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The view of the proposed project from Munson & Ashmun.
A developer who was the lone bidder on a long vacant church in the Dixwell neighborhood has received final approval to purchase the property and pay about $10,500 less than he offered for it.
File Photo
Developer Juan Salas-Romer purchased the former Pentecostal Apostolic Faith Assemblies church at 27 – 29 Henry St. (pictured) from the Livable City Initiative at auction for a bid of $50,500. He was the lone bidder. (Read about that here.)
In a private deal, Salas Romer had previously acquired the former Red Café Ultra Lounge (before that known as the Cardinals Café) at 320 – 324 Ashmun St. and the vacant gravel lot behind it at 202 Munson St. He plans to transform the properties into a single property that will be known as “The W Residence.” A Café G, an outpost of a downtown bakery and coffee/lunch spot, would go into the former Red Café Ultra Lounge space.
The project is the latest effort to revitalize the northern stretch of the Dixwell neighborhood. It nearly abuts the Farmington Canal Trail and a block from Science Park as well as the soon-to-open Winchester Lofts development.
Markeshia Ricks Photo
The current look of the property.
In February, the City Plan Commission approved Salas-Romer’s plans to transform the trio of properties, including 27 – 29 Henry, at the corner of Ashmun, Henry and Munson streets into residential and commercial space. (Read about that here.)
The Board of Alders not only approved the sale at its regular meeting Monday night, but agreed to amend the agreement Salas-Romer struck with the Livable City Initiative at auction so that he will pay only the market value of the property, or about $40,000.
Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison said Salas-Romer generously offered much more than the property was worth, and she thought it was only fair that as the only person who bid on it, he should pay the market value. She also pointed out that he has committed to providing jobs for local people to work on the construction of the project as well as at the café when it opens for business. The project is expected to be completed in a single phase starting in March and ending in September.
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The view of the proposed project from Henry & Munson.
This speaks the truth.
Affordable housing should be part of every community. Rather than allowing the constant building of luxury condos and houses, localities ought to be looking at what mix of residents supports what is needed. It makes no sense to force the middle and working classes who provide much of the "labor" to the outskirts of civilization merely to satisfy the Toll Brothers interest in a lot.
hen3ry