Carriage Maker Place project to break ground

WINSTED — Local and state government officials expect to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Carriage Maker Place on Gay Street next Wednesday, April 4, at 2 p.m.Once completed, the project, which is being undertaken by the Winchester Housing Authority Development Corp., will house 32 apartments for residents 55 years and older.The building will include a combination of one- and two- bedroom apartments.According to Winchester Housing Authority Executive Chairman Fred Newman, the project will cost approximately $5,336,000.Newman said that $2,635,000 of the total amount to build the project is coming from the State Department of Economic Community Development as a grant.The other part of the funding, $2.7 million is coming from Northwest Community Bank as a loan which will be paid back as mortgage payments.“This project has been a long time coming,” Newman said. “We started work on this in April 2007. Since then, we have been cleaning up Brownfields sites and getting rid of derelict buildings.”Newman said the need for senior citizen housing is growing.“Very soon, we will be drowning in seniors,” Newman said. “This building is needed because of the aging baby boomers that are upon us and a great many people returning to Winsted for their final years.”According to a study issued by the Winchester Housing Authority, in 2010 the town’s population of residents over 65 years and older was 1,711.By 2030, the town can expect its elderly population to increase by 36 percent.Newman said that, once constructed, Carriage Maker Place will add customers to downtown businesses.“Bringing in residents is the underpinning of any economic development,” Newman said.However, one town official disagrees with Newman.At a recent meeting of the town’s Plan of Community Development (POCD) Committee on Thursday, March 22, Selectman George Closson said he did not think the project would bring more business to downtown stores.“I look at the project as cleaning up a broken down area,” Closson said. “There will be no spendable income coming into the downtown area. Research has been done, and it shows that it doesn’t happen.”Newman added that, so far, 45 residents are on an interest list for apartments.

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