The Hartford Board of Education voted Tuesday to transfer ownership of the former Clark Elementary School site to the City of Hartford. The decision marks the first step in a plan to redevelop the long‑vacant property into a dedicated veterans‑housing complex that will include wrap‑around support services.
Background on the site
Clark Elementary has been closed for over a decade after environmental testing uncovered PCBs, a chemical linked to cancer, in the building. Since the closure, the campus has become overgrown and remains unused. The city now intends to partner with the nonprofit United Veterans Alliance of Connecticut to clean up the brownfield and construct new housing.
Proposed development
The redevelopment plan calls for four residential floors containing more than 70 housing units for veterans. In addition to living space, the project will provide on‑site services designed to help residents transition to stable civilian life, including counseling, job‑training assistance, and health‑care referrals.
Need for veteran housing
Advocates note that Connecticut faces a significant shortage of affordable housing for those who have served. Federal data indicate nearly 175 homeless veterans in the state, while roughly 25,000 more struggle with inadequate or unaffordable housing. “Some of whom are homeless. Some of whom are living from paycheck to paycheck,” said Navy veteran John Clark III during the board meeting.
Family legacy and community support
The former school was named after John Clark III’s father, John Clark Jr., a veteran and Hartford’s first Black city council member. Clark III emphasized that converting the site into veteran housing would honor his father’s legacy of service to both country and community. “My family is steeped in military service and service to the community,” he said.
Veteran Bridgitte Prince echoed the sentiment, stating, “We need it. We need help,” and adding, “Not just say thank you for your service, show us that we really mean something to the city.”
Funding and cleanup
The city hopes to eventually hand control of the site to United Veterans Alliance, which will apply for brownfield‑cleanup grants. The cleanup costs have previously been prohibitive for Hartford, making the nonprofit partnership essential to move the project forward.
Next steps
With the board’s approval, the city will begin the legal transfer of the property. Once ownership is secured and environmental remediation is completed, construction of the veteran housing units can commence. Community leaders and veterans alike view the project as a tangible expression of gratitude toward those who have defended the nation.
The initiative reflects Hartford’s broader effort to address homelessness and housing insecurity while preserving local history and honoring the service of its citizens.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.
