Willow Creek is the thriving new incarnation of the Bowles Park public housing complex, a long-neglected group of brick, barrack-style buildings built in 1950. Offering both rental and home ownership opportunities for residents, the new community is the product of a public-private partnership between the City of Hartford’s Housing Authority and JHM Group of Companies.

Drawing inspiration from nearby neighborhoods in both scale and style, each of the project’s 20+ buildings in the project’s first phases consist of three to four dwelling units with traditional front porches set back from the street. The buildings, which vary in design, are organized around communal greens and semi-private backyards with new streetscape patterns that connect to shared amenities to create a walkable, sociable community.

Phases I and II achieve Energy Star v3.1 and Indoor airPLUS requirements and are certified LEED Gold. Phase III has been completed to Passive House standards, receiving the 2022 PHIUS Community Development Recognition Award. Crosskey Architects remain involved with several new phases currently in design for this community.