JumpingClay USA is opening later this week its first U.S. creative clay-arts academy in Enfield.
The academy opens March 21 in about 1,600 square feet at 76 Palomba Drive, previously an office for Planned Parenthood of Connecticut, JumpingClay USA owner Aime Liggett said. Liggett says she will employ six workers.
George Colli III is landlord
Liggett runs the Enfield academy, which will feature trained pre-instructors and instructors who will hold art education workshops for children age 4 and up and for adults. The colorful clays can be molded into various shapes and figures that are air-dried to set.
A former Hartford elementary schoolteacher, she and her young children encountered JumpingClay during a visit to Northern Ireland in the summer of 2013.
“I loved the way the clay looked. It was fun. It didn’t crack.” she said.
She approached the Korean operators who awarded her rights to franchise its concept in the U.S. market.
Liggett said she hopes to begin franchising other Connecticut locations within the next few years, then branch out from there.
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Newington apts. sold
A nine-unit Newington apartment building has sold for $965,000, brokers say.
PSB Wethersfield Holding LLC bought the property at 711 Willard Ave., in the shadow of St. Mary’s School, Newington High, Newington Veterans Hospital, and Central Connecticut State University, from seller Kane Street Associates LLC.
Commercial broker Marcus & Millichap of New Haven had the exclusive listing and brought the buyer to the table.
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Elm St. units set
A former Rambler car dealership in downtown Hartford is a step closer to conversion to housing after obtaining a $333,000 mortgage from state taxpayers to help fund the redevelopment.
Developer Daniel Peabody recently closed on the loan with the Capital Region Development Authority for his planned $1.2 million conversion of 40 Elm St. into six apartments, CRDA said.
When completed as early as this fall, the converted property will consist of two studio units; two single-bedroom units; and a pair of two-bedroom units at what originally was known as the L. Mansoy and Sons Carriages House. Later it was converted to a car dealership.
Peabody has spent the past year obtaining permits and performing other pre-construction tasks at the site, CRDA said.
His financing also consists of a $420,000 first mortgage with Hartford Community Loan Fund; state historic preservation credits of $209,000; and $254,000 in private equity.
Another private property next door at 50 Elm also recently underwent renovation, the agency said.
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Woodland Moving’s lease
Woodland Moving and Warehouse Inc. leased a 14,800-square-foot industrial building in West Hartford for its operations.
C&G Properties Inc. owns the 48-year-old building on 2.58 acres at 110 Reed Ave., in the town’s Elmwood neighborhood.
Sentry Commercial was sole broker in the transaction.n
Gregory Seay is the Hartford Business Journal News Editor.
