Mae Flexer

Flexer, Johnson & Orange Laud $7 Million in State Funding for Willimantic’s “Hurley Building,” Eastman Curran Terrace

Willimantic, CT—State Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson), state Representative Susan Johnson (D-Windham), and state Senator Linda Orange (D-Colchester, Windham) lauded the recent news that two affordable housing developments in Willimantic have been awarded more than $7 million in state funding through the state Department of Housing (DOH) and Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA).

The announcement was made by Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Connecticut Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne M. Klein, and Connecticut Housing Finance Authority Executive Director Karl F. Kilduff Tuesday.

The Northeastern Connecticut Development Corporation, Inc. (NCCDC) has been awarded up to $2,570,000 through the Competitive Housing Assistance for Multifamily Properties (CHAMP) Program to assist in the renovation of the historic “Murray Building”—more commonly referred to as the “Hurley Building”—at 699 Main Street in Willimantic, a project that Sen. Flexer has advocated strongly for.

Additionally, the Marcella Eastman Curran Terrace rental development on Memorial Drive in Willimantic has been awarded $4,867,000 in funding through the State Sponsored Housing Portfolio (SSHP) Revitalization Initiative.

“This is an extraordinary investment in Windham. Renovation of the ‘Hurley Building’ is one of the most critical pieces of Willimantic’s revitalization, and will provide vital affordable housing at the heart of downtown while jumpstarting additional redevelopment,” said Sen. Flexer. “The funding for the renovation of the Marcella Eastman property is also crucial to ensuring our residents have access to safe affordable housing. This is truly great news for Willimantic, and I am thankful to Commissioner Klein for recognizing the importance of these investments to our community.”

“This is wonderful news for Windham, both in terms of continuing the momentum of downtown Willimantic’s revitalization, and for safe, affordable housing for our residents,” said Rep. Johnson. “These are projects that our local officials and community leaders have said are imperative, and I am pleased that our delegation has been able to secure this investment for these extremely worthy projects in Windham.”

“This is great news for people seeking a quality, affordable place to call home,” said Rep. Orange. “This is an incredible investment by the state in Windham.”

“Senator Flexer and Representative Johnson have been instrumental in securing this funding, and I am thankful for their steadfast support of this project and for advocating on our behalf to the Commissioner of the Department of Housing,” said Rheo Brouillard, President of the NCCDC. “Clearly the Murray House is an important building as you enter downtown Willimantic from the east and is a landmark, both historically and due to its location. This infusion of state funding is acknowledging once again the work that Mayor Eldridge, the Town Council and everyone else involved has been doing, especially Senator Flexer, to secure the funding necessary to complete this project and continue revitalizing Main Street.”

About the projects:

Under the CHAMP 9 Award: The DOH will provide up to $2,570,000 to the Northeastern Connecticut Development Corporation, Inc. (NCCDC) to assist in the rehabilitation of the historic Murray Building on Main Street in Willimantic (commonly called the “Hurley Building”). This historic rehabilitation will create 20 apartments as well as ground floor retail space in Willimantic’s walkable downtown. Seventeen of the 20 units will be reserved as affordable housing. The Murray Building was built by Hugh Clark Murray to house his “Boston Store” in 1894. Later, the building was the longtime home of Hurley’s’ Men’s Shop. 699 Main Street’s rehabilitation will also be supported by The Savings Institute, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, and State Historic Preservation Tax Credits which are administered by the Department of Economic and Community Development. Hugh Clark Murray served for many years as president of the Willimantic Savings Institute, whose successor bank is now funding the rebirth of this property.

Under the 2016 SSHP Award: Marcella Eastman Curran Terrace is a moderate rental development consisting of 78 family units within 44 individual buildings. DOH will provide approximately $4,867,000 to the Housing Authority of the City of Willimantic to make improvements to the building exterior envelopes, including roofing, siding, windows and site work along with unit interior renovations to create handicapped accessible units. This project leverages $161,000 in energy rebates.