Historic Navy chapel property marketed as potential housing site amid submarine industry boom

The Waterbury Times|Sept 2, 2026

GROTON — As communities across Connecticut search for ways to create more housing and redevelop underused properties, Groton is looking at a historic site with the potential to become part of the region’s future residential growth.

The former Trinity Sanctuary property at 231 Gungywamp Road — a 13.41-acre site that once served as a U.S. Navy chapel near Naval Submarine Base New London — is being offered off-market as a potential redevelopment opportunity.

The property includes a historic timber A-frame sanctuary built in 1966, an education wing added in 1992, and a 5,421-square-foot community center constructed in 1975. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes existing public water and sewer connections.

The owner is marketing the property as a possible residential redevelopment site, citing the growing demand for housing in the Groton region as Electric Boat continues expanding its workforce.

The expansion of the submarine industry has created significant pressure on the local housing market. With thousands of new employees expected in the region, municipal leaders and developers have been looking for opportunities to increase housing availability near employment centers.

The Trinity Sanctuary property is being promoted as having the potential for between 200 and 300 residential units, although no residential approvals or completed entitlement process are currently in place.

The proposal highlights a broader challenge facing communities across Connecticut: finding available land for new housing while balancing historic preservation, environmental concerns, infrastructure needs, and neighborhood impact.

While Groton looks to convert underutilized properties into future housing opportunities, other Connecticut cities continue working to unlock the potential of long-vacant or contaminated parcels.

In Waterbury, the conversation around redevelopment has often centered on brownfields — former industrial sites that require environmental cleanup before they can be returned to productive use.

Brownfield redevelopment has long been viewed as a potential solution for cities looking to create new economic opportunities, housing, and commercial development. However, the process can involve years of planning, environmental assessment, and securing funding.

The contrast highlights a larger statewide question:

How do Connecticut communities turn available land into housing and economic growth at a time when demand continues to increase?

In Groton, the Trinity Sanctuary property represents one possible answer — a site with existing infrastructure, a strategic location, and a potential future use tied to the region’s growth.

For Waterbury and other older industrial cities, the challenge remains unlocking the value of properties that have been left behind.

The future of Connecticut’s growth may depend on both approaches: transforming historic and underused properties while finding ways to bring long-idle land back into the economy.

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