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December 6, 2024

Hartford eyes $2M state grant for redevelopment of Carbone’s Restaurant site, derelict data center by ballpark

Google Maps The former data center building at 150 Windsor St., in downtown Hartford.
By Michael Puffer

The city of Hartford is eyeing a $2 million state brownfield grant, originally approved in 2022, to help redevelop the former Carbone’s Restaurant site and to aid demolition of a massive derelict building behind the Dunkin’ Park minor league baseball stadium.

State officials recently reached out to the city to ask if they were still interested in the funds, which were approved during the administration of former Mayor Luke Bronin.

“We were contacted by the state and asked if we are still interested in the money, and of course we are,” Peter Bryanton, a senior project manager with the city’s Department of Development Services told a subcommittee of the City Council during a wednesday night meeting.

The administration of Mayor Arunan Arulampalam is now targeting those funds for two projects.

About $600,000 would be used to clear underground fuel tanks from the former Carbone’s Restaurant site at 588 Franklin Ave. The city and Capital Region Development Authority are working with the restaurant owners on a redevelopment that would replace the defunct restaurant property with a mix of 21 apartments and 4,600 square feet of commercial space.

The remaining $1.2 million would be directed at removing hazardous building materials from a five-story, concrete former data center building occupying nearly 3 acres at 150 Windsor St., just behind the city’s Dunkin’ Park minor league stadium.

That work would allow for demolition of the massive structure and the site’s incorporation into Stamford-based RMS Cos.’ drive to build about 1,000 apartments in several new buildings on city-owned parcels around the stadium. The city hopes to leverage these funds to bolster an application for more state aid for demolition of the data center, which was formerly operated by Fleet Bank.

Today, the building is an eyesore and dangerous attraction for trespassers.

Hartford Director of Development Services Jeff Auker, addressing members of the City Council’s Planning, Economic Development and Housing Committee Wednesday, confirmed that people had been living in the derelict building.

They are not there anymore, Auker said, “but we don’t want that situation happening again.”

Members of the Planning, Economic Development and Housing Committee unanimously endorsed the city administration’s plans for the 2022 brownfield grant. The measure now must garner approval by the full City Council. 
 

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