Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood eyed for advanced-manufacturing hub

Photos | Contributed Stanley Black & Decker's downtown Hartford innovation hub.

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By Joe Cooper

Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood was a manufacturing hub in the 19th century, once home to a number of high-profile producers including Hartford Rubber Co., Royal Typewriter Factory, Pope Manufacturing Co., and Underwood Typewriter Co.

Now a partnership is working to revive Parkville’s manufacturing roots.

New Britain-based Stanley Black & Decker and developer-landlord Carlos Mouta are working on a plan to create a landing spot for advanced-manufacturing startups in Parkville.

At least one of Mouta’s empty industrial-office buildings on Hamilton Street is under serious consideration for the potential startup hub, which organizers say is in the early stages of development.

Photo | LoopNet.com

An industrial building on Hamilton Street in Hartford could become a new advanced-manufacturing hub.

Full plans may not be aired until next spring, sources said.

The project, which also involves the city of Hartford, MetroHartford Alliance and other industry stakeholders, would fortify Stanley Black & Decker’s recent commitment to Hartford.

Stanley this spring established its first foothold in the city by debuting its new “Manufactory 4.0” innovation hub in downtown’s One Constitution Plaza to serve as a lab for testing concepts and new products, among other functions.

The manufacturer also recently graduated its second class of startups in downtown’s Stanley+Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator. The program has drawn applicants from dozens of countries, and eight participating startups are creating a permanent Hartford presence.

The Parkville development could serve as a home to those and future startups that participate in the program.

Stanley Vice President of Business Development Martin Guay said the Parkville project builds off Gov. Ned Lamont’s renewed push to promote advanced manufacturing across the state.

Lamont recently created a new chief manufacturing officer position within state government and convened a new workforce development council, whose membership includes Stanley Black & Decker CEO and President Jim Loree.

“Hartford has insurtechs and fintechs, but we are looking to create an advanced-manufacturing ecosystem in Hartford, with Parkville being a destination for that,” said Guay. “We all agree that Hartford was one of the leaders in the second industrial revolution 130 years ago, and we want Hartford to be a leader in the fourth industrial revolution, which is what’s going on right now.”

Photo | Contributed

A 3D printer in Stanley's “Manufactory 4.0” innovation hub in downtown Hartford.

Mouta, developer of the soon-to-open Parkville Market, has focused on converting industrial buildings in the area to office, retail and residential uses. He said a vacant industrial building he bought a year ago for $3.2 million at 237 Hamilton St., is being considered for the advanced-manufacturing hub.

Built in 1907, the startups would initially occupy some 15,000 square feet of the 243,000-square-foot building, Mouta said.

It’s not yet clear if an independent vendor will operate the facility, or how much the project would cost.

“It’s a real multi-pronged approach to get everyone to understand this is what we want to accomplish over time,” Guay said. “The whole neighborhood has a legacy of manufacturing and has the assets that can be rehabilitated to this, whether it’s living, working or play space. We think this can activate the whole area.”

Much of Parkville is located in a federally designated “Opportunity Zone,” which means investments there are eligible for capital gains tax incentives.

Deal Roundup

Revolution Sports Club has leased a 6,000-square-foot space at 169 Lowrey Place in Newington.

Landlord Lowrey Place Realty owns the space, according to broker Reno Properties Group.

Douglas Elliman Real Estate represented the landlord in the deal.

• • •

Consor Engineering and Land Surveying has leased 5,700 square feet of industrial space in Rocky Hill.

The Houston-based transportation and water/wastewater engineering consulting firm leased the space at 50 Inwood Road from landlord Albany Road—Inwood LLC, according to broker Reno Properties Group. Consor also has a location in Newington.

Joe Cooper is HBJ’s web editor and real estate writer. He pens “The Real Deal” column about Greater Hartford’s commercial real estate industry. Send him real estate tips and deals at jcooper@hartfordbusiness.com.