Guglielmo, Vail applaud much-needed Avery Park infrastructure improvements

STAFFORD — Avery Park, the town’s affordable housing development for seniors and disabled residents, received a $500,000 upgrade from state officials Monday, an infrastructure improvement pushed by Stafford delegates Sen. Tony Guglielmo and Rep. Kurt Vail.

The governor’s office announced the grant, part of the state’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), which will pay for extending the public waterline and sewer system to accommodate the affordable housing development’s move from its West Street location to West Stafford Road, eliminating the cost and construction of a new private septic system.

Thanks to a letter from Sen. Guglielmo and Rep. Vail, this is the first time since 2011 that Stafford has received a STEAP grant.

“This project will allow the Avery Park development to build a clean water system for seniors and the disabled. The cost to do this is extremely expensive but necessary. It is the type of project the state should help local communities with because it is a matter of public health,” Sen. Guglielmo said.

“These improvements will add to the quality of life for residents at Avery Park,” Rep. Vail said. “I’m excited to see our hard-earned tax dollars coming back to Stafford, to taxpaying citizens who need it and to a development that deserves it.”

In a letter dated Jan. 28, Sen. Guglielmo and Rep. Vail asked the Malloy administration to consider Stafford for this grant because the town is “more than deserving of receiving this crucial funding as this project will benefit a large number of residents.”

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