As National Development nears completion of two massive warehouses at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, the town anticipates shortly receiving the first installments of a $4 million “impact” contribution from the Massachusetts-based developer.
Mayor Connor Martin now wants to direct some of this funding to redevelopment of East Hartford’s downtown, one of his priorities.
An agreement National Development reached with the town in 2022 would have had the town use up to 25% of funding for development of East Hartford’s portion of the East Coast Greenway, and up to 75% on an enclosed sports facility.
In a Jan. 30 memo, Martin asked the Town Council to permit use of $500,000 in funds for “development efforts related to Main Street, our downtown area, and business development.”
The council is scheduled to take up the request in a meeting on Tuesday.
Martin has previously spoken about his desire to improve the time-worn downtown. In a Town Hall meeting for residents last Thursday, the mayor said he is working with the Department of Transportation to support roadway improvements over the next two to three years. He also wants to improve sidewalks, lighting and other streetscape elements.
The town is already working on plans to transform a short stretch of Bissell Street – across from the town green – into a pedestrian-only stretch open to events and performances and flanked by boutique shops, restaurants and one or more breweries.
“I want to give Main Street a complete facelift,” Martin said.
The DOT-led work will try to transform downtown Main Street from a multi-lane speedway into a pedestrian-friendly area conducive to restaurants and retail. That means fewer and wider lanes, bicycle lanes, more street parking and center-island planters.
Martin said he plans to begin closing Bissell Street to motorists a couple days per week in April, allowing it to host food trucks and pop-up events. The road will be entirely closed by summer, he said. The hope is to create something like Hartford’s historic Pratt Street retail district, with outdoor seating and events.
Martin would like to see the shuttered cinema bordering Bissell Street transformed into something like Hartford’s Parkville Market, an indoor bazaar of creative food stalls and a bar in a fun setting.
National Development is expected to complete two warehouses, one with 1.3 million square feet and another with 1.2 million square feet, in March. National Development will begin handing over portions of its pledged impact funding within 10 business days of obtaining occupancy permits.
