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April 6, 2022

Hartford mixed-use project, planned East Hartford marina among recipients of state revitalization grant

HBJ File Photo Downtown Hartford skyline.
By Zachary Vasile

Gov. Ned Lamont on Wednesday committed $45 million to 12 projects across the state intended to boost the liveability and vibrancy of their communities, including money for a mixed-use complex in Hartford, a publicly accessible marina on the campus of Goodwin University in East Hartford and new apartments in Windsor.

The funding represents the first round of the Connecticut Communities Challenge Grant program, which was unveiled in October to drive economic revitalization and create 3,000 new jobs, especially in distressed municipalities. The initiative is administered by the state Department of Economic and Community Development, which accepted applications for investments through mid-January.

The projects receiving funding include a three-way partnership between the city of Hartford, San Juan Center and Carabetta Development to build housing and retail space at 1355-1363 Main St. Developers plan to put up 43 mixed-income apartments, 7,358-square-feet of ground-floor retail space and public recreation areas in the project’s first phase and an additional 18 housing units and 1,200 square feet of retail space in its second phase.

The venture is the biggest grant recipient on the list, set to receive $6.3 million.

A total of $2 million will go to support the construction of a publicly accessible marina on the campus of Goodwin University in East Hartford, including transient boat slips and a water taxi. Future development is expected to include restaurants and lodging in the area, state officials said.

Windsor, together with a private developer, is looking to redevelop Windsor Center Plaza as a mixed-use space with 40 apartments and 5,560-square-feet of retail space. The effort will get a $2.5 million boost through the grant program.

“Investing in our communities is a key part of our plan to accelerate long-lasting and equitable economic development in Connecticut,” Lamont said in a statement. “This new grant program we launched will have wide-ranging impacts as we emerge stronger than ever from the pandemic, creating new jobs, improving the vibrancy and quality of life in our neighborhoods, and making all corners of the state even more attractive for investment and opportunity.”

Other selected projects include the conversion of a Killingly parking lot into public space ($1 million); construction of mixed-income housing in Mansfield ($4.85 million); repurposing of vacant or underused buildings into housing in Middletown ($4 million); and the realignment of streets in New Haven to encourage transit-oriented development ($5.35 million), among others.

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