616 New Park

This pioneering mixed-use community, the first to be located immediately adjacent to a CTfastrak rapid transit stop in West Hartford, is poised to kick-start rediscovery of the New Park Corridor and provide mixed income housing attractive to everyone from seniors to millennials. The 54-unit project, with one- and two-bedroom apartments, is priced both at market rate and affordable workforce housing. Eleven units are designated as supportive housing for veterans. The first floor supports retail development.

Designers were challenged by Trout Brook Realty Advisors, a non-profit developer for the West Hartford Housing Authority (WHHA), to create a dramatic urban design with a high level of amenities. The exterior is a blend of materials that pays homage to the neighborhood’s commercial and industrial roots. Inside, large windows allow lots of natural light. Artwork and wayfinding graphics in vibrant colors were developed as a collaborative effort between a graphic designer and a local artist to honor Connecticut’s transportation history. The lobby, with large glazing, activates the street, with seating areas, a pool table, and a fireplace. The unfinished ceiling is softened with rich wood tones for an inviting mix of textures.

Awards

CREW CT Blue Ribbon Awards – Best in Class – Transit Oriented Development
International Design Awards – Architecture/Low Cost Housing – Silver Award
CT Associated Builders and Contractors Award – First Place Project
Affordable Housing Finance Readers’ Choice Awards – Urban Development / Finalist

This is a very special project. It really becomes the underpinning for the rebirth, the growth, and the substance of the New Park neighborhood.

George Howell
CEO – Trout Brook Realty Advisors

Location: West Hartford, CT
Size:
Certification:
Status:

Share this Project