University to Offer Downtown Housing

Posted  2/17/2005
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An artist's rendering of the restored Sage-Allen building in downtown Hartford, which will include townhouse apartments for 136 university students.
The University of Hartford has reached an agreement with developers to house 136 students, primarily seniors and graduate students, in a new apartment development at the former Sage-Allen building in downtown Hartford by September 2006.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for us to offer our seniors what might be called an ‘Introduction-to-the-Real-World’ experience. Our students will bring energy and life to downtown Hartford, and I believe that living there will help develop in them an appreciation for life in the city,” said University President Walter Harrison.

The university’s commitment to the housing component is a significant element in the overall redevelopment of the former Sage-Allen building, which also involves the creation of 12,000 square feet of retail space and the re-opening of the Temple Street thoroughfare between Main and Market streets in downtown Hartford. “The University of Hartford continues to value its role as a partner in the revitalization of the city that it calls home,” said Harrison.

The university anticipates that its students will occupy 34 of the 42 four-bedroom townhouses being built at the project, which is located on Main, Temple and Market streets in downtown Hartford. The university expects that these students will benefit by being near the businesses and governmental agencies that can provide them with internship opportunities.

“The University of Hartford has always been a good neighbor and investor in our city," said Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez. "By creating housing for their students, it will only add more life to the Downtown district.”

The developers, 18 Temple Street LLC, received support from the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), which is providing construction and permanent mortgage financing for the project; the Capital City Economic Development Authority (CCEDA), which provided a significant subsidy for the housing component of the project; and the Connecticut Development Authority (CDA), which provided financial assistance through sales tax relief.