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December 14, 2020 5 We Watched in 2020

Hartford developer Mouta rolls with the pandemic’s punches

Photo | HBJ File Hartford developer Carlos Mouta says some of his tenants are choosing not to pay rent amid the pandemic.
By Matt Pilon

For numerous area realty developers, the COVID-19 pandemic this past year has led to project delays and lower-than-expected revenues.

That’s been the case for Carlos Mouta, a prominent developer in Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood.

Even still, he’s had an active 2020 that’s brought closer to fruition his vision of making Parkville a vibrant miniature version of Brooklyn, New York.

Challenges he encountered this year included statewide restaurant restrictions that delayed the debut of his Parkville Market, an expansive, 20,000-square-foot food hall.

There was also a state-imposed moratorium blocking landlords from evicting non-paying apartment tenants, which frustrated Mouta, who has 250-plus residential units, and led him to warn of potential long-term impacts on future investments in neighborhood housing and overall quality of life for tenants.

Despite all that, Mouta managed to stay mostly on track in 2020.

Parkville Market, which opened for takeout service and outdoor dining in May, added indoor dining soon after when the state eased its pandemic restrictions. The market, in space formerly occupied by the Bishop Ladder Co., is full with 21 food vendors, ranging from Nashville hot chicken purveyor Fowl Play to Puerto Rican and American cuisine specialist Mofongo.

Check out our other 2020 5 We Watched Profiles.

Mouta said the venue has been drawing sufficient lunch and dinner traffic on most days, and importantly, the vast majority of patrons show up with face masks. He said the market is breaking even so far, which isn’t too shabby considering the pandemic has delayed the leasing of second-floor retail space.

Mouta has sought to make the best of it, turning the retail space into 200-square-foot private dining rooms, which have been a welcome amenity for customers seeking to social distance.

“It turned out to be a blessing in some ways,” Mouta said in a recent interview. “If we had the retail upstairs, we couldn’t do the private dining.”

He’s also transformed an adjacent 10,000-square-foot space, ultimately destined to be a gaming and entertainment zone next year, to serve as a temporary dining area during the cold-weather winter months.

Even as the state eased capacity restrictions on restaurants and other establishments during the summer, Mouta said he kept his tables spaced further apart than he had to.

“I’d rather be safe than sorry,” he said.

Through it all, Mouta said he never let himself get too stressed out over things he simply could not control.

“I’ve always believed that things happen for a reason,” Mouta said. “If there’s lemons, I make lemonade with it.”

More than a place to eat

As everyone awaits further news about the rollout and effectiveness of recently introduced COVID-19 vaccines, Mouta is hoping the market will be a beacon for safe social gatherings over the coming months, particularly for young adults who might otherwise be stuck at home.

“The emotional aspect of not going out is disturbing for young people,” he said. “It’s not healthy if you have zero places to go. We have to be careful of that.”

He also continues to work on the market’s second phase, which will total 30,000 square feet and include the gaming area, a bar, and potentially a brew pub, should ongoing talks with Hanging Hills Brewery come to fruition.

The pandemic has slowed the second phase planning a bit, but Mouta said he’s taking it in stride.

“I’m maybe a little behind, but I’m content,” he said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, but I feel good.”

Meanwhile, a half-mile to the north, his property at 237 Hamilton St. is still in contention as a potential home for startups that come out of Stanley Black & Decker’s Manufactory 4.0 advanced manufacturing center in Hartford's Constitution Plaza.

Talks with Stanley remain in progress, Mouta said, but have slowed somewhat during the pandemic. If the project comes to fruition, he estimates that it could be in 2022 at the earliest. He doesn’t want to rush things.

“That’s probably why I have all my hair,” he said. “When we try to crunch time, it just messes things up.”

The Stanley initiative would likely only take up a portion of the expansive 280,000-square-foot building, so Mouta has other plans for the property, including erecting 187 apartments over the coming two or three years, with rooftop space and other amenities. He is also considering a beer garden or winery for the property.

Finally, one more half-mile to the north, at 16-30 Arbor St., Mouta is a few months away from wrapping up work on the final eight apartments of a 65-unit residential building.

Check out our other 2020 5 We Watched Profiles.

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