Date: Fri 28-Jul-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Nunnawauk-housing-elderly-a2

Full Text:

24 New Apartments Dedicated at Nunnawauk Meadows w/photos

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Promising that "this is not the end of our expansion plans," officials of

Newtown Housing for the Elderly (NHE) Tuesday dedicated 24 new apartment units

and an enlarged community center at Nunnawauk Meadows.

The project, financed through a $1.2 million mortgage from the Farmers Home

Administration and a $432,431 grant from the State Department of Housing,

brings the size of the senior citizen apartment complex to 120 units, making

it one of the largest developments of its kind in Connecticut. The complex on

Nunnawauk Road is home to 150 senior citizens who pay rents based on a

percentage of their incomes.

"This is just another step toward providing affordable housing for the

elderly," said Edward T. Osterman, NHE president. "With 30 more acres of land

available, NHE is already considering an additional expansion."

William H. Bradley, regional director of Rural Economic and Community

Development (RECD) for the US Department of Agriculture, described Nunnawauk

Meadows as "the type of program that President Clinton and the agriculture

director strongly back to make better the quality of life in rural America."

The recently completed addition to the existing complex consists of three

one-story buildings containing 24 units. Each building also houses a laundry

room. Two of the new units are specifically designed to be accessible for

handicap/disabled households and all of the units are adaptable for such

special needs tenants.

The community center was expanded to include a commercial kitchen and dining

area which provides a well-balanced meal each day for the residents. The meal

program is one of the services provided under the Congregate Housing Services

Program operated through a federal/state/local partnership.

Frank DeLucia, executive director of Nunnawauk Meadows, said there is a need

for additional housing for seniors. He said there is always a waiting list for

units at Nunnawauk.

Nunnawauk Meadows had its genesis in 1969 when the ministers of six Newtown

churches met to discuss the need for affordable housing for the elderly.

Newtown Housing for the Elderly was incorporated the following year as a

non-profit private organization. After many meetings with town and state

officials the the Board of Trustees of Fairfield Hills Hospital, 20 acres of

land were deeded to NHE for the sum of $1. The Farmers Home Administration

financed the construction of ten four-unit apartment buildings and a community

center.

Another 40 acres of land for Nunnawauk Meadows became available in 1993

through an agreement between the town and the state that was part of the

construction of the Garner Correctional Institution. Construction of the

additional Nunnawauk units began last summer and was completed in May; Richard

Donohoe of Sherman was the architect; US Construction Management, Inc., of

Milford was the general contractor.

Among the other participants in Tuesday's dedication were Lawrence M.

Luscardi, director of the Community Development Division of the State

Department of Housing; State Rep Julia Wasserman, R-Newtown, who first became

involved with the creation of Nunnawauk Meadows 25 years ago when she served

on the town's Conservation Commission, and First Selectman Bob Cascella.

Helen Bender, 80, one of the occupants of the new units, said she was on the

waiting list for a year and a half before being able to move back from Florida

to be closer to her family.

"I've been here since June and it's wonderful," she said. "I love it. I think

they ought to build more units soon to accommodate more seniors."