Demolition crews begin ambitious CT mega-project. Called ‘multi-year transformation’
The long-awaited Port Eastside mega-development got under way in January when contractors began demolishing an empty Bank of America building while East Hartford applied for $15 million in state aid for the project.
Heavy equipment has been razing the multi-level concrete
parking garage at 99 Founders Plaza for
the past several weeks, and then will tear down the 150,000-square-foot former
Bank of America offices.
Developers then plan to construct 300 apartments in a new
five-story complex as the first phase of Port Eastside, East Hartford’s biggest
mixed residential and commercial project in recent decades.
The long-term plan is to create as many as 1,000 apartments
on more than 28 acres across the Connecticut River from downtown Hartford along
with new restaurants and entertainment venues.
But
in the three years since a high-powered development partnership laid
out the sprawling concept for nearly 30 acres of prime waterfront property,
progress has been measured entirely in paperwork: purchase contracts, financing
agreements, tax financing district settlements and the like.
The deployment of excavators, bulldozers and dump trucks at
the bank site has given East Hartford residents a visual sign of change at
Founders Plaza, a collection of office buildings that were modern a generation
ago but in decline for the past 10 years or more.
The concrete Bank of America office had been a vibrant
employment hub after it was put up in 1971, serving as a regional
check-processing facility. It’s been empty for years, leaving nearly 8 acres of
the town’s most desirably located property wasted.
“The garage is already halfway down which is very exciting,”
Mayor Connor Martin told residents two weeks ago. “Then 99 Founders will go
down itself. That is to make way for 300-plus (housing) apartments down by the
river.”
“The clearing and cleaning up of these buildings is the
first step in the multi-year transformation of East Hartford’s side of the
Connecticut River, and we are grateful for all that Mayor Martin, the town of
East Hartford, House Majority Leader Rojas and the town’s legislative
delegation did to make today possible,” Bruce Simons, a partner in Port
Eastside, said in a written statement Wednesday.
“There is a great deal of work that needs to be done to
prepare the site and build the infrastructure that will support the residences,
businesses, and features here, and we are energized to take the first steps
forward.”
The state last year put up $6.5 million in aid to cover part
of the demolition and cleanup costs at 99 Founders, and the town is asking for
another $15 million to help developers with the biggest component of Port
Eastside: Transforming
111 Founders Plaza into upscale housing.
“This project will convert the vacant 19-story office tower
into approximately 240 to 260 new
apartments, along with energy-efficiency improvements and building systems
upgrades. Interior renovations will create a mix of studio, one-bedroom,
two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units,” according to a
memo from town Deputy Development Director Steve Hnatuk.
“The funding will help catalyze the overall redevelopment
and reposition the site into productive use by supporting the replacement of
the building envelope, a component needed for project’s feasibility,” he wrote.
Hartford-based Tecton Architects recently submitted a report
concluding the conversion appears feasible.
“The property is well-suited for conversion from office use
to multi-family residential housing,” the company wrote. “The existing tower
possesses the structural capacity, efficient floor plates, and overall building
configuration necessary to support a viable, high-quality residential
redevelopment.
“Our analysis indicates that the building has “good bones,”
and possesses physical qualities that surpass other corporate office buildings’
potential for viable conversion in today’s context,” it said, suggesting the
project could accommodate 234 to 260 apartments.
“The riverfront tower would be quite marketable; floors five
through 19 offer unobstructed views of the Hartford skyline and the Connecticut
River Valley,” it reported. “A significant opportunity exists for a
high-quality amenities package including a fitness center, club room, game
rooms,
The development partnership includes Harris and Bruce Simons
of Simons Real Estate Group in West Hartford; Manafort Brothers President Jim
Manafort; Peter Roisman, head of the Houston-based REV Leasing; Nicholas
Michnevitz III of West Hartford-based MBH Architecture; Hoffman Auto Group
Executive Chairman Jeffrey Hoffman; Chris Reilly, president of Hartford-based
Lexington Partners, and Alan Lazowski, chairman of LAZ Parking.
CT DOT warns Meriden drivers to not travel wrong way on I-91 off-ramp amid construction work
MERIDEN — State officials are warning drivers to not
travel the wrong way up the East
Main Street off-ramp for Interstate 91 while construction work is underway at Meriden’s congested
interchange.
The state Department of Transportation issued a safety alert
Wednesday reminding drivers the on-ramp has been closed and urged motorists to
use the listed detour to access the highway.
Officials said driving up the off-ramp “will result in your
vehicle going the wrong way on the highway and putting yourself and other
travelers in great danger.”
The on-ramp was closed on Dec. 1 as part of an ongoing $500
million project designed to reduce congestion at the interchange where
Interstate 91, Interstate 691 and Route 15 meet.
The work, now in the second of three planned phases, started
in 2023 and is expected to eventually
conclude sometime in 2030, according to transportation officials.
Officials have said the East Main Street on-ramp for the
busy corridor, which sees about 260,000 vehicles each day, will be closed
during the second phase of construction.
Paddock Avenue has also been reduced to one-way alternating
traffic controlled by a temporary signal. The road is also closed during
nighttime hours between Barr and Overlook roads.
Officials have said the roadwork will take place between 6
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with lane and shoulder closures on all
three roadways.
Officials said motorists can access the highways via detour
by traveling eastbound on East Main Street and taking a left onto Preston
Avenue, which links to I-691, I-91 and Route 15.