|  Alan E. Green
Executive Director
Thank you to the many individuals who supported my appointment as the Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Hartford. I find it quite fortuitous that, in coming to the Authority, I can see from my office, the landscape where the Charter Oak Terrace and Rice Heights housing developments used to be. I often reminisce of the pleasant memories experienced during my childhood growing up in Rice Heights with my family. It was a safe and positive environment which greatly
influenced my life and career in the public sector. It is the same kind of environment that I will work to see re-created for our residents and their families as we continue our reinvention of public housing. Recognizing that the Authority must look carefully at its future opportunities as a developer in Hartford, we are placing special significance on the redevelopment of our housing. One effort will be with our State Housing Program--Westbrook Village and Bowles Park. Another is Nelton Court, our last remaining federally financed development
which will go through a transformation similar to Charter Oak Terrace, Stowe Village, Mary Shepard Place, and Dutch Point Colony. My commitment is that the revitalization of these developments will be accomplished by keeping central the best interests of our residents. Another commitment I make is that public housing will not be visibly distinguishable from other housing. Because one's economic position is less than others does not mean that they should have housing that is visibly different than from others who are in a better economic position. I remember John Wardlaw, the long time Executive Director, saying that he was not going to be in the business of “warehousing people.” Well, today we are in the process of living up to that commitment through the various redevelopment activities but in doing so, the housing will architecturally compliment the community. The public, as in the past, will not be able to look at a structure and distinguish it as public housing. Finally, we must remember that we are a public agency. As a public servant I am committed to be transparent with our operations so as to keep our residents, the citizens of Hartford and the public, in general, informed of our work. It is our mission to provide safe, decent and affordable housing while remaining fiscally sound, and in doing so remember that we are supported with public dollars. Again, I thank the public for this significant and stimulating opportunity.
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