(Top) 38 Gold Street won first place in the single-family category of the 2024 Home Beautification Contest. Over several months, the property received new siding, a new porch and patio, new windows, and new flowerbeds and landscaping. (Bottom) 26 Elm Street won first place in the multi-family category of the 2024 Home Beautification Contest with siding repairs, new paint, landscaping, replaced gutters, and the demolition and rebuilding of the porch. (Submitted photos)

NORWICH — The Evening Sun and the Norwich Building Tomorrow Foundation are accepting submissions for the 2025 Home Beautification Contest. The contest aims to revitalize the City of Norwich by identifying, encouraging, and rewarding property owners for making improvements on their homes.

The goal of the contest is to improve the quality of life in the City of Norwich and reward those in the community who are actively investing in home improvements for families and young professionals.


Applicants must have made measurable improvements to the exterior of their homes, including features such as siding, repainting, fencing, walkways, landscaping, roofing, windows, shutters, and more.

Judges will look at exterior improvements only, with an emphasis on those properties undergoing the most significant exterior renovations which improve not only the residence, but positively impact the neighborhood as well.

The contest includes two categories: single-family homes and multi-family homes, including two- to four-family residences.

Winners of the single-family category will win $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, $2,000 for third place, and $1,000 for fourth place.

Winners of the multi-family category will win $5,000 for first place and $4,000 for second place.

Improvements to homes must be made after March 1, 2025 and before October 31, 2025 to be eligible for judging in the contest. The deadline for entry in the Home Beautification Contest is November 14, 2025.