WILLIMANTIC - Representatives from common Ground will be making their formal introduction to the community at a meeting next week at Windham Middle School.

"I'm really hoping for a huge turnout," said Alana Smith Trani, Common Ground's project manager for the redevelopment of the Seth Chauncey Hotel (a.k.a. Hotel Hooker) and the Nathan Hale into supportive housing.

The meeting is scheduled for March 31 at 7 p.m.

The meeting, which will be moderated by Windham First Selectman Michael Paulhus, will be the first in a series of community meetings designed to engage the public in the redevelopment of downtown.

Manhattan-based Common Ground is expected to be appointed property manager of two Main Street properties after the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority closes the deal within the next 30 to 40 days.

The deal also includes the old YMCA building across the street.

Current plans for the hotel and the Nathan Hale call for fewer than 100 single-room occupancy apartments for the homeless and low-income working poor, accompanied by social services.

Smith Trani said Rosanne Haggerty, president of Common Ground, and Michael Skrebutenas, director of the nonprofit's "replication" program, will also attend the meeting.

Included in the presentation will be schematics for the plan as well as discussion of development, including the renovation or demolition of the Hotel Hooker.

Smith Trani said Common Ground may remodel the building using historic tax credits or demolish the building and rebuild, depending on which method is most cost effective.

Current tenants at the hotel, which is still under management by court-appointed receiver Albert Bleau, will be relocated during the construction phase, which is expected to begin in one year.

Future meetings hosted by Common Ground will include in-depth concentration on the economic impact of the plans, discussion of the importance in the relationship of property management and supportive services.