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Community Celebrates Preservation Victory as Asylum Hill
Victorian House Settles into New Home
Day of Festivities Planned to Celebrate Preservation Victory for Hartford
HARTFORD, Conn., July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- There will be fun, games and the
laughter of children in Hartford's Asylum Hill neighborhood this evening as
residents and members of the Northside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance
(NINA) join city and state officials for a block party celebrating a major
triumph of historic preservation.
The block party marks the end of day-long festivities planned to celebrate a
two-story Victorian house that was saved from demolition and successfully moved
from Sigourney Street to Ashley Street. Part of a first-phase effort by NINA to
increase homeownership in Asylum Hill, the Queen Anne-style brick house will be
restored at its new location and sold at market rate as a single-family house.
"Today's celebration marks a true victory -- not just for NINA, but for all the
residents of Asylum Hill and for the entire city of Hartford," said Ken
Johnson, NINA executive director. "Saving this historic home from demolition
and preserving it for future homeownership is precisely the type of major
impact we hope to continue to have in this neighborhood."
The house, which dates back to the 1890s, was owned by Aetna and was located on
Sigourney Street, directly across from Aetna's headquarters -- a site the
company needed to accommodate the demand for additional parking. Rather than
demolish the house to make way for parking, Aetna agreed to donate the house to
NINA, along with $50,000 to help defray the cost of moving the house. Asylum
Hill Ventures LLC donated the lot at 21 Ashley St., and, with $50,000 from the
state and another $10,000 from NINA, saving the historic structure became a
reality.
"We are very proud to have helped save this historic building. As a long- time
member of this Asylum Hill neighborhood, we understand the importance of
preserving the city's architectural gems for future generations. It is part and
parcel of being a good neighbor," said Tom Handy, Aetna's head of Real Estate
Services.
The day-long celebration began bright and early Sunday morning, when Aetna
officials officially presented the house key to NINA in a symbolic transfer of
property ownership that paved the way for the move. At 9 a.m., State Rep. Marie
Kirkley-Bey, who was instrumental in garnering support for the state funding,
hosted a brunch at The Hartford's Tower Suite, where guests were treated to a
bird's-eye view of the house as it moved to its new home on Ashley Street. The
brunch was emceed by WTIC-AM morning talk-show host Ray Dunaway.
"I am so pleased to see that this beautiful home has been saved from demolition
and, even more importantly, preserved for homeownership," said Kirkley-Bey.
"This home can now become a positive asset for the neighborhood, a strong
symbol of what we can accomplish when we work together."
Throughout the day, Hartford residents gathered alongside streets and at street
corners to see the house as it moved slowly along the street, supported by a
hydraulic system of wheels, chains and beams that is powered from a nearby
console. From Sigourney Street to Farmington Avenue, through Cogswell Street
and Garden Street to Ashley Street, residents were cheered to see a piece of
the city's history and know it was on its way to becoming someone's new home.
"This move and the coordinated efforts that went into it are indicative of the
efforts happening throughout the city as we strive to bring people together to
build homeownership," said Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez. "All the elements are
in place for a successful future and, with increased homeownership, investment
and pride in our neighborhoods, Hartford is a great place to live, work, learn
and play."
NINA is a non-profit corporation that was launched in 2003 by six Asylum Hill
institutions to work with neighborhood groups to boost community reinvestment
in the Asylum Hill neighborhood. NINA's member companies are The Hartford
Financial Services Group, Inc.; Aetna, Inc.; Massachusetts Mutual Financial
Group, Inc.; ING; Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center and Webster Bank.
The house relocation and renovation is part of a plan to renovate five blighted
buildings on Ashley Street. This plan is the first phase of a multi- million
dollar revitalization initiative proposed for the Ashley-Garden- Sargeant
corridor. The overall plan includes the development of 20 owner- occupied
homes in the area, streetscape improvements to be completed in partnership with
the Ashley Street Pride Block, home improvement loans through Neighborhoods of
Hartford, Inc., and public safety initiatives in cooperation with the City of
Hartford Police Department.
Contacts:
Ken Johnson
NINA
860-244-9390
Marnie Goodman
The Hartford
860-547-3898
Gene Sheehan
Sullivan & LeShane
860-560-0001
(c-phone) 860-214-9222
DATASOURCE: Northside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance (NINA)
CONTACT: Ken Johnson of NINA, +1-860-244-9390; or Marnie Goodman of The
Hartford, +1-860-547-3898; or Gene Sheehan of Sullivan & LeShane,
+1-860-560-0001, or mobile phone, +1-860-214-9222