Cicia Manor. Image taken from the Derby Housing Authority’s website.
DERBY — Gov. Ned Lamont recently announced the Derby Housing Authority is receiving a $1 million grant to make improvements at Cicia Manor, a federally-subsidized, 40-unit community off Anson Street.
The money will be used to build three new units at the complex that will comply with the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The new ADA-compliant units will involve the conversation of existing housing authority office space within the complex into living spaces. The housing authority offices will move to Derby City Hall, officials said.
The money will also pay for major ADA upgrades to the Cicia Manor Community Building. The kitchen area will be renovated, and existing bathrooms will be redesigned.
“The electric baseboard heating system will be supplemented with a heat pump (to) significantly reducing electrical usage, and (a new) generator . . . will allow the Community Building to be used as a place of refuge in the event of power outages,” according to a statement from the governor’s office.
Cicia Manor is home to a dozen 1-bedroom units and 28 efficiency units. Most residents are either seniors or younger people with disabilities.
Derby had applied for a $1.5 million grant, which would have included improved lighting at the complex, which is in a high crime area, according to city documents. The city is pursuing other avenues to get that off the to-do list.
The money comes from the Community Development Block Grant Small Cities program, which is administered by the state’s Department of Housing with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
“These grants go a long way toward improving neighborhoods so that we can make our communities more attractive and encourage continued growth for the benefit of all of our residents,” Lamont said in a written statement issued Sept 26.
“This $1 million Small Cities Grant is a Godsend to the Derby Housing Authority, to Cicia Manor and to our residents,” said Linda Fusco, chairwoman of the Derby Housing Authority (a volunteer position).
Fusco pointed out the grant helps to close a troubled chapter in the Derby Housing Authority’s history.
The authority, under a previous commission and executive director, accessed money from a housing authority fund without the proper permissions and was directed by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority to pay back more than $430,000 to that fund.
“By converting that office building into housing units, the primary purpose of those reserve funds will be met and DHA will be forgiven the payback,” Fusco said.
“This Board of Commissioners and I cannot thank Mayor Dziekan enough for allowing us the opportunity to apply for this grant,” Fusco said. “I’m sure that there were dozens of projects more visible, just as worthy but he chose us and we, our staff and I’m sure our residents are very grateful.”
Officials also credited Patty Finn in Derby City Hall and Peter Testa of A&E Services Group, LLC, for crafting a successful grant application.
“Great work and collaboration between my staff and all those involved,” Mayor Dziekan said in a Facebook post.
State Rep. Kara Rochelle, D-Ansonia, issued a statement thanking 11 people, underscoring the team effort:
“I want to thank and praise all parties, as this was a true team effort. Of note, a warm thank you to Derby Housing Authority Chair Linda Fusco for spearheading these efforts, coordinating state and local officials, and being the soul and force behind the work,” Rochelle said. “ I’d also like to thank Derby Housing Authority Commissioner Adam Pacheco for joining me in Hartford to meet with State Department of Housing officials to advocate for Derby’s needs; Grant Writers Patty Finn and Peter Testa for their well-crafted application; Derby’s State Elderly Coordinator Ellen Oczkowski who coordinated much of the local data, Mayor Dzieken and the Derby legislative delegation Rep. Klarides, Rep. Klarides-Ditria, and Senator Logan for their letter of support; Governor Lamont, State DOH Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno, and her team for seeing the value in allocating resources to our community, and many others who have had their hand in bringing this to fruition for our residents. When we work together, good things happen.”
