A pioneering mixed-use community, the first to be located immediately adjacent to a CTfastrak rapid transit stop in West Hartford, is poised to kick-start rediscovery of the New Park Corridor and provide mixed income housing attractive to everyone from seniors to millennials. The 54-unit project, with one- and two-bedroom apartments, is priced both at market rate and affordable workforce housing rates. Eleven units are designated as supportive housing for veterans. The first floor supports retail development. Designers were challenged by Trout Brook Realty Advisors, a non-profit developer for the West Hartford Housing Authority (WHHA), to create a dramatic urban design with a high level of amenities. The exterior is a blend of materials that pays homage to the neighborhood’s commercial and industrial roots. Inside, large windows allow lots of natural light. Artwork and wayfinding graphics in vibrant colors were developed as a collaborative effort between a graphic designer and a local artist to honor Connecticut’s transportation history. The lobby, with large glazing, activates the street, with seating areas, a pool table, and a fireplace. The unfinished ceiling is softened with rich wood tones for an inviting mix of textures. “This is a very special project. It really becomes the underpinning for the rebirth, the growth, and the substance of the New Park neighborhood,” says George Howell, CEO of Trout Brook Realty Advisors and Executive Director of WHHA.
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