Housing affordability in the United States has been a widely discussed topic since the end of the Great Recession. Driven in part by rising costs associated with high demand, and in part by slow or stagnant wage growth, the need to develop affordable housing options is quickly becoming a higher priority for many communities.
Westfarms mall in West Hartford closed on March 19 for eight weeks as Gov. Ned Lamont shutdown a broad cross-section of stores amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The mall welcomed back shoppers on May 20, but not all stores have reopened. This photo was taken on the day of the shutdown in March. (Brad Horrigan / Hartford Courant)