From every angle, the tale of "The House at 89 Bristol St." is an unqualified success story. The house was recently purchased by Yale employee Angela Ben-Elohim and her husband, Zephaniah, with the assistance of the University's Homebuyer Program -- making it among one of hundreds of homeowner "success stories" brought about through the initiative. Since 1994 when the program began, 339 New Haven homes have been bought by Yale faculty and staff under the University's innovative incentive program. (See related story.) Equally successful has been the partnership that helped transform the Bristol Street structure from a burned and blighted building that was slated for demolition into a gracious two-family home with oak flooring and a walnut balustrade. Originally built in 1877 as a family home, the Bristol Street dwelling had become a haven for squatters and drug users by the time it was acquired by the nonprofit Housing Rehabilitation Institute (HRI) in 1997. Recognizing the building's potential, HRI officials arranged for $152,000 in state and city funds to begin rehabilitation of the structure. Most of this money was provided by the State of Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development through a HOME Project Grant, while additional funding came from the City of New Haven Livable City Initiative through a Section 108 loan. The year-long renovation of the home was undertaken by Yost Construction, a local contractor. The five-unit apartment building was completely gutted down to the framing and reconformed as two spacious units: a four-bedroom owner's unit, and a three-bedroom rental unit. Every element of the original house that could be saved was preserved, including the aforementioned flooring and balustrade. The reconstruction work on the house was being watched with interest by the Ben-Elohims, who had been renting on Bristol Street for four years. Angela Ben-Elohim contacted the developer to express her interest in the 89 Bristol St. project. "Once I made the phone call, I stayed on top of it," she says. A dining halls worker at the University, Angela Ben-Elohim had heard about Yale's Homebuyer Program through coworkers who had purchased a house with the aid of the program. She and her husband also completed a City of New Haven Homebuyer Seminar, where they learned about the creative means available today for financing a home. "Saving the downpayment for a house requires real sacrificing," says Angela Ben-Elohim. "Having the Yale up-front money available helped, and gave us the incentive to find other funds." Eventually the couple secured a first-mortgage loan from Capital Mortgage Association. Despite the eventual reward, Angela Ben-Elohim admits that the process of buying her first home has been "very stressful. ... The hand-holding from the developer [Warren Marshall, director of HRI] was essential -- so was the help we received from Bill Carney [who manages the Yale Homebuyer Program]. He would do whatever was necessary to get the transaction done -- he kept in touch, called on Sundays to follow through, even brought documents by to my house." According to Carney, Yale works closely with participants in its Homebuyer Program to ensure that they understand the process of purchasing a home and are aware of the many off-campus resources available to prospective buyers. "We also work in partnership with the City of New Haven, area banks, other nonprofits and neighborhood groups to make sure that the homeowners get all the support they need," says Carney. Based on her experience, says Angela Ben-Elohim, "I think that every Yale employee should take advantage of the Yale Homebuyer Program because it made a big difference for us." To learn more about the Yale Homebuyer Program, contact Bill Carney at 432-5535 or 432-5537. -- By LuAnn Bishop T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S '339 Yale homebuyers -- and counting! A house becomes a home on Bristol Street 'Private Censorship and Perfect Choice' Special events pay tribute to Native American culture A Conversation With a Peace Maker Improving health of minorities is top priority, Satcher says The Surgeon General speaks out on some tough issues Yale Opera to present Verdi's adaptation of Shakespearean comedy Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke to talk at Divinity School Graphic! British Prints Now' celebrates state of the art of British printmaking 'Film Fest New Haven to pay tribute to Yale animator Renowned artists to take part in panel and symposium at Yale Art Gallery Scholars will share perspectives on issues in South Asia in series of events Museum hosts recreation of 'Dances for a Building' Visiting philosopher to present talk Venclova is honored by the Lithuanian government Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events| Bulletin Board Classified Ads|Search Archives|Production Schedule|Bulletin Staff Public Affairs Home|News Releases|E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page

 This recently renovated 122-year-old home on Bristol Street is among the 339 houses in New Haven purchased by University staff and faculty with the help of the Yale Homebuyer Program.