After seven years of planning, seeking financing, and supervising construction, Essex Place, a senior and affordable housing development in Centerbrook, celebrated its grand opening last week.

Essex Place provides 18 one-bedroom apartments and four two-bedroom apartments. Three of the units are fully handicap-accessible and the other units may be adapted for handicapped tenants. All the doors are sized to accommodate wheelchairs and there are handrails along the walls in the hallways.

The complex has a community room on the first floor, as well as a library on the second floor and a kitchen. Each apartment also has an individual kitchen. Other town groups can reserve the community room for use.

The project is a collaboration between Essex Elderly and Affordable Housing (EEAH) and the Women’s Institute for Housing and Development. In all, the project cost $6,401,813, and individual units cost $291,991. Funding for the project came from about 10 different sources, including the Connecticut Department of Housing, the Connecticut Housing Authority, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston.

Janice Atkeson, chair of the Essex Housing Authority and the president of EEAH, added that it is fortunate the Essex Place started when it did since the funding structure used for the project would not be feasible now. The board of EEAH is made up of the members of the Essex Housing Authority plus two additional members named by the Board of Selectmen.

According to Atkeson, the long waiting list for apartments at Essex Court, the fully occupied senior complex in Centerbrook, led the town to the decision to build more senior housing. Essex Place is adjacent to Essex Court.

Prospective tenants must be 62 or older and have an income that falls within the affordable housing guidelines. Rents are based on tenants’ incomes. State regulations prohibit limiting prospective tenants to Essex residents. Atkeson said applications have been received not only from Essex residents but also from surrounding areas.

So far, of the 12 applicants who have been interviewed for potential residency, 10 have been accepted. Atkeson explained that in addition to relevant paperwork, all applicants have interviews to confirm what their applications state, particularly as relates to the ability to live independently.

In her speech at the opening ceremonies, Atkeson recognized the support of the town government, the enthusiasm of local residents, and the hard work of the EEAH board, citing in particular the expertise that architect Peter Coombs and engineer Bill Carlson brought to the project. The board of EEAH is made up of the members of the Essex Housing Authority plus additional members named by the Board of Selectmen. In addition to Atkeson, Coombs, and Carlson, board members of EEAH include Yolanda Lowe, Rick Stebbins, David Gephard, Rosemary Willis, and Dawn Boulanger.

Carlson’s wife, local artist Pam Carlson, has provided four paintings for the common areas of the project, and plans to encourage other local artists to do the same. There was a snag, however, in hanging the art. There can be no nails in the walls at Essex Place. At first, the Velcro hangers proved insufficient to keep the paintings on the wall, but with extra applications of Velcro, the paintings finally stayed put.

The architects for Essex Place were Quisenberry Arcari; A Secondino and Son did the construction and De Marco Management will manage the building. Legal counsel was provided by Hoopes Morganthaler Raush & Scaramozza and Cloutier and Casella.