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July 26, 2022

New 62-unit mixed-income development proposed in Farmington

Contributed An artist's rendering of one of the two buildings that Sager Development is proposing on South Road in Farmington.
By Andrew Larson

Developer Geoffrey Sager is proposing to build a mixed-income housing development at 80 South Road in Farmington, behind the UConn Health Center.

Sager Development representatives presented their proposal to the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday night, but said they won’t submit a formal application until October.

The project consists of two buildings with a total of 62 units, of which 80% would be designated as affordable housing. Of those, 15 units would be leased to Favarh, a Canton-based organization that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live independently.

There would be a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The buildings would have community areas, package rooms, mail kiosks, two private offices, accessible laundry and outdoor amenities, Sager said. 

“We believe this is a suitable site for mixed-income rental housing due to its proximity to public transportation, including a Fastrak bus stop that’s less than half a mile away,” Sager said.
“There’s a lot of employment in this area, the medical services are great, and you have walking proximity to the schools at East Farms and Irving Robbins.”

He said the building elevations were conceived in a way that “respects the traditional sensibilities of Farmington” while incorporating contemporary design elements

South Road is a bypass that runs from Route 4 to Westfarms mall. The development would be built on a 2.9-acre site between Middle and Munson roads. No wetlands would be disturbed. 

Sager said he plans to propose a site-specific affordable housing zone, which would not apply anywhere else in town.

The area has miles of contiguous sidewalk and the nearest grocery stores are 2½ miles away, he said.

Financing will come in the form of low-income tax credits through the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, and low-interest-rate loans from the state Department of Housing. The development would count toward the town’s goal of having 10% of its housing stock labeled affordable, Sager said.

If they receive zoning approval, Sager said he will apply for public financing in January, through an “extremely competitive” process.

“We’re proposing enough units to absorb very large fixed costs of the development - the financing, the ongoing management - but not so many units as to overtax the subsidy resources available to us,” Sager said.

Sager has partnered with developers on four other mixed-income projects in Farmington, which they continue to own and manage.

He is also building a 142-unit apartment development off Route 4, across from UConn Health Center, under the name 402 Farmington Ave. LLC. Rock blasting for that project is expected to begin soon.

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