Historic Connecticut Manufacturing Plant to Become Housing

The $85 million project by WinnDevelopment will repurpose the Landers, Frary & Clark complex.

WinnDevelopment is turning the old Landers, Frary & Clark plant into Ellis Street Commons, an affordable and workforce housing development in New Britain, Connecticut. Officials recently broke ground on the project.

JCJ Architecture

A historic manufacturing plant is being transformed into 154 affordable and middle-income apartments in New Britain, Connecticut.

The site was home to Landers, Frary & Clark, one of the first manufacturers of electric appliances in the United States, including the “Universal” brand of appliances as well as percolators, irons, and other items. During both world wars, production at the plant shifted to military items, including gun mounts.

Now, after sitting largely vacant for decades, the 115-year-old complex will go from once manufacturing housewares to serving as housing.

WinnDevelopment is converting the plant into 79 one-, 59 two-, and 16 three-bedroom units. The historic exterior of the brick buildings will be preserved, while the interior space will be adapted into apartments for households earning 30%, 50%, 60%, and 80% of the area median income.