T&M Takes on Center Village Project

The recently rezoned Center Village project off Maple Street in Ellington has a new name – and, a new developer.

Ellington Meadows at Center Village was purchased by Torrington-based T&M Building Company, Inc., from Rockville Bank in the waning hours of 2010. The project had been in bank ownership since August 10, 2009.

“We try to work with banks and help them out of situations like this,” said Greg Ugalde, T&M's president and chief legal officer, who said his company was very comfortable working with Rockville Bank. “Everyone wants to see this finished in a positive way.”

This isn't the first time T&M has taken over a lender-owned project, Ugalde noted. He pointed to a similar project in Glastonbury with a “PUD” (planned unit development) that was only about one-third complete when the purchase was made. T&M acquired the project and finished off the almost eighty lots that were left.

And this isn't the only project T&M has in Ellington. In fact, T&M was finishing the Ellington Highlands development off Rte. 83 when the Center Village project was starting.

“We've been following this since it was originally before planning and zoning as active adult,” said Ugalde. “When [zoning] changed, it piqued our interest.”

The project shed its age-restricted, 55+ status when it was to multi-family, effective July 1, 2010.

With the purchase of Ellington Meadows at Center Village, T&M will sell the four units built and develop the remaining 38 lots. Seven units are currently occupied. T&M also plans to build its own model home, with the permit process underway, so that perspective buyers can see a T&M model home. The original model home/office will be sold, said Joe Duva, T&M sales manager.

The units will remain Cape and ranch style, and similar to what is currently built, but will come with different names, such as “Amanda,” “Belinda” and “Bethany.”

The “Amanda” is a 1,442 square-foot, two-bedroom ranch, with a first-floor master suite. The “Belinda” is a 1,886 square-foot, three-bedroom Cape, with first-floor master suite and two additional bedrooms on the second floor. The “Bethany” is a 2,107 square-foot, three-bedroom Cape, with a first-floor master suite with two additional bedrooms upstairs.

“The subdivision itself will be done in accordance with how it was originally approved,” said Ugalde, with some tweaks. Those tweaks will done with the approval of the existing homeowners and the town of Ellington.

“[The residents] need to feel comfortable – if not more comfortable – than the town. It's their domain,” said Duva.

On Feb. 13, the first Sunday T&M held an open house, 23 people came through the door to inquire about the project. And that interest was based on one small newspaper ad, Duva said. Visitors to the development included young families, singles and active adults.

“It certainly is encouraging – you need traffic before you have buyers,” Ugalde said.

Some of the 55+ adults came back to the development to look again because the zone had changed, said Duva. They were looking for a more diverse living environment.

“I was pretty pleased by the diversification,” Duva said, adding he believes the base price of $239,900 makes for a diverse footprint.

Just as T&M did with Ellington Highlands, they plan to utilize a wait list for potential buyers. The company will begin taking refundable deposits that reserves buyers a spot in line to pick a unit as they are released for sale. Construction could begin as early as this Spring.

For more information on Ellington Meadows at Center Village, contact Duva at 860-883-3479 or joe.duva@tandm.com. Open houses are held every Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Floor plan information can be found at www.tandm.com/ellingtonmeadows.htm.