPE VI funds for the redevelopment of Dutch Point in March 2003. The project ultimately included the relocation of all residents, acquisition of nearby land and derelict residential buildings, demolition of the entire public housing complex, construction of new roads and utilities, and construction of 127 rental apartments, condominiums for sale, a community center and a small park, at a cost of approximately $73 million.

TCB began construction of the 73 Phase I rental units in September 2005. Consisting of the rehabilitation of six buildings and construction of nine new buildings, Phase I was completed in December 2006 at a cost of $16.5 million.

Rental Phase II, scheduled for construction completion in mid-2008, consists of 54 newly constructed and renovated rental apartments, a 2,600 square foot community center and a small park. The homeownership phase, The Townhomes at Dutch Point, consists of townhouse-style and flat condominiums, many of which will be subsidized for sale to low and moderate- income buyers. Market rate units are also available. Up to 58 units may be available.

More than 41% of the workforce on Rental Phase Phase I consisted of Hartford residents, while minorities and women made up 63% of labor force. Over 80% of Phase I subcontracts were awarded to Hartford-based businesses. Over $6.8 million (59.5%) of Phase I subcontract work was performed by minority-owned businesses, and women-owned firms accounted for over $1.5 million (13.9%) of the subcontract work.

Another unique feature critical to the success of the project is the provision of supportive services to Dutch Point residents during their relocation and upon their return to the new Dutch Point. These services include: case management; youth programs; English as a Second Language and General Equivalence Diploma classes; advocacy and community building; assistance with budgeting and finance; workforce development; asset development; and homeownership counseling. A number of Hartford-based organizations, including Hispanic Health Council, Capital Region Education Council, Co-Opportunity Inc., Trust House, and CSS/CON provide these services directly to the former residents and current tenants.

Photos by Robert Benson