The ongoing revitalization of Frog Hollow took another big
step forward with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of a
newly constructed, two-family model home at 243-245 Jefferson
Street, part of the "Cityscape" Home Ownership Program
designed to attract first-time buyers to this venerable city
neighborhood on the rebound.
The home is the first of 84 newly constructed or renovated two-family
homes to be placed on the market by Pope Park Zion, LLC, throughout
an 18-block area in Frog Hollow. Pope Park Zion, LLC, is a unique
collaboration of the Broad Park Development Corporation, Mutual
Housing Association of Greater Hartford and Southside Institutions
Neighborhood Alliance (SINA). Cityscape is supported by People's
Bank.
"We believe the future of Hartford rests with its neighborhoods,"
said Ross Burkhardt, Executive Director of Broad Park Development
Corporation. "This model home is the latest step in bringing
this neighborhood plan into reality. Getting here has required
vision, perseverance and enormous effort by many individuals
working through and with community organizations such as the
Frog Hollow Revitalization Committee, HART [Hartford Areas Rally
Together], SINA and others. We congratulate Hartford Hospital
and all the other SINA partners for their commitment to Hartford's
neighborhoods and look forward to working with them in finishing
the Cityscape plan."
The Cityscape program offers qualified buyers low down payments,
down payment assistance, favorable mortgage terms, homebuyer
education and membership in a homeowners association. Homes prices
start at $95,000 for renovated homes, and $97,000 for newly constructed
homes. Buyers with incomes of between 50 and 80 percent of the
area median - or $29,450 to $47,120 - can qualify.
Financing may involve a variety of existing government or private
sources, while People's Bank will offer attractive first mortgages.
Homebuyers may access the City of Hartford's successful HouseHartford
program and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority's first-time
buyer and down payment assistance programs
Cityscape homes will be concentrated in four Frog Hollow areas:
"Gatewav" at Zion, Ward and York Streets; "Trinity
Heights" at School and Colonial Streets; "Presidential
Corners" at Jefferson, Madison and Lincoln Streets; and
"Park Street South" at Park, Zion, Ward and Wolcott
Streets. Most homes include two or three bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths,
a fully applianced kitchen, full basement, security systems and
off-street parking.
A total of 33 existing homes are being renovated, while 51 new
homes are being constructed. The two-family style of each home
is designed to complement the neighborhood's existing housing
stock and to provide a source of rental income for new owners
as a way of meeting the financial obligation.
As part of the program, Pope Park Zion, LLC, People's Bank and
HART have developed a series of workshops for all pre-qualified
applicants. The workshops will assist applicants with such issues
as home affordability, mortgage qualification, planning and budgeting
for a new home and managing rental property.
The Cityscape Home Ownership Program is one component of a massive
$175 million revitalization of Frog Hollow sponsored by SINA
a coalition of Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Connecticut
Public Television & Radio, Hartford Hospital, the Institute
of Living and Trinity College.
In addition to new housing, the project includes the Learning
Corridor (construction of three schools linking the Institute
of Living and Trinity College), a new Boys and Girls Club, four
new neighborhood parks, and the HART Community Job Center which
works with SINA institutions through the Good Neighbors Job Partnership
