Shelter Renovation Wins Award
April 6, 2021
On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, ImmaCare’s Shelter Renovation project was presented with a merit award at the 2021 Connecticut Preservation Awards. Thank you to our partners on this important project: CT Department of Housing; Montagno Construction, Inc.; Paul B. Bailey Architect, LLC; and Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Read the press release describing the award here. View the video Preservation CT created about all of the merit award winners here. ImmaCare is featured at about the 3:20 mark. Photo by Richard Cadan Photography.
Read moreCompleted Renovations Toured by Catholic Transcript
December 1, 2020
Recently the Catholic Transcript stopped by to take pictures for a story about ImmaCare in an upcoming issue. Photographer Aaron Joseph kindly gave ImmaCare permission to post his amazing photos!
Read moreWelcoming Clients Back After 17 Long Months
November 16, 2020
ImmaCare welcomes back the most vulnerable for the first time in 17 long months.
Read moreShelter Awaits Temporary Certificate of Occupancy
November 9, 2020
This week we excitedly await for the inspectors to come to grant us a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy. So many “last minute” items have been installed or set in their place. Send us good wishes for smooth sailing this week, we truly can’t wait to reopen!
Read moreAnxiously Awaiting Completion of Inspections
October 22, 2020
We are excited as everything is coming together with just a few inspections left.
Read moreShelter Renovation Update
October 16, 2020
Things are coming together as we continue with our due diligence to be able to reopen.
Read moreA Day of Teamwork and Bed Assembly
October 13, 2020
Today we started assembling the 75 beds where those experiencing homelessness will soon lay their heads.
Read moreNew Seating Adds Color and Comfort
October 9, 2020
Here’s a view of a seating area in the upstairs of the newly renovated building.
Read moreRenovation Results Continue to Impress
October 8, 2020
A tour through some of the places in the shelter that are just about finished. We are delighted with the results!
Read moreA Welcoming Touch
October 5, 2020
Rather than an institutional-looking stainless steel roll-up door separating the dining room and kitchen, we opted for these wonderful barn doors made by our superintendent, Art Hamelin, of Montagno Construction. We finished off the look with a tasteful acrylic sign showcasing our logo.
Read moreBed Delivery Day
September 24, 2020
Today, the new shelter beds were delivered! Another step closer to opening.
Read moreDriveway is Paved and Kitchen Continues to See Progress
September 8, 2020
The driveway has been paved, and the kitchen is coming together nicely. We are continuing to check off last minute projects each and every day!
Read moreGreenery Softens Shelter Grounds
September 3, 2020
Grass seed and greenery are softening up the shelter grounds.
Read moreNew Steeple Shines
September 2, 2020
The steeple gleams bright on Park Street! Thank you to Hartford Foundation for Public Giving for the generous grant allowing for a new roof and the steeple restoration!
Read moreKitchen Vision Coming to Life
September 2, 2020
Most of the kitchen appliances have been delivered. Cabinets are up; just waiting on the appliances and counters to be installed. What a difference!
Read moreUpdated Shots of Eye-Catching Renovations
August 28, 2020
Some breathtakingly beautiful renovation pictures to kick-off your weekend!
Read moreCompletion of Steeple Work and Landscaping Continues
August 27, 2020
Steeple is just about finished, and the landscaping is really coming together nicely. Countdown is on!
Read moreCountdown to Renovation Completion
August 19, 2020
Today’s Shelter Renovations Updates include: dirt has been delivered to courtyard; intercom door system has been installed; and stairs are being stained. The countdown is on!
Read moreKitchen Hood Makes an Entrance
August 17, 2020
The new and much improved kitchen is one step closer to being finished with the installation of the hood today.
Read moreNewly Planted Trees Add a Breath of Fresh Air
August 12, 2020
Landscaping crews have begun to beautify the grounds.
Read moreMore Cleaning and Last-Minute Touches
August 10, 2020
Just a few more weeks to go until the renovations are complete. Signs within the building are being installed, cleaning continues, and last-minute touches are being made to get this building to reopen and serve clients again!
Read moreClean Up Crew Gives the Place a Sparkle
August 6, 2020
The cleaning crew is on-site this week as we go through the punch list. We can’t wait to see this beautiful building once it’s all shiny and clean!
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Restoration Vision Coming to Life
July 29, 2020
This is a big week for the Renovations. Finishes are coming together, and many parts of the project are now able to be checked off as “completed!” It’s really unbelievable. Thank you to all of our supporters for following on this journey with us.
Read moreRestoration of Original Stained Glass Window
July 22, 2020
We were able to restore the beauty of this pretty stained glass window.
Read moreUpdates and Progress Continue
July 21, 2020
In just under a month, the renovations to ImmaCare’s Emergency Shelter will be finished. Thank you to everyone who supported our efforts by making a donation and cheering us on. It’s been amazing to watch, and we hope you are as excited as we are to see the finished product.
Read moreUpstairs Updates
July 18, 2020
The beauty of the upstairs still amazes us! Everything should be complete in less than a month.
Read moreKitchen gets a Bold, New Look
July 17, 2020
This week has seen a wonderful amount of progress. The basement is coming along so nicely.
Read moreOriginal Doors Restored with Fresh Coat of Paint
July 14, 2020
We were fortunate to be able to salvage the original exterior doors of the former church. Each door was diligently sanded down to the original wood, and painted to complement the brick. The original metal doors were also painted to match.
Read moreTransformative Tile Installation
July 9, 2020
Contractors began installing the beautiful tile in the basement, throughout the dormitory and dining areas. We couldn’t be more thrilled with the new look!
Read moreThe Finish Line is in Sight
July 8, 2020
Crews are working tirelessly upstairs, downstairs, inside and out. Though the historic church of 1895 is unrecognizable, it will now be better equipped to serve those experiencing homelessness with dignity and respect.
Read moreNew Flooring, Window Trim, Light Fixtures, and More!
June 30, 2020
The Shelter Renovation Project is quickly coming to a close. We are hopeful that all will be completed in early August. Now, contractors are focusing on the finishing touches, bringing warmth to this majestic building which will soon enough be serving those most vulnerable again.
Read moreBasement Progress Continues
June 12, 2020
What a difference nice windows, some paint and good lighting make! The basement is really coming together now. Next week the kitchen floor will be installed, and second coats of paint will be applied. The elevator is almost all set as well.
Read moreBuilding is Coming to Life
June 11, 2020
As the renovations continue, the special touches are now being added to the first floor. In the coming weeks, we will announce the exciting new program related to the private rooms.
Read moreNew Roof Made Possible by Generous Grant
June 5, 2020
Thanks to an extremely generous grant from Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, the renovated shelter will have a new roof. Yesterday contractors began the process of removing shingles in preparation for the new roof.
Read moreBasement Gets a Fresh Coat of Paint
June 5, 2020
The painters have now moved to the basement, which will soon be serving individuals experiencing homelessness as ImmaCare’s Shelter once again. Walls are primed and ceilings are painted. We are excited to see how the color selections for downstairs will turn out.
Read moreElevator Installation
June 4, 2020
After some COVID-19 delays, we are ecstatic that the elevator was finally able to be installed this week.
Read moreSpecial Program Roof Installation
June 4, 2020
Soon, ImmaCare will announce a collaboration which will add unique programming to the many services ImmaCare already provides. We can’t wait to share this with you. This week, metal roofs were installed on the special program rooms built on the first floor of the former church.
Read moreBeauty Continues to Unfold
May 30, 2020
As progress continues upstairs, we continue to be amazed at the beauty being breathed into the former church structure. This week, second coats of paint were applied, a staircase to the loft, as well as radiators and handrails, were installed. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
Read moreMaking Tons of Progress in Week 42
May 29, 2020
Many changes continue to impress this week. Bathrooms, kitchen, and the dormitory progress continues downstairs. Just outside, window panes were renewed, power-washing of the brick finished-up, and the metal roof for six program rooms was bent right onsite!
Read moreWeek 41 Comes to a Close
May 22, 2020
The masonry work is finishing up this week, and progress continues to be moving along. Focus continues on the bathrooms and kitchen in the basement!
Read moreNew Structures Come to Life
May 21, 2020
Painting on the new interior structures upstairs has begun this week. We were excited to see how the colors we chose would complement each other when up on the walls- we are pleased! The colors are really breathing new life into this beautiful building.
Read moreWeek 39: Exciting Announcement on the Way
May 8, 2020
What a treat to be able to go inside and see how far the renovations have come in person during these past six weeks. Pictured here is the main level of the former church building.
Read moreBasement Transformation
May 8, 2020
The progress downstairs is amazing. The entire space has been transformed.
Read moreBack to Work with Extra Precaution
April 30, 2020
Shelter Renovations are beginning to rev up again, though with extra precautions. Masks, of course, must be worn by all who enter the job site. More subcontractors can now be onsite, however, with limitations of only two people per crew. Painting of the new structures and spaces will begin in the coming weeks. We hope to be able to start posting pictures of the progress more regularly.
Read moreRenovations Continue
March 24, 2020
It is a crazy time, yet our Shelter Renovation project continues, for now. We are in Week 33, and things are really starting to take shape. Stay healthy and safe everyone.
Read moreClosing Out Week 31
March 14, 2020
We closed out Week 31 with sheet rock going up. Painting will begin soon enough!
Read moreInsulation and More Sprinklers
March 13, 2020
Earlier this week, insulation was installed throughout the building on what will soon enough be offices, a medical clinic, conference room, and by the dormitory area. More sprinklers were installed, and framing continues on the basement windows. Click on the photos for captions.
Read moreWindow Work
March 7, 2020
To replace the very large upstairs windows of the former church would have been more than half a million dollars- something we could not afford to do. Instead, we are preserving what is there, and repairing broken lower panes which will also swing in to allow for ventilation in the space. The basement windows will allow for natural light to come in, and are currently being framed for a finished look.
Read moreHVAC System Delivered
March 6, 2020
Things are moving along; big items continue to be checked off the list. This week, we are pleased to share that our HVAC System has been delivered. We are excited for the efficiency this will bring to our newly renovated building.
Read moreKicking-Off Week Thirty
March 2, 2020
We are kicking-off the 30th Week of the Shelter Renovation Project today, and the site of the former church is bustling! Replacement lower window panels are being installed, and now, the focus of the painting is on smaller hallways and closets. Progress continues to be made in the conference room, and things are coming together nicely. If all goes to plan, we should have about three full months left of this long-awaited project. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
Read moreWeek Twenty-Nine
February 25, 2020
We are in Week 29 of the Shelter Renovations, and shower stalls are being installed, the conference room is taking shape, and a majority of the painting of the walls upstairs is complete.
Read moreWeek Twenty-Seven’s Progress
February 14, 2020
The end of Week 27 shows great progress both upstairs and down. The basement is nice and bright with new windows installed, and the shower units (a great improvement!) have been delivered. A new “old” staircase is now complete as well. Upstairs continues to become more beautiful with each passing week. Thank you for following on this journey with us!
Read moreView from the Choir Loft
February 4, 2020
Executive Director Lou Gilbert had the opportunity to view the first floor renovations from up in the choir loft. What a beauty!
Read moreWeek 25 Draws to a Close
January 31, 2020
It’s hard to believe that today we close out Week 25 of the Shelter Renovation Project. Lots of bustling both inside and out! The beauty of the former church building continues to be restored, yet in many ways, the old building is unrecognizable. Review each photo for captions about what you’re seeing.
Read moreInteresting Construction Developments
January 30, 2020
Some interesting construction happening this week on the first floor of the building– what could it be?
Read moreDepartment of Housing Visit
January 28, 2020
Recently, Lilia Kieltyka and Geraldo “Jerry” Maldonado, MBA both of the CT Department of Housing (DOH) came for a hard-hat tour of the Shelter Renovation Project, which wouldn’t be possible without the bonding ImmaCare received from DOH. Lilia Kieltyka, Housing Specialist at DOH said, “To date ImmaCare has been working very…
Read moreThe Vision is Beginning to Become Recognizable
January 23, 2020
The architectural plans are now coming to life upstairs, as the plywood for the flooring is being put down, and framework for the case management offices, conference room, bathroom and medical clinic are on their way. Now that the stairs are completed, we can walk right downstairs rather than go around outside. Things continue to progress downstairs, and soon enough, our vision for this amazing project will be recognizable to everyone!
Read moreWeek 24 Begins
January 21, 2020
As Week 24 begins, progress has been made on the framework for the conference room on the first floor and the new stairwell by the new main entrance connecting the two floors has been completed.
Read moreFriday Goals
January 17, 2020
Friday Morning Renovation Goals: final scaffolding comes down, and truckload of lumber gets delivered!
Read moreThe Scaffolding is Coming Down
January 15, 2020
Now that the high work has been completed, including high painting and installation of new fans and sprinklers, the scaffolding will come down this week. We are all excited to see how the first floor of the former church will transform!
Read moreA Peek Inside: Unique Building Material & New Entrance
January 10, 2020
Pictured are beams cut out of church for new main entrance door. They appear to be railroad tracks, not unlikely given they were readily available when the church was built in 1895. Also pictured is the opening for what will be the new entrance, on the opposite side of the former entrance.
Read moreWeek 21 – Significant Progress
January 3, 2020
Much progress has been made since Christmas. Painting has begun upstairs, walls have gone up downstairs. It’s truly an amazing transformation! Downstairs Upstairs
Read moreSprinkler System Installed
December 12, 2019
In the upstairs of the former church, we now have sprinklers! Though they may seem like an eyesore on the ceiling of this majestic building, these sprinklers are necessary and are just one of the ways we are improving the building to help us better serve those experiencing homelessness.
Read moreTrinity College Tours Shelter Renovations
December 6, 2019
This week we had the pleasure of showcasing the progress of the renovations to Jason Rojas, State Legislature and Chief of Staff, Assistant VP of External Affairs at Trinity College and Carlos Espinosa, Director, Office of Community Relations & Trinfo.Cafe. We are fortunate to have the continued support of Trinity College and were happy to provide a hard hat tour.
Read moreClosing Out Week Seventeen
December 6, 2019
Some photos of the former church building as we close out Week 17 of the Shelter Renovations.
Read moreWeek Fifteen: Giving Thanks
November 22, 2019
As everyone is getting ready for Thanksgiving, we at ImmaCare are thankful to be able to renovate the shelter. We are thankful to all those who have made it possible, in ways big and small. Week 15 highlights how far we have come.
Read moreWeek Fourteen
November 15, 2019
Week 14 brings us closer to getting the upstairs ready for paint – look at all that scaffolding! Meanwhile downstairs, the framework for the client bunks, kitchen, dining area, bathrooms and more continues to make progress.
Read moreElevator Progress
November 6, 2019
We are on our way to being handicap accessible. The first picture is taken from the basement looking up to where the new main entrance will be; the second picture is looking down.
Read moreWeek Thirteen
November 4, 2019
Week 13 of construction begins with a delivery of lumber, and framework going up for the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry.
Read moreBathroom Progress
October 31, 2019
We promised you fast-paced progress, and Montagno Construction is certainly delivering! The first picture is the layout for the staff and client privacy bathrooms, waiting for walls; and in the second photo, framework for the walls of the general client bathroom is in place. Can’t wait to see what Week 13 will bring!
Read moreDuct Work and Wall Coatings
October 29, 2019
Many transformations are happening! Ducts are being installed allowing for the shelter to be air conditioned come the summer, and rather than sheet-rocking the walls, a durable cement coating is being applied, sure to brighten the basement up!
Read moreFreshly Poured Floor
October 25, 2019
It’s hard to believe that the Shelter Renovation Project is at the close of Week 11. No more piles of dirt and rock on the floors; instead, smooth concrete envelopes the floor of what will be the shelter again, soon. In the coming weeks, we will be done dealing with the “old” parts of the shelter, and begin building the new!
Read moreEleven Weeks: Pouring the Floor and Scaffolding Goes Up
October 24, 2019
The worksite is bustling on a beautiful Thursday morning, already 11 weeks into construction! In the basement, four truckloads of cement are needed to pour the floor in the shelter. Meanwhile, the time has come for scaffolding to go up and walls to be prepped upstairs. The excitement is overflowing!
Read moreTen Weeks Into Construction
October 18, 2019
The dirt has been removed, and gravel has filled the holes in the basement floor as it awaits concrete next week; and the elevator pit was framed out and shaft completed!
Read moreNine Weeks Into Construction
October 11, 2019
A little more than nine weeks into the renovations, and many things are happening. Piles of dirt are being removed, plumbing has been set, the cement for the elevator pit has been poured, and we couldn’t be more excited!
Read moreUnderground Plumbing Installed
October 1, 2019
Week eight of ImmaCare’s Shelter Renovation gives us underground plumbing for client showers and bathrooms. These updated bathroom facilities will be a much-welcomed improvement!
Read moreFive Weeks Into Construction
September 13, 2019
Demolition of the basement is underway, making room for the new shelter facilities.
Read moreCrane Arrived For Steeple Restoration
September 4, 2019
A crane came by in preparation of some steeple restoration that is greatly needed to restore this historic Gothic Revival former church into a state-of-the-art emergency shelter equipped to serve individuals in housing crisis with dignity and efficiency.
Read moreOne Week Into Construction
August 13, 2019
The lot is being cleared to make room for the construction trailer and the inside of the building is being prepped for renovations.
Read moreConstruction Begins
August 6, 2019
Louis Gilbert hands the keys to the building off to Montagno Construction to kick-off the major renovations of ImmaCare’s Shelter.
Read moreReady for Construction to Begin
July 30, 2019
In preparation for construction the shelter was emptied entirely, including furniture and appliances. These are some of the last images of ImmaCare’s Emergency Shelter at 560 Park Street prior to the big renovation.
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