Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) celebrated the announcement by Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno this week that $9 million in small cities grants will be awarded to six municipalities to modernize and rehabilitate low- and moderate-income individuals, including $1.5 million in funding each for public housing modernization projects in Essex and Westbrook for the Essex Court and Worthington Manor complexes.
“The Small Cities Grant program, administered through the Community Development Block Grant program, is incredibly beneficial to towns across Connecticut, providing important funding for projects including enhancements to public housing,” said Sen. Needleman. “The $3 million in total funding for the Essex Court complex in Essex and the Worthington Manor complex in Westbrook will improve the lives of and resources available to residents of those facilities, also adding to their resiliency and extending the buildings’ usable lifespans significantly.”
Both Essex Court and Worthington Manor received $1.5 million in funding. Essex Court will engage in Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility for the community room and laundry room, as well as full accessibility for several units on the campus. Further repairs include roof replacements, installation of heat pumps and water heaters, storm doors with ADA hardware and LED lighting. A roofed patio will also be installed to allow for gatherings, and a full campus backup generator will be installed in case of emergency.
Worthington Manor will receive significant updates to the building envelope of the two-story complex, also replacing roofing, gutters, siding and windows in all units. Automatic door openers, vinyl plank flooring and HVAC systems will be either installed or upgraded, while tactile warning strips will be installed at transition points from sidewalks to the driveway and parking area to assist the visually impaired.