Massive East Hartford warehouses at Rentschler Field receive green light for occupancy

East Hartford officials are looking forward to an influx of jobs and property tax revenues as two massive warehouses totaling 2.5 million square feet near completion at Rentschler Field.

East Hartford’s building inspections office, in late February, issued temporary certificates of occupancy for two warehouses — totaling 1.2 million square feet and 1.3 million square feet, respectively — that Massachusetts-based National Development began constructing a little more than a year ago.

The buildings are leased to online furniture seller Wayfair and home-improvement retailer Lowe’s, respectively.

East Hartford Mayor Connor Martin said the new buildings will yield $4.9 million in property tax revenues in the coming fiscal year, which will decrease to about $3.5 million the following year as an Enterprise Zone tax abatement kicks in.

The temporary certificates of occupancy mean the buildings are safe for occupancy and normal business operations, according to East Hartford’s inspections office. A final certificate of occupancy will be granted once some minor outstanding work items are completed. Those need to be finished within 120 days. 

National Development paid $78.47 million for 300 acres at Rentschler Field in January 2023, with plans to build the warehouses and two, 100,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing buildings.

National Development Managing Partner Ed Marsteiner, speaking at a March 2023 groundbreaking ceremony, said it would cost up to $300 million to complete the logistics portion of the project. He estimated another $40 million to $50 million would need to be invested to build the smaller, but more complex manufacturing buildings.

There has been no word on potential tenants, or a construction start date for the manufacturing properties.

Wayfair, in November, acknowledged it was searching for a tenant to sublease up to half the space it leased at the Rentschler site. Wayfair, which announced in January plans to cut 13% of its workforce, or 1,650 employees, said it was looking to sublease as it grows into its new space. 

Attempts to reach representatives of National Development, Lowe’s and Wayfair were unsuccessful Wednesday.