Vacant downtown Hartford property, formerly home to WFSB Channel 3’s HQ, for sale as ‘redevelopment opportunity’
Contributed
3 Constitution Plaza, in downtown Hartford.
A downtown Hartford parcel that’s been vacant for more than a decade — and previously considered for a new office building, apartment development and even a park — has been put up for sale.
The property, at 3 Constitution Plaza, has been listed for sale as a redevelopment opportunity with no asking price.
It was formerly home to WFSB Channel 3’s broadcast center headquarters for over 40 years, before it was purchased in 2008 and subsequently knocked down to make way for a modern, 12-story, metal-and-glass-sheathed office tower.
The planned 100,000-square-foot office building was going to be the new corporate headquarters of Middletown-based AI Engineers, whose CEO, Abul Islam, purchased the property for $700,000.
But obtaining financing to build the office tower proved difficult, especially amid the 2008 financial crisis. Demand for office space at the time was also low.
Islam eventually abandoned the office building concept, but did come forward with other development ideas, including a mixed-use apartment project and even a park. Those plans didn’t materialize either.
As a result, the property has sat vacant for years.
CBRE is the listing agent. The real estate advisory firm said the 0.55-acre property, located on the corner of State Street and Columbus Boulevard, benefits from a zoning designation that permits a wide variety of potential uses, including mixed-use office, experiential retail, residential, R&D, municipal/government and education.
“3 Constitution Plaza is an iconic, landmark site with excellent visibility at the Gateway to downtown Hartford. We believe that current multifamily development momentum combined with new retail offerings and a greater return to the office in 2024 will generate significant interest from both developers and end users,” said John McCormick of CBRE’s Hartford office. “The site’s prominent location at the base of the Founder’s Bridge, immediate highway accessibility and flexible zoning make it attractive for many potential uses.”
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