Columbus Commons is a mixed-use, mixed-income housing project in downtown New Britain. The site was awarded to Xenolith Partners through a competitive RFP in 2016. This project transformed the formerly underutilized urban brownfield and former site of the police station headquarters into a vibrant downtown, transit-oriented development.

The development features 80 mixed-income residential units and 10,000 square feet of commercial space for local businesses. Residents enjoy access to a fitness center, multipurpose amenity rooms, and bike and tenant storage. The outdoor courtyard includes a playground equipment for families with young children.

Columbus Commons is built according to Passive House standards, meeting energy efficient building principles through superior insulation, an airtight building envelope and heat-recovery ventilation systems to reduce overall energy consumption. According to the Passive House Institute US database, Columbus Commons is the second mixed-use, multi-family community built to Passive House standards in the state of Connecticut. In 2020, Columbus Commons was awarded a CT Green Build Council Green Building Merit Award.

Columbus Commons is a Transit- Oriented Development, and located directly across the street from the CTfastrak station in Downtown New Britain. Express buses running along the CTfastrak line depart as often as every 7 seven minutes and travel from New Britain to Hartford in less than 30 minutes.

This $30MM development was financed with conventional debt, CT Department of Housing CHAMP funds, DECD Urban Act Funds, Low Income Housing Tax Credits and deferred developer fee. Construction was completed in March 2020.