A small independent boys’ school is seeking city approval to relocate into a prime downtown Hartford office building, a move that could bring hundreds of regular visitors to the city’s struggling business district. Covenant Preparatory School has applied for a special permit from Hartford’s Planning and Zoning Commission, which would allow it to lease 11,200 […]
A small independent boys’ school is seeking city approval to relocate into a prime downtown Hartford office building, a move that could bring hundreds of regular visitors to the city’s struggling business district.
Covenant Preparatory School has applied for a special permit from Hartford’s Planning and Zoning Commission, which would allow it to lease 11,200 square feet across two floors at 58 State House Square, a seven-story, brick office building dating to 1920. The relocation requires commission approval because of the building’s zoning designation.
The proposal comes at a time when downtown landlords face high vacancy rates. According to CBRE's second-quarter 2025 report, 28% of Class A office space in Hartford’s central business district sits empty, while some estimates put the figure closer to 41% when factoring expiring leases and space available for sublet.
For Covenant Preparatory, the move follows an unexpected challenge. In May, the school learned that its lease at the Seventh Day Adventist property at 474 Woodlawn St. would not be renewed. With that lease expiring July 31, the school says it has no backup location. But it also views the downtown site as an opportunity.
“We are hoping this becomes a long-term home for the school,” the application reads, noting the potential for “experiential” learning opportunities downtown and the proximity to its sister school, Grace Academy, located at Central Baptist Church at Elm and Main streets.
Covenant Preparatory is a tuition-free program for boys in grades five through eight, drawing students from underserved Hartford communities. The school, which is values-based but not faith-based, caps enrollment at 15 students per grade, or 60 in total. Families contribute $250 annually and commit to 20 hours of engagement each year. Funding comes from grants, foundations and donations, and the school is accredited by the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools.
If the move is approved, the school expects that staff, tutors, volunteers, students and families would bring roughly 200 regular visitors to the downtown location.
The request comes at a time city officials are seeking ways to help chip away at vacancy rates and add foot traffic to the downtown.
