Avon resident urges town review after construction disruptions at Avonwood Road apartments

A resident of the Avonwood Road apartment complex told the Avon Town Council on Jan. 8 that ongoing renovation work has created safety and habitability concerns and could worsen parking constraints at the site.

Amy Arland (47 Avonwood Road, Unit #314) told Council that over the past two months contractors working on multiple apartments in her building have caused near-daily water shutoffs without notice, flooding in residents' units, contractors disabling smoke detectors, and a new mouse problem in her third-floor apartment. She said the Farmington Valley Health District has been engaged about pest treatment but that some problems remain.

Arland also raised a parking concern: she counted 109 parking spaces (including five handicap spaces) serving 62 apartments, 15 of which are one-bedroom units. She said some vacant units were being converted from one-bedroom to two-bedroom layouts (including converting dining rooms into bedrooms with sliding doors), which could increase parking demand and change the mix of unit types.

Chairman Dan Polhamus said the Council would share the information with Town Planner Hiram Peck. Council member Barthel advised that tenants document complaints in writing and submit them to the landlord through the portal to create a record. Arland said she had received a response from the landlord but found it insufficient and that tenants had engaged counsel to review lease-auto-renewal language.

The Council did not take formal enforcement action during the meeting; members recommended the resident put concerns in writing and said staff would follow up.