In 2017, New Britain saw new businesses move in and projects come to fruition. This year, according to the city’s economic development director, revitalization will continue.
“In terms of downtown, specifically with transit-oriented development, the city has had a number of successful announcements and I think it will be a trend that continues for 2018,” said Bill Carroll, director of the Department of Economic Development.
According to Carroll, the initial focus will be on creating more housing.
Carroll noted Jasko Development’s work on the historic Raphael Building on West Main Street last fall, bringing 16 new upscale apartments to the city, and said that proves that quality housing is wanted in New Britain.
Two more projects that will bring even more housing to the city are set to begin this year.
First is the construction of the highly anticipated Columbus Commons. The complex will feature two six-story buildings containing 160 residential units and ground-level retail space.
The second will be the redevelopment of the Courtland Arms apartment building at 57 Court St., which has been vacant for more than 20 years.
“(People) are finding New Britain downtown attractive now,” Carroll said.
He cited the beautification project Mayor Erin Stewart implemented more than two years ago, which included revitalizing Central Park.
“People from outside New Britain remark how much it’s transformed and say it has never looked better,” Carroll said.
Another project Carroll is looking forward to is the redevelopment of the building known as The Plaza at 233-235 Main St. In April 2017, Ian Fishkin, a lawyer for the H.J. Development Group, told The Herald that negotiations with the state to try to sell the property for expansion of Central Connecticut State University had failed and that the building would be put on the market instead.
The Plaza has been purchased, and the city is working with the developer to figure out what the best use of the building will be, Carroll said.
“With all the improvements, we’re hoping there will be more feet on the street,” he added.
He said 85 percent or more of downtown space is occupied, but the city is still missing “that element that brings people downtown.”
Carroll thinks more restaurants are a big part of the answer.
The Kitchen, a restaurant, bar and lounge at 136 Main St., will open in three phases, concluding in February. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Out-of-state partnership chosen to redevelop Hartford waste facility
State energy officials have selected a $229 million proposal from two major construction firms to redevelop Hartford's trash-to-energy plant, which processes about one-third of Connecticut's garbage, generating enough electricity to power 35,000 homes a year.
A proposal from a partnership called the Sacyr Rooney Development Team -- made up of Spain-based Sacyr and New York-based Manhattan Construction Group (owned by Florida-based Rooney Holdings) -- bested two other bidders, Covanta and Mustang Renewable Power Ventures, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced Tuesday.
Sacyr Rooney's plan includes refurbishing the Mid-Connecticut Plant's existing resource recovery facility, extracting recyclables from solid waste through new sorting processes and extracting organic materials to send to anaerobic digesters.
The project would also include upgrading the plant's recycling facility to add an advanced glass recovery system or mixed-waste processing facility.
Its plan would use most of the existing site, which has some space allotted for potential industrial use.
The aging trash-to-energy plant is currently operated by the quasi-public Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA), formerly called the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority.
"The facility's aging equipment is prone to unplanned outages and MIRA had warned state officials that it would be unable to bear the cost of needed upgrades," DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee said in a statement Tuesday. "The Sacyr Rooney concept has the potential to provide significant environmental and economic benefits to the State, as well as significant improvements in host community impacts compared with the present state."
Sacyr Rooney has said the plant will be able to recover more materials from the waste stream, ultimately cutting in half the amount of waste burned at the plant -- incineration that results in air pollution.
Crucial for municipalities that contract with the plant is the fact that DEEP projects the redevelopment will keep tipping fees stable, even lowering them for some customers.
There will be negotiations between the company, MIRA and Hartford that aim to reach a final development deal by this summer.
"If an agreement cannot be reached, DEEP has reserved the right to invite another proposer, Mustang Renewable Power Ventures, to enter into talks with MIRA," DEEP said.
Mustang's proposal ran into a hitch, reported by the Hartford Courant last week, when a New York facility that was to accept trash hauled from Hartford said it had not agreed to any deal with Mustang. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Fired Hartford Ballpark Developers File Intent To Sue Over Surrounding Properties
Centerplan Construction Co. and DoNo Hartford, the fired developers of Dunkin’ Donuts Park and Hartford’s larger downtown north project, have filed a notice of intent to sue over the properties surrounding the ballpark.
The developers had a lease with the city to build on four parcels near the corner of Main and Trumbull streets. An elaborate project was planned for the properties that included retail, housing, office space and parking.
The city fired Centerplan and DoNo Hartford from the ballpark construction in 2016 after they missed two key deadlines to complete work on the facility. In October, Hartford leaders terminated their lease with the developers, firing them from the wider downtown north effort.
In the notice — filed by Centerplan and DoNo on Dec. 29 – the developers asked the court to rule that their lease with the city is active. They plan to place liens on the properties. “DoNo Hartford LLC and its affiliates claim said terminations are wrongful and of no effect, and that all the leases are still in force,” they wrote in the filing.
Raymond Garcia, an attorney for Centerplan, declined to comment on the action Tuesday.
Mayor Luke Bronin did not return calls seeking comment.
Centerplan and DoNo already have a lawsuit pending against the city for wrongful termination. Despite that, Hartford officials issued a request for proposals in November seeking new developers to finish the downtown north project. They envision a mixed-use neighborhood that features retail, housing and parking — similar to the earlier plan. Multiple developers could be chosen for the effort.
Representatives from more than a dozen firms attended a pre-bid conference at the baseball stadium last month, where city leaders gave an overview of the project and fielded questions. Several area development groups said they intend to submit bids.
According to Carroll, the initial focus will be on creating more housing.
Carroll noted Jasko Development’s work on the historic Raphael Building on West Main Street last fall, bringing 16 new upscale apartments to the city, and said that proves that quality housing is wanted in New Britain.
Two more projects that will bring even more housing to the city are set to begin this year.
First is the construction of the highly anticipated Columbus Commons. The complex will feature two six-story buildings containing 160 residential units and ground-level retail space.
The second will be the redevelopment of the Courtland Arms apartment building at 57 Court St., which has been vacant for more than 20 years.
“(People) are finding New Britain downtown attractive now,” Carroll said.
He cited the beautification project Mayor Erin Stewart implemented more than two years ago, which included revitalizing Central Park.
“People from outside New Britain remark how much it’s transformed and say it has never looked better,” Carroll said.
Another project Carroll is looking forward to is the redevelopment of the building known as The Plaza at 233-235 Main St. In April 2017, Ian Fishkin, a lawyer for the H.J. Development Group, told The Herald that negotiations with the state to try to sell the property for expansion of Central Connecticut State University had failed and that the building would be put on the market instead.
The Plaza has been purchased, and the city is working with the developer to figure out what the best use of the building will be, Carroll said.
“With all the improvements, we’re hoping there will be more feet on the street,” he added.
He said 85 percent or more of downtown space is occupied, but the city is still missing “that element that brings people downtown.”
Carroll thinks more restaurants are a big part of the answer.
The Kitchen, a restaurant, bar and lounge at 136 Main St., will open in three phases, concluding in February. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Out-of-state partnership chosen to redevelop Hartford waste facility
State energy officials have selected a $229 million proposal from two major construction firms to redevelop Hartford's trash-to-energy plant, which processes about one-third of Connecticut's garbage, generating enough electricity to power 35,000 homes a year.
A proposal from a partnership called the Sacyr Rooney Development Team -- made up of Spain-based Sacyr and New York-based Manhattan Construction Group (owned by Florida-based Rooney Holdings) -- bested two other bidders, Covanta and Mustang Renewable Power Ventures, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced Tuesday.
Sacyr Rooney's plan includes refurbishing the Mid-Connecticut Plant's existing resource recovery facility, extracting recyclables from solid waste through new sorting processes and extracting organic materials to send to anaerobic digesters.
The project would also include upgrading the plant's recycling facility to add an advanced glass recovery system or mixed-waste processing facility.
Its plan would use most of the existing site, which has some space allotted for potential industrial use.
The aging trash-to-energy plant is currently operated by the quasi-public Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA), formerly called the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority.
"The facility's aging equipment is prone to unplanned outages and MIRA had warned state officials that it would be unable to bear the cost of needed upgrades," DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee said in a statement Tuesday. "The Sacyr Rooney concept has the potential to provide significant environmental and economic benefits to the State, as well as significant improvements in host community impacts compared with the present state."
Sacyr Rooney has said the plant will be able to recover more materials from the waste stream, ultimately cutting in half the amount of waste burned at the plant -- incineration that results in air pollution.
Crucial for municipalities that contract with the plant is the fact that DEEP projects the redevelopment will keep tipping fees stable, even lowering them for some customers.
There will be negotiations between the company, MIRA and Hartford that aim to reach a final development deal by this summer.
"If an agreement cannot be reached, DEEP has reserved the right to invite another proposer, Mustang Renewable Power Ventures, to enter into talks with MIRA," DEEP said.
Mustang's proposal ran into a hitch, reported by the Hartford Courant last week, when a New York facility that was to accept trash hauled from Hartford said it had not agreed to any deal with Mustang. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Fired Hartford Ballpark Developers File Intent To Sue Over Surrounding Properties
Centerplan Construction Co. and DoNo Hartford, the fired developers of Dunkin’ Donuts Park and Hartford’s larger downtown north project, have filed a notice of intent to sue over the properties surrounding the ballpark.
The developers had a lease with the city to build on four parcels near the corner of Main and Trumbull streets. An elaborate project was planned for the properties that included retail, housing, office space and parking.
The city fired Centerplan and DoNo Hartford from the ballpark construction in 2016 after they missed two key deadlines to complete work on the facility. In October, Hartford leaders terminated their lease with the developers, firing them from the wider downtown north effort.
In the notice — filed by Centerplan and DoNo on Dec. 29 – the developers asked the court to rule that their lease with the city is active. They plan to place liens on the properties. “DoNo Hartford LLC and its affiliates claim said terminations are wrongful and of no effect, and that all the leases are still in force,” they wrote in the filing.
Raymond Garcia, an attorney for Centerplan, declined to comment on the action Tuesday.
Mayor Luke Bronin did not return calls seeking comment.
Centerplan and DoNo already have a lawsuit pending against the city for wrongful termination. Despite that, Hartford officials issued a request for proposals in November seeking new developers to finish the downtown north project. They envision a mixed-use neighborhood that features retail, housing and parking — similar to the earlier plan. Multiple developers could be chosen for the effort.
Representatives from more than a dozen firms attended a pre-bid conference at the baseball stadium last month, where city leaders gave an overview of the project and fielded questions. Several area development groups said they intend to submit bids.