After years of planning and fundraising, downtown Hartford’s historic Amos Bull House is modern and useful space again following a $2.45 million renovation.
The 12-room, 5,500-square-foot building is at 59 S. Prospect St., directly behind the Butler-McCook House & Garden, on the east side of Main Street.
The remodeled building will serve as a community center and educational hub for the south downtown neighborhood, said Sheryl Hack, executive director of the Connecticut Landmarks, owner of both buildings.
It also extends further to the south the city’s cultural and landmarks corridor, running from the Old State House to Travelers, the Wadsworth Atheneum, and the Hartford Public Library.
In 2008, the state deeded the building once used as state Historical Commission offices to the Antiquarian Society, also operating as Connecticut Landmarks. There are 10 employees housed there.
Built during the Revolutionary War era, in 1788, Amos Bull House is the city’s oldest brick building. It was at times a dry goods store and a residence; hardware store; auto dealership; insurance offices; and a restaurant.
Over the years, it was moved twice and a community campaign that got it on the National Register of Historic Places saved it from demolition in the ‘60s.
Upgrades to the building, beyond a new roof, energy-efficient flooring and an elevator, include the addition of a closed-loop geothermal heating-cooling system that links CT Landmarks’ entire Hartford campus.
A public grand opening celebration is set for June 6-7.
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Target Sports’ Southington home
An industrial building purchased for $757,000 in Southington will soon house an area order-fulfillment center for Target Sports USA, brokers say.
O,R&L Commercial was seller David Scranton’s broker.
The approximately 13,325-square-foot building on about 1.34 acres is at 24 Robert Porter Road.
Target Sports is an online retailer of guns and ammunition. It’s currently housed at 504 Main St. in Farmington.
NAI Elite Commercial represented buyer Delmic Enterprises LLC.
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ZAG’s one-floor upgrade
Glastonbury web-designer/digital services vendor ZAG Interactive has found extra space the growing firm needs just one floor above.
ZAG moved in April into 11,000 square feet on the second floor of 148 Eastern Blvd., a building where owner Larry Miclette moved his 40-employee firm into about 7,000 square feet on the first floor four years earlier.
“To think about this business in 2002 and to see where we’ve come, it’s just an amazing reality,” said Miclette, who is president and CEO. “We took some time to soak it in, and now we’re back to work making this company better.”
Big Dog Construction in Lisbon handled build-out of the second-floor space that includes an all-glass entryway leading into ZAG’s offices. Interior walls were removed to create an open floor-plan; there are extra conference rooms and an expanded kitchen/lounge area.
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The Jefferson debut
On Thursday, New Britain officials will join Philadelphia landlord Pennrose Properties LLC in unveiling the $14 million affordable senior housing complex known as The Jefferson.
Grand opening ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. at 2380 Corbin Ave.
The 70-unit apartment, with its contemporary floor plans, oversized windows and on-site fitness center and laundry room, also is significant because it introduces Pennrose Properties as a meaningful player in Connecticut’s multifamily housing market for some time to come.
Pennrose is a partner with developer Martin Kenny and investor Sanford Cloud, who together plan to transform a pair of derelict downtown Hartford office towers, at 101-111 Pearl Street, into more than 200 units of apartments.n
Greg Seay is the Hartford Business Journal News Editor.
