On Thursday, June 19, 2025, the elected leadership of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Hebron met with Commons Community Development Corporation (CDC) to formally sign the land lease agreement giving Commons CDC site control to build mixed-income affordable housing on its rectory site at 60 Church Street.
Rob Mangiafico, President of Commons CDC, and Marcia Eaton, Warden of St. Peter’s Church, signed on behalf of the organizations whose signatures were witnessed by other vestry members and notarized by the parish Treasurer Barbara Parkyn.
The 65-year lease will be the site of 50 housing units that will be largely affordable but with some at market rate. The historic rectory will be part of the project and provide a four-bedroom home for a family.
This housing, the first major housing project of its kind in Hebron, has garnered broad support across the community and was approved by the Hebron Planning & Zoning Commission on May 14, 2025. Now the work of pre-development can continue as well as construction of community well systems.
Ron Kolanowski, Rector of St. Peter’s, stated, “This historic milestone is a result of collaboration among housing advocates including the Coalition on Diversity & Equity (CoDE), the Town of Hebron, St. Peter’s Church, and Commons CDC. As a person of faith, I am reminded of Psalm 118, ‘This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’”
Pictured left to right front row: Cathy Gerke, Candace O’Shea, Marica Eaton, Rob Mangiafico, Kathy Kniep, Steve Wells, Kathryn Talbot
Back row: John Ostrout, Chris Gerke, Dan Osmond, Rev. Ron Kolanowski, David Anderson, Curt Kraemer, Kathy Dorgan, Barbara Parkyn