East Hartford’s long-running effort to redevelop its riverfront reached a major milestone Thursday with the groundbreaking of a 150-unit apartment complex along East River Drive.
Developers Simon Konover Co. and Eastpointe marked the start of construction on the project, which will include four apartment buildings, an amenities building and pathways connecting the property to the Connecticut River.
The complex will be built over the next 16 months on part of a 35.3-acre property that West Hartford-based Konover acquired 42 years ago. The company originally envisioned the site for commercial office development.
Instead, the land remained largely undeveloped for decades. Konover unveiled plans for the apartment project two years ago, as multifamily development accelerated across Connecticut amid strong demand and limited housing supply.
The Konover-Eastpointe project sits just south of a 30-acre section of the Founders Plaza riverfront office park, where a group of developers and business leaders operating as Port Eastside is pursuing a much larger mixed-use redevelopment.
That project calls for about 1,000 apartments, along with retail, restaurant, entertainment and park amenities.
“This project this morning represents the first of many groundbreakings to come,” said David Steuber, executive director of the Capital Region Development Authority. “We’re going to transform the waterfront here in East Hartford and make it a very dynamic, very exciting place — full of communities, entertainment and interesting places to be and to live and play.”
The broader Port Eastside redevelopment has already begun with the demolition of a parking garage. Financing is still being assembled, including negotiations between the developer and town over using a portion of future property tax revenue generated by the project to help offset development costs.
The Konover-Eastpointe project also benefited from public support. CRDA provided a $6.5 million low-interest loan, and the town approved an eight-year tax abatement.
Mayor Connor Martin said East Hartford does not directly engage in development, but can help create conditions that encourage private investment.
“And so, for you to bring your vision, your investment and your commitment to our long-term future, I’m incredibly grateful for it,” Martin told the development team.
Martin said the groundbreaking reflects years of collaboration among developers, town officials, state agencies and CRDA. He called the project an important step in East Hartford’s riverfront revitalization, along with the Port Eastside redevelopment and planned improvements to Great River Park.
“As we work to change our business reputation here in the town of East Hartford, improve how we work with businesses and create those conditions that allow businesses and developers to be successful, today’s event truly validates those efforts and signals to all that are watching about what’s going on in the town of East Hartford,” Martin said.
Great River Park stretches along the waterfront in front of the Port Eastside redevelopment area. Konover previously donated nearly 20 acres between its development site and the river to the town, helping preserve public access to the waterfront.
Developers said pathways crossing the property will connect residents to the riverfront.
Konover President Greg Konover highlighted the land donation during Thursday’s ceremony.
“Today we break ground on a community of 150 apartments, studios, one, two, and three bedrooms with a 5,500-square-foot clubhouse, a pool, a dog park and direct access to the riverfront,” Konover said. “Just as important as what we’re building is what we’re preserving.”
William Finger, co-founder and co-managing director of Eastpointe, said the project builds on the company’s Connecticut multifamily portfolio, which includes the recently completed 300-unit Riverpointe Cheshire development.
“At Eastpointe, we strive to build first-class communities that not only can we be proud of, but also the towns and cities in which we build,” Finger said.
