Hartford officials gathered at the new, 270-unit, “Pennant” apartment building next to Dunkin’ Donuts Park Wednesday to celebrate renter demand they say exceeds expectations.
As of that morning, 160 units had been completed, or nearly so, at the sleek, gray-sided apartment building wrapping around sections of Morgan, Main and Trumbull streets.
So far, 150 leases have been secured.
“It’s also a really powerful demonstration of what many of us have long believed, which is there is a really strong demand for apartments in our city,” Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said. “And it’s really important we keep our foot on the gas and try and meet that demand.”
Creation of market-rate housing downtown has been a pillar of Bronin’s economic development strategy. The effort has been facilitated greatly by planning and low-interest loans from the state-funded Capital Region Development Authority.
The “Pennant” building, at 1212 Main St., is the first installment of developer RMS Cos.’ plan to add about 1,000 apartments and additional commercial development on vacant lots around the newly-built stadium.
“From my perspective, that was one of the most important promises we had to fulfill, to take this sea of surface parking lots and turn it into a new neighborhood,” Bronin said. “And, just as importantly, to use that development to knit our neighborhoods back together, to bridge that divide between the downtown and Clay Arsenal neighborhoods, up North Main Street to Albany Avenue, to physically tie our community back together.”
The building features a pool and outdoor cabana/lounge area. There is a rooftop deck with grills, plush chairs and stadium seating overlooking the ballpark. An outdoor garden area with planting boxes is coming. Inside there is a golf simulator, two-lane bowling alley, fitness room, lounge, coworking space, meditation room, demonstration kitchen and even a dog-washing “spa.”
“Really what we are doing is selling a lifestyle,” said Randy Salvatore, owner of RMS Cos., the developer behind North Crossing. “It’s more than an apartment.”
Seventy percent of tenants so far have come from outside the city, Salvatore said.
“Which really bodes well for the long-term success of the city and for the neighborhoods in general,” Salvatore said. “People want to live in Hartford and if we can provide the products for them, then they will be here, which will be great for the long-term vitality of the neighborhood and of the city.”
Salvatore said supply chain difficulties have slowed work, but he anticipates completing construction and having all units at “The Pennant” available by early December.
Salvatore and city officials are eager to continue building, but the next phase of development has been put on hold while a lawsuit plays out by another developer claiming rights to build on the city-held lots around the ballpark.
Salvatore had expected to begin construction of the next phase of Downtown Crossing — a 530-space parking garage and 550 apartments on a five-acre parking lot at 1139 Main St. – this summer. That effort is on hold due to a lawsuit from Centerplan Construction, which alleges it was wrongfully terminated as the developer of the area around the ballpark. Centerplan has sought to add RMS as a defendant.
The city hired Centerplan in 2015 to build the ballpark and develop four nearby parcels for $56 million, according to the suit. The following year, the city sacked Centerplan and DoNo Hartford LLC, alleging they were to blame for stadium construction delays.
After Centerplan’s exit, the city lined up RMS to complete the stadium and develop surrounding parcels.
Salvatore said Wednesday that he has financing lined up and is ready to move ahead with the next phase as soon as the court allows.
“If it gets released, we are ready to go,” Salvatore said.
