ENFIELD, CT – The Community Builders (TCB), the Felician Sisters, and project partners celebrated the groundbreaking for Angela Gardens, a new 45-unit affordable senior housing community to be located on the Felician Sisters campus in Enfield. The development will transform the former St. Felix Center (Novitiate House), a long-vacant building on the historic campus, into modern, service-enriched housing designed for low-income seniors age 62 and older.
Angela Gardens will deliver 41 one-bedroom apartments and four studio apartments created through the adaptive reuse of the existing three-story brick building and the construction of a complementary three-story addition. The development will expand affordable housing opportunities for seniors while preserving and revitalizing an important community landmark.
“I am delighted to see this project come to life. The Sisters have been an integral and inspirational part of our community for as long as any of us can remember. This development helps ensure their long-term perseverance here,” said Enfield native and Connecticut State Rep. Joh Santanella (CT- 58).
For generations, the Felician Sisters’ campus served as a center of religious life and education, housing as many as 100 sisters and trainees. As the number of sisters living on campus declined over time, several buildings became vacant and underutilized. The redevelopment of the St. Felix Center allows the Sisters to continue their mission of service while addressing a critical need for affordable housing in the community.
“Angela Gardens is an example of leveraging existing properties and often times beautiful spaces to create much needed quality housing for seniors in our state,” said Seila Mosquera-Bruno, Commissioner, CT Department of Housing. “We’re so proud to partner with the Felician Sisters on this project and encourage others to come forward with similar ideas so we can continue to create safe, affordable homes for our residents across Connecticut,”
The development is designed to support aging in place and provide residents with a welcoming environment connected to the broader campus and surrounding neighborhood. The property is located near residential areas, community services, and existing campus amenities, including the Enfield Montessori School and a neighboring senior housing community. Future residents will enjoy views of the campus’s historic parade grounds and open space while benefiting from a thoughtfully designed residential setting.
Angela Gardens is named in honor of Blessed Mother Angela Truszkowska, Foundress of the Felician Sisters. Guided by the values of St. Francis of Assisi, Mother Angela dedicated her life to serving the poor and vulnerable. Since their founding in 1855, the Felician Sisters have expanded their ministry across four continents while remaining committed to compassion, service, and social justice.
“This redevelopment is a response to a very real need in Enfield and beyond, the need for affordable housing for seniors,” said Sister Nancy Piecewicz, Felician Sisters of North America. “As Felician Sisters of North America, our core values of transformation, respect for human dignity and solidarity with those in need guide everything we do. They are not abstract ideals, they are lived commitments, and they are what shape this very project.”
Funding for Angela Gardens was made possible through a collaborative partnership that included support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through its Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, the Connecticut Department of Housing, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits allocated by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority and syndicated by Boston Financial.
“Today is not just a groundbreaking, it’s really a renewal, it’s reimagining a space that had been laying vacant, underutilized but has deep roots in this community,” said Nandini Natarajan, CEO of Connecticut Housing Finance Authority. “It’s the next chapter for Angela Gardens, and we’re thrilled this place will continue to provide a valuable resource in this community.”
By repurposing a vacant building and leveraging existing infrastructure, Angela Gardens preserves the historic character of the campus while creating much-needed affordable housing for Enfield’s growing senior population.
“Angela Gardens is a beautiful example of what happens when historic preservation meets community-focused innovation,” said Rachana Crowley, vice president of real estate development at The Community Builders. “By breathing new life into the historic St. Felix Center, we are not only honoring the rich legacy of the Felician Sisters but also ensuring that Enfield seniors have access to safe, modern, and affordable homes where they can thrive.”
About the Felician Sisters
The Felician Sisters are an international religious congregation founded in Poland in 1855 by Blessed Mother Angela Truszkowska. Inspired by the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, the Sisters serve in ministries that support education, healthcare, social services, and outreach to those most in need. Through their mission of compassion and service, the Felician Sisters continue to make a positive impact in communities around the world.