The federal government on Monday released a “record of decision” for construction of a new courthouse on Allyn Street in downtown Hartford, which marks the final step in a two-year environmental review process.
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has selected the 2.2-acre site at 154 Allyn St., now a surface parking lot, situated between Union Station and the XL Center.
GSA will begin soliciting bids for design and construction this summer, according to Monday’s announcement.
The new building will replace the Abraham A. Ribicoff Federal Building and Courthouse, which was constructed in 1963 and no longer meets the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut’s needs for space, functionality and security.
The seven-story building at the corner of Main and Sheldon streets, next to Hartford City Hall, has eight courtrooms and 10 judges’ chambers, “some of which are severely undersized,” according to the GSA.
The new courthouse on Allyn Street will span 281,000 square feet and contain 11 courtrooms and 18 judges’ chambers. It will have offices for other federal agencies and a secure two-level underground parking garage.
The building will house 220 to 240 full-time employees.
When the project is finished, the district court plans to move its headquarters from New Haven to Hartford.
“The court is excited to see this project proceed past this important milestone,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish said. “We thank our friends in the General Services Administration for their hard work in identifying and selecting this site for our new courthouse.”
In the record of decision, GSA outlines its reasons for selecting the Allyn Street property, the purpose of the project and environmental impact.
Moving the court’s operations to Allyn Street will improve efficiency, effectiveness, security and safety, while balancing potential impacts to the city, GSA says.
The GSA released a 500-page environmental impact report in May, which found that building the new facility on the Allyn Street site would have minimal adverse effects.
The GSA also considered a site at 61 Woodland St. in Hartford, along with a “no build” option.
The Allyn Street proposal received strong support from downtown business owners and landlords, who said it would help stimulate economic activity in the city’s downtown.
They noted the ample supply of nearby parking and that surrounding office buildings – which lost many of their tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic – could accommodate court-related services and tenants.
GSA plans to acquire 154 Allyn St., which is owned by SGS Allyn LLC, which is controlled by Bernard S. Bertram. He is the managing member of Brooklyn, New York-based Shelbourne Global Solutions, downtown Hartford’s largest office landlord.
Shelbourne bought the property in 2019 for $3.9 million, city records show.
The federal government has authorized $334.97 million for the site acquisition, design and construction.
The design of the new courthouse is expected to begin next year with construction beginning in 2027. The new courthouse should be substantially completed by 2030, GSA said.
For more information, visit gsa.gov/hartfordcourthouse.
