U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined the Housing Authority of the Town of Darien, JHM Financial Group and other local officials to celebrate the groundbreaking for the $20 million senior housing development known as the Royle at Darien.
— an announcement from JHM Group
Sen. Blumenthal gave opening remarks at the Oct. 25 event, held onsite at 719 Post Road and was attended by local residents and community supporters.
This new senior living community, designed for independent seniors age 55 and over, will provide 55 new, affordable one-bedroom apartment rentals that add to the housing balance of Darien.
CLOSE-UP VIEW — from left: JHM Group’s John H. McClutchy, former DHA Commissioner Jan Raymond, DHA Commissioner Peter Bigelow, Joseph R. Warren, Bill Tommins, Connecticut’s Department of Housing’s Deputy Commissioner Shanté Hanks, Darien’s Chairman of the Housing Authority Joe Voccio, Darien First Selectwoman Jayme Stevenson, Richard Richman from the Richman Group, David Kooris, and JHM Group’s Todd D. McClutchy.
The three-story building, which is expected to be completed during the summer of 2020, replaces the outdated and obsolete Old Town Hall Homes housing complex, which consisted of six buildings and only 30 studio and one-bedroom apartments.
All residents from that original complex have been relocated to senior apartments in Darien or in nearby towns. The new name harkens back to the days when the Royle School was located on the site.
The development is being financed through a combination of private and public funds including but not limited to CHFA, the Connecticut Department of Housing, the town government of Darien and Bank of America, and takes advantage of federal programs such as low-income housing tax credits.
“Low-income housing tax credits are absolutely critical to the future of housing in this country and in Connecticut,” Blumenthal said. “With The Royle, we see the great achievements that are possible when we work together. This project is a model that I will take back with me to Washington.”
Connecticut’s Department of Housing’s Deputy Commissioner Shanté Hanks said this type of project addresses the needs of Connecticut’s aging population which is increasingly independent and wants to age in the comforts of their own homes.
Deputy Commissioner David Kooris of Connecticut’s Department of Economic Community Development said the Royle is an example of “communities being proactive and creative in evolving their built environment to meet the changing needs of their population.”
The public-private partnership came together for the benefit of Darien and its residents, said Todd D. McClutchy of JHM Financial Group, a member of the partnership.
“The Royle will be an aesthetically appealing community that beautifies a prominent part of the downtown, adds to the landscaping, serves a greater number of residents, and adds to the economic vibrancy of the area by creating the highest and best use for the property,” he said. “It is great to be part of this vibrant public-private endeavor.”
Photo from JHM Group
LARGER VIEW — from left: JHM Group’s John H. McClutchy, former DHA Commissioner Jan Raymond, DHA Commissioner Peter Bigelow, Joseph R. Warren, Bill Tommins, Connecticut’s Department of Housing’s Deputy Commissioner Shanté Hanks, Darien’s Chairman of the Housing Authority Joe Voccio, Darien First Selectwoman Jayme Stevenson, Richard Richman from the Richman Group, David Kooris, and JHM Group’s Todd D. McClutchy.
Other officials at the event were Joseph R. Warren, chairman of the Housing Authority of the Town of Darien, and Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson. Representatives from the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, Richman Group, Imagineers LLC, and Bank of America also were on hand.
With headquarters in Stamford, the JHM Group is involved in all aspects of the real estate and renewable energy industries, including finance, development, construction, and asset and property management.