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January 11, 2023

Affordable housing developers close to approval for conversion of West Hartford Inn into 44 apartments

A rendering of the redevelopment planned for 900 Farmington Ave., West Hartford.
By Michael Puffer

A proposal by affordable housing developers to convert and expand the West Hartford Inn into 44 apartments is nearing approval. 

A site plan submitted by WHI Camelot LLC can be approved by Town Planner Todd Dumais once the town’s Design Review Advisory Committee finishes its review, which is expected as early as the committee’s scheduled meeting Thursday.

WHI Camelot lists Honeycomb as its principal in its state business filing. WHI Camelot’s listed business address in the Weatogue section of Simsbury is shared by affordable housing developer Vesta Corp. Vesta and Honeycomb have partnered previously.

The plan submitted by WHI Camelot calls for “adaptive reuse” of the existing four-story hotel and new construction over the footprint of an attached restaurant. The 0.67-acre West Hartford Inn property at 900 Farmington Ave. is located just off the northeast corner of downtown West Hartford.

Nearly 80% of apartments will be affordable and the proposal meets the standards of the states 8-30g affordable housing law, according to WHI Camelot’s site plan narrative, which anticipates government financing for the project. The redevelopment will provide modern features and amenities, new landscaping and parking in an updated building envelope, creating curb appeal compatible with the surrounding neighborhood, according to the application.

It will also provide opportunity in an area without adequate affordable housing, according to the application.

“The lack of affordable housing options in this part of West Hartford has left few opportunities for residents and families to gain access to affordable housing proximate to the center,” the application said. “With an array of amenities, jobs and educational resources, this section of West hartford provides ample opportunities for residents to thrive.”

The apartments will have “resilient” flooring with wood appearance and modern, open kitchen/living rooms, along with “crisp, clean finishes in the bathrooms,” according to the plan. The apartment community will contain a fitness center, community room and computer rooms, in addition to shared laundry rooms.

The location affords access to bus transportation, the Trout Brook Walking Trail and a short walk to downtown shopping, according to the plan.

WHI Camelot’s plan said it has a purchase agreement with the current owner, Lisaraj LLC.

Lisaraj paid $1.49 million for the property in 2012.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced in December the project would be among a number statewide to share in $24.6 million in newly released brownfield funding. WHI Camelot’s project is slated to receive $998,000 to investigate and remediate the property. 
 

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