Momentum is building for East Hartford to claim by eminent domain the Silver Lane Plaza, a huge and aging retail complex that town officials say is decaying due to neglect.
The town’s Redevelopment Agency is scheduled Thursday to vote on an eminent domain claim of two properties comprising the 22-acre plaza, which hosts three buildings with a combined 156,790 square feet of retail space.
East Hartford Mayor Michael Walsh said the property’s owner has rebuffed repeated offers from the town to buy the blighted property.
“What we had was an owner who does not have local roots, does not have any plans and has not shown any interest in the seven years he’s owned it, to invest in it to be something beneficial…,” Walsh said.
Walsh said the state of the plaza could jeopardize nearby development proposals that could unlock a revival of the long-struggling Silver Lane commercial artery.
Massachusetts-based National Development is pursuing two logistics buildings totaling 2.5 million square feet and two, 100,000-square-foot buildings for research or high-tech manufacturing, on 300 acres at nearby Rentschler Field.
New Britain-based Jasko Development and Zelman Real Estate of West Hartford are moving forward with plans to build a roughly 470-apartment development on the former Showcase Cinema site – 25.1 acres tucked just north of the Silver Lane Plaza.
“Both of those things could be in jeopardy, possibly, if we do not address Silver Lane Plaza,” Walsh said. “I made that absolutely clear to the owner. I said Silver Lane East Hartford cannot be held back by your reluctance to either sell it or invest in it.”
Now, Walsh is backing a plan to use eminent domain, demolish the largest retail building and issue a request-for-proposal to find a development partner interested in putting the 22-acre site back into productive use.
“Clearly this is a priority of this administration,” Walsh said. “I know it’s a priority of the (Town) Council and I know it’s a priority of the community.”
If the Redevelopment Authority chooses to pursue eminent domain Thursday, the Town Council could hold a hearing on providing funding as early as Nov. 1, allowing the Redevelopment Authority to submit its eminent domain petition to a court, Walsh said. The two properties that comprise the plaza could be under town control within 60 days, he said.
The two properties of the plaza – 794-810 Silver Lane and 818-850 Silver Lane – collectively host three retail buildings, of 107,148 square feet, 31,080 square feet and 18,562 square feet, according to town officials.
East Hartford’s estimate of the value of the plaza is just under $5 million, although a court could increase the payment if eminent domain is approved.
At a hearing before the Redevelopment Authority in August, several tenants in the plaza currently expressed concern for their futures should the town claim it. Business owners repeatedly claimed they were just recovering their footing following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Walsh assures that the town will do everything possible to take care of the businesses as it works to revive the plaza.
Town Council President Richard Kehoe “and I want to reaffirm we will take care of the businesses in the plaza, but to retain the plaza in such a blighted condition is unacceptable,” Walsh said.
