The city of Hartford wants to transform a former scrapyard in the Parkville neighborhood — which currently serves as the largest undeveloped and unutilized land parcel in the Capital City — into a major ground-up development that would serve the advanced manufacturing industry.
The plan is part of a much broader $242 million public-private redevelopment vision to create a Parkville Arts & Innovation District.
Part of the plan hinges on obtaining funding from the state’s Innovation Corridor Program, which tasks the Department of Economic and Community Development with picking two or more “transformational, place-making proposals for major urban areas or regional economic centers” for grants of up to $50 million each.
The city of Hartford has officially submitted its program application, connecting it with efforts to turn Parkville into an advanced manufacturing hub. It is seeking $48.4 million in state grant funding to leverage an overall $242 million investment in Parkville. The district would include 13 parcels of buildings and land spanning 55 acres.
These properties are part of the planned Parkville Arts & Innovation District.
Redevelopment of a former 33 acre scrapyard at 500 Flatbush Ave. and 173/201 Bartholomew Ave., is described as the “biggest prize” in the city’s Parkville redevelopment vision.
The ultimate goal is to transform the land into at least 325,000 square feet of advanced manufacturing flexible space along with additional amenities.
The envisioned industrial flex buildings would accommodate small manufacturing businesses or be combined for larger operations.
The city of Hartford actually acquired the land last summer through foreclosure and it is situated adjacent to the CTfastrak and the CTrailHartford Line.
“Its development would also connect the heart of the Parkville Arts and Innovation District to Flatbush Avenue, creating a link between Parkville and the New Park Avenue commercial corridor,” according to the city’s Innovation Corridor Program application.
However, before development can occur, the site must be remediated, the city said. The site has PCB contamination and contains multiple blighted buildings that must be demolished.
As part of its Innovation Corridor Program grant funding request, the city is asking for $12 million to help remediate the site.
“The magnitude of environmental remediation and stabilization work is significant. However, assessments done to date suggest that a phased remediation is feasible,” the city said.
The city’s next step is to initiate a redevelopment plan for the site in conjunction with a remediation action plan.
Remediation and redevelopment would occur in phases; work would start initially at the southern portion of the site and gradually move to the northern section of the property.
The initial work will focus on hazardous material abatement and buildings demolition, according to the city.
