Massachusetts-based National Development met with the East Hartford Town Council Tuesday night to give a detailed look at its proposed four-building manufacturing, research and development and logistics hub near Rentschler Field, a project that could create about 2,000 permanent jobs and generate an estimated $4 million in new annual tax revenue, the developers said.
In November, East Hartford jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney announced it reached an agreement to sell its 300-acre former airfield to National Development for an undisclosed purchase price. Few details about the project were shared publicly until Tuesday night.
According to National Development’s presentation, the project will include two flex manufacturing facilities near the existing Cabelas outdoor retail store: an 80,000-square-foot, one-story building and a 75,000-square-foot, two-story building.
There will also be two larger distribution buildings on-site. It wasn’t clear how big those facilities will be, but the entire brick-and-mortar build-out will only take up about 20% of the 300 acres, the developers said.
National Development also said it’s in talks with potential tenants, but declined to disclose specifics. Uses proposed for the development include research and development, medical, biotech, and specialized manufacturing. The logistics center area will be used for distribution facilities and other similar uses driven by the site’s highway access.
Joseph Balskus, senior traffic engineer with the developer’s engineering firm, VHB, said the developers are planning for two major tenants on the site, which would simplify communication on truck management, as well as dealing with any issues that may crop up.
East Hartford Mayor Mike Walsh said he’s “very much in favor of the project” and it has been well received by council members.
“National Development is a solid community partner so we like everything about this project,” Walsh said.
Walsh said that he and members of the council have a few outstanding questions related to truck traffic impact and emissions that still need to be addressed.
“Let’s take a hard look at that and the studies,” Walsh said. “There will be large trucks and we want to make sure the emissions are appropriately looked at.”
Representatives from National Development will be at a follow-up meeting about the project at 6 p.m. on Feb. 16 at Goodwin University. The developer expects to file its master plan with the town in mid-March.
A Journal Inquirer report was used in this story.
