May 3, 2010
HOUSE APPROVES BILL ALLOWING GOODWIN COLLEGE
TO REHAB 30 HOUSING AUTHORITY UNITS AT KING COURT
A bill co-sponsored by East Hartford's entire legislative delegation that allows Goodwin College to rehabilitate 30 state-subsidized housing units has been approved by the House of Representatives.
The bill, An Act Concerning Affordable Housing Replacement (HB 5371), now goes to the Senate where it is expected to win approval.
"This bill is a victory for everyone – Goodwin College, the town of East Hartford, its housing authority and the students who are in need of low to moderate-income housing," said Rep. Henry Genga (D-East Hartford), who led the creation and passage of the legislation.
Genga was joined by state Reps. Jason Rojas and Timothy Larson (D-East Hartford, South Windsor) and state Sen. Gary LeBeau (D-East Hartford) in pushing for the bill.
The bill allows the East Hartford Housing Authority to partner with Goodwin College to house students with families in the King Court neighborhood. The students who would be housed there would have to meet state moderate rental guidelines.
"The bill represents a big step toward neighborhood revitalization in a part of town that needs investment," Rojas said.
The King Court development currently has about 30 units vacant out of the 80 units. Many of the vacant units are in need of extensive repair, and there are no funds available from the Housing Authority or the state.
"We need to do everything we can to foster growth in East Hartford," Larson said. "This bill has the potential to create a new and exciting partnership between housing and education in our town."
It is hoped that the partnership with Goodwin College might allow other funds to purchase, rehabilitate and/or modernize the remaining apartments. The apartments were built in 1952 and have fallen into disrepair. There are currently 50 households occupied, but this income is used for current operation and does not allow for any capital improvements.
Genga said that if Goodwin College were allowed to purchase some of the current units, and make repairs necessary to rent the units, more affordable apartments would be available. And many of the students at Goodwin College are single parent households, whose income would make them eligible under the regulations. And the proximity to the college makes the partnership ideal. While not finalized, the maintenance of the apartments could continue to be done by the Housing Authority. And the plan would be to maintain the units, not demolish them.
Genga said it is hoped that a rent structure would be appealing to the students and they would be able to settle down during their education in an area within walking distance from their home, much like in a college dormitory.