Community Celebrates Preservation Victory as Asylum Hill Victorian House Settles into New Home
July 18 2004 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
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
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