- 39 Midway Oval, Groton, before The Connection’s community development project.
by Tyler Williams
The Connection Fund, Inc., held a ribbon cutting at the recently completed construction at 39 Midway Oval in the Poquonnock area of Groton. The project removed a blighted house which impacted the surrounding neighborhood, and replaced it with a new and affordable three bedroom single family home with a garage.
Heide Erb, Director of Communications, The Connection said, “It was in impossible condition to do a gut rehab on this project the structure/foundation was seriously compromised. No materials were reused, parts of the house required asbestos abatement work for the demolition. The original materials were substandard.” The new construction enhances the value of surrounding properties in the neighborhood while bringing an affordable homeownership opportunity to a local family.
“This is another great opportunity where The Connection was able to remove a blighted structure, and replace it with a new, affordable home for a family here in Connecticut. We continue to strive to keep our communities thriving and provide homeownership opportunities,” said Peter Nucci, President and CEO, The Connection.
- 39 Midway Oval, Groton, a new three bedroom single family home with a garage.
“Because this home is affordable to this family, we can keep them here in Groton, here in Connecticut,” said Jane Dauphinais, Director, Southeastern Connecticut Housing Alliance. “Hard working families have a hard time becoming homeowners because home prices have risen so much faster in this region than average incomes. Thanks to the great job by The Connection, this family becomes stakeholders and can share in that prosperity.”
Heide Erb said, “The home is a very good value and the owners are valuable members of the community.”
Mayor Jim Streeter thanked the developer and welcomed the new homeowners, “What great work by The Connection and a great investment by the new homebuyers. We are happy when families invest in our community because they feel a deepened commitment to it. Efforts like this benefit the whole town. We’re proud that, as Groton residents, you decided to make the commitment to buy your first home here. Welcome!”
“I think one of the most important things to understand about this work completed by The Connection is that projects like these that add stability to our workers and their families represent key ingredients that shape our region’s economic future,” said John Beauregard, Executive Director, Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board. “When we don’t have suitable housing that’s affordable to our workforce, we significantly impair our ability to grow economically in the future.”
