Newtown Housing For The Elderly, Inc––

Nunnawauk Meadows Celebrates Newest Expansion Project

By Dottie Evans

Ask Ken Anderson what he thinks of his new handicapped-accessible apartment in the recently completed addition to Nunnawauk Meadows’ main building and watch his smile spread from ear to ear.

“I feel like I’m in a hotel –– like I’m on a vacation all the time. It’s wonderful,” Mr Anderson said as he sat with several friends during Tuesday’s opening ceremonies to celebrate the latest addition to Newtown’s independently managed housing complex for the elderly.

By the time of the dedication, six residents had already moved into the new units and eight others are ready to move. Mr Anderson said he was lucky enough to be first in line because of his 24-year seniority at Nunnawauk.

“You could say I’m the longest but I’m not the oldest,” he quipped.

The fifth Nunnawauk Meadows expansion has added a two-story addition to the community’s main building that contains 14 new one-bedroom apartments. Each unit has a full kitchen, a living/dining room, and a full bath with handicapped-accessible shower. Designed for residents that have difficulties with mobility, the apartments offer direct inside access to shared facilities such as the community room and the new laundry. Apartment residents may use inside corridors to reach the common areas and an elevator serves the second floor.

The project, which was paid for by state funds and loans, also provides enhanced services for use by all of the Nunnawauk Meadows residents. These improvements include the expanded self-service laundry facility with five washer-dryer stations, new office space for the staff, an enlarged front entrance to the community building, and a library, hair salon, and medical room to be located in the former office spaces.

Before the addition, Nunnawauk’s population of 140 residents lived in 120 units sited throughout the 65-acre site that lies adjacent to the Fairfield Hills campus, but there were no apartments attached to the central building for those residents with mobility issues.

Now there is a place for such residents to go when the need arises and as spaces open up. The overall waiting list to get into Nunnawauk Meadows is now 150, according to Ed Osterman, chairman of the Newtown Housing for the Elderly Building Committee. The need was clear, he said, for this project to go forward.

“It’s been four years of planning and one year of construction. Actually, we came in a month ahead of time,” said Nunnawauk Meadows Executive Director Frank DeLucia speaking to the gathering of residents, and state and town officials.

Mr DeLucia thanked retiring USDA Loan Specialist for Rural Development Sue Burns and her staff for their help with construction and refurbishing, and the State of Connecticut Department of Economic Development Housing Fund for its grant and contribution of land.

He also thanked Newtown’s First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, State Representative Julia Wasserman, and the town departments of planning and zoning, building, and public works.

“They have supported us and encouraged us all the way,” Mr DeLucia said.

“Nunnawauk is a quasi-governmental community within the center of Newtown, and they have [created this] while needing very little help from me. I’m especially impressed with the architect and the contractor,” First Selectman Rosenthal commented.

“It was a great team effort,” agreed Dennis Magee, state building construction specialist.

After the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, people were free to explore the new facilities and ask questions of various board members who acted as guides.

“This laundry room is state-of-the-art,” said Joe Borst, waving his arm at ten shiny new white porcelain washers and dryers lined up on opposite walls.

“And we’ve done the wiring for a sixth station when it’s needed,” he added while raising one washer lid to display the shiny chrome interior.

Asked about what the sixth Nunnawauk Meadows expansion project might be, Mr Osterman said, “Maybe more parking. It will come, but everything takes time.”