Politics & Government

2 Greenwich Senior Housing Proposals Finalists for State Grant

Greenwich Housing Authority, Hill House have submitted plans for congregate housing for the town's senior citizens.

 

First Selectman Peter Tesei is hopeful that the odds will be in Greenwich's favor as the state of Connecticut considers four proposals for a $12.5 million grant to build up to 50 units of senior citizen housing.

According to Tesei, the Greenwich Housing Authority and Hill House of the Riverside section of Greenwich have been selected as two of the four finalists for the $12.5 million state grant.

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Tesei told Greenwich Patch that the housing authority submitted a proposal to build 40 one-bedroom units of congregate housing at the McKinney Terrace complex on Vinci Drive, off Western Junior Highway, back in October. Also submitted was a similar plan by Hill House on Riverside Avenue.

McKinney Terrace for the elderly, is a 51-unit complex for independent seniors. Hill House is a 37-apartment congregate home for well-elderly people of low to moderate income, according to its website.

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"There is a $12.5 million grant or $250,000 per unit to build for underserved elderly," Tesei said. He said that he along with US Rep. Jim Himes (D-4), state Sen. L. Scott Frantz (R-36), state Rep. Fred Camillo (R-151) and retiring Greenwich Commission on Aging Director Sam Deibler have written letters in support of the McKinney Terrace proposal.

"They are both very worthy projects ... and I view this that we now have a one in two chance of approval instead of a one in four chance," Tesei said. the need for senior housing is so great in Greenwich, that there is a "waiting list for the waiting list," Deibler wrote in his letter of support.

Congregate housing, according to the Hill House website, provides "basic services to help individuals who might be experiencing some frailty and would benefit from meal services, housekeeping, and 24-hour emergency coverage. While personal care or medical services are not provided, residents may arrange to have assistance from outside agencies."

The town's other congregate housing facility is 40-resident Parsonage Cottage on the campus of The Nathaniel Witherell nursing home on Parsonage Road.

The grants is to be administered by the Connecticut Housing and Community Development and the Economic and Community Development departments. A decision is expected by March, Tesei said.


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