33 Sargeant Street

Our first, wholly new construction: we designed and built this house to fit the architectural and historic character of the neighborhood. Winner, 2012 Hartford Preservation Alliance Award for outstanding in-fill construction.

The "Sunburst Home" -- NINA's first new house, and a turning point for the organization. NINA worked with its partners at ServCorps and in the City of Hartford to build a new home on what had been a vacant lot, after a condemned and blighted house had been torn down. The lot was donated to us by Bank of America, and we received substantial support for this project from The Hartford.

This house was a significant opportunity for NINA: we designed this home to fit the architectural and historic character of the neighborhood, such that few realize this house hasn't been there since the 19th Century. We think this house is a model for future new home development in Asylum Hill.

A Look at the Sunburst Home

Three stories. Three bedrooms. Two-and-a-half baths. Energy Star certified. Off-street parking. All inside a house that looks like it was built in the 1890s.

The Original 33 Sargeant

Probably built in the 1890s, the house that used to sit at 33 Sargeant resembled the house next door at 37 Sargeant Street. From the street, and even inside, the house didn't look all that bad, but it hadn't actually been a house for a long time. It was a business -- the last one was an ambulance service (and one of former mayor Pedro Segarra's first employers in Hartford), and while we think there was an office in the house most of the action was around back, in the garage. Not surprisingly, as the house lost its original use, it became neglected and fell into distress.

The Basement

So why was the house demolished? First and foremost, because the City condemned it as unsafe and ordered it torn down, but NINA has a story about this, which may or may not be true:

NINA gained access to the house, and we sent our crack team of home inspectors in to have a look. These would be our guys from ServCorps and our construction manager, Mike Stockman. They had a look around, thought the place looked a little dated and neglected, but really, not so bad overall.

Then they went into the basement.

As the story goes, they were there for all of a minute when they ran for their lives.

As said above, this story may or may not be true, but we enjoy telling it, so it's the story will stick with!

Demolishing That Old House

NINA prides itself in saving and restoring historic homes, but sometimes a house just has to go. This one went in just over 2 hours.

But this demolition presented NINA with a historic opportunity, which was to build a new home that looked like it had been in the neighborhood since the 1800s. No one builds homes like this in Hartford, and we're proud to have set a new standard for new homes in Hartford.

Building the New 33 Sargeant Street

This was a team effort. Led by ServCorps, close to 300 volunteers put in almost 1,000 hours on this house. 125 of those volunteers came from The Hartford, and in honor of that contribution we made this house "The Hartford House." We also had financial support from the Bank of America, The Hartford, and the City of Hartford through the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

This house is what can be done in Hartford.

From the 1890s and Back Again

A look at the old house and the new: they are different, but which one looks more historic?

Project History

A tree grows at 33 Sargeant 04/30/2018 In bloom and gorgeous! It completely obscures that beautiful house we built at 33 Sargeant, but it goes without saying that we were totally right to work hard to protect this magnolia while we were building the house. Totally worth it!
		Still a good looking house 1/14/2016 It's nice having this house right across the street from our office.
Press event to announce the Homeownership Incentive Program 5/31/2012 The MetroHartford Alliance organized a press event today to announce the new and improved Homeownership Incentive Program (HIP). The event was held in the front yard of 33 Sargeant Street, NINA’s first new construction project that was sold to first time homebuyer Tiana Hercules and her family back in January. The event announced in part the passage of SB 67, “An Act Co
		Hartford Preservation Alliance recognizes NINA’s work on 33 Sargeant Street 5/17/2012 Tonight, the Hartford Preservation Alliance (HPA) recognized NINA for its “in-fill construction” at 33 Sargeant Street at its annual awards ceremony. HPA also recognized NINA’s work on its new website, which we certainly appreciated. NINA Board member Susan Winkler accepted the award on NINA’s behalf.
Courant runs opinion piece spotlighting 33 Sargeant Street 2/9/2012 Bernie Michel submitted a very nice opinion piece on NINA and our work in Asylum Hill that the Courant published today. He focused on 33 Sargeant Street, which is NINA's first new construction project, and he thanks our major funders -- Bank
		Key Conveyance Ceremony For 33 Sargeant Street 12/16/2011 Today, we held a key conveyance ceremony to celebrate Asylum Hill’s newest homeowners, Tiana and Meschac Hercules. This ceremony also gave us the opportunity to celebrate the contributions of our partners on this project. Participants included Andrea Pereira, LISC; Pedro Segarra, Mayor, City of Hartford; Barbara Fields, Regional Administrator, US Department of Housing a
Candid (and posed) shots from the Key Conveyance Ceremony for 33 Sargeant Street 12/16/2011 A few shots from around the ceremony.
		HUD Celebrates NINA's Success At 33 Sargeant! 9/22/2011 HUD highlighted NINA's project at 33 Sargeant Street on its web site. The work here was funded through HUD's Neighborhood Stablization Program (NSP), and HUD featured 33 Sargeant as one of NSP's success stories. UPDATE: HUD's page went dark, but we preserved our submission to them for posterity. They pretty much used th
A vest pocket garden and a lawn for the big day 9/14/2011 Since we’re getting ready to show off 33 Sargeant, we thought it would also be a good time to showcase a vest pocket garden. If all goes well, we’ll look to add a few more around the neighborhood, and then we’ll plan for a larger project.
		The crowd begins to gather 9/14/2011 A few shots ofpeople arriving for the ribbon cutting event.
Ribbon cutting ceremony for 33 Sargeant 9/14/2011 NINA and its partners celebrated the completion of the new home at 33 Sargeant Street with a ribbon cutting ceremony today. Lynda Godkin, board chair for NINA, led the ceremony. Speakers included Pedro Segarra, Mayor of Hartford; Dean Andrews, Senior Vice President/Hartford Market Manager, Enterprise Business & Community Engagement, Bank of America; Andrea Pereira, Executive Dir
		The Hartford Fire Plaque 9/14/2011 To commemorate The Hartford’s role in and substantial contribution to the construction of 33 Sargeant Street, Ken Johnson presented Robert Yass with an antique fire plaque from the Hartford Fire Insurance Company. These plaques were used in the 19^th century to indicate that a house had fire insurance, and Hartford Fire is a predecessor of today’s Hartford Financial
some candid (and posed) shots from after the big event 9/14/2011 A few shots as the event wrapped up. We then moved a couple doors down for a reception in the backyard of 49 Sargeant.
		Do It Day at 33 Sargeant Street 9/10/2011 Today we had a group of student volunteers working at 33 Sargeant Street as part of Trinity College’s annual Do It Day.
Finishing touches at 33 Sargeant 9/9/2011 The house is getting ready for its closeup. Work being done on the porch in particular, and Jeff Giddings is working on the finish trim inside. And then there’s Mike Stockman, modeling the second floor.
		33 Sargeant in repose 9/1/2011 Porch ready for roof and paint.
New front walk at 33 Sargeant 8/29/2011
		A look at the sunburst porch at 33 Sargeant 7/26/2011 A look at some of the detail going into the sunburst woodwork on the front porch, designed to match the sunburst in the gables and the stained glass window off the staircase.
At work in the gables at 33 Sargeant 7/25/2011 Jeff Giddings installing the sunburst woodwork in the western gable.
		Sunburst in the gables 7/6/2011 Front gables in, porch gable underway, Jeff Giddings thrilled to have his picture taken.
Progress at 33 Sargeant 6/24/2011 Work ohn the siding, mostly.
		Finishing up on the front porch at 33 Sargeant 6/16/2011 The porch gable under construction.
Progress at 33 Sargeant 6/2/2011 Siding, flooring, and the stained glass window.
		Progress at 33 Sargeant 6/1/2011 There’s just something about professionals contemplating their work, plus a couple shots from the second floor interior.
Shingles in the Gables at 33 Sargeant 5/31/2011 I really rather enjoy a zoom lense.
		Progress at 33 Sargeant 5/25/2011 The porch roof taking shape.
The front porch at 33 Sargeant 5/24/2011 Beams for the roof in place.
		Volunteers from the Hartford 5/20/2011 We had a group in from The Hartford today, and they were joined by a couple of people from Asylum Hill Congregational Church.
The sunbursts have arrived 5/13/2011 And the first one is in place!
		Progress at 33 Sargeant 5/12/2011 Porches outside, kitchen inside.
Work on the porches at 33 Sargant 5/6/2011 Plus a couple of shots from the interior.
		Progress at 33 Sargeant 4/28/2011 Inside and out. The magnolia seems like a good omen.
Progress at 33 Sargeant 4/27/2011 Porch and siding, as the exterior begins to take shape.
		work on the porches begins 4/22/2011 The front porch will be one of the defining features of the house.
Volunteers working on the siding at 33 Sargeant 4/15/2011 This group came from The Hartford.
		Progress at 33 Sargeant 4/8/2011 The shot from the third floor is the final day of the “Closet Doors Drying” installation.
A peek at 33 Sargeant 3/30/2011 With the siding starting to go up, we’re entering a new phase of the project.
		A modern art installation at 33 Sargeant 3/25/2011 Now open in the third floor gallery space, “Closet Doors Drying.” Also, Jeff Giddings at work on the posts on the first floor.
Progress at 33 Sargeant 2/21/2011 A peek inside. I'm not sure why, but I really enjoy the third floor at the moment.
		Progress at 33 Sargeant 1/17/2011 Work on the interior: rooms taking shape.