Indiana developer Scannell Properties is hoping to build another massive distribution center in Greater Hartford — this time on former tobacco farmland in Windsor.
Scannell, which is currently building a $50-million distribution hub for Home Depot in South Windsor, last month filed an application with the town of Windsor seeking approval to construct an 819,800-square-foot “packaging and distribution” facility at 1201 Kennedy Road and 1 Joseph Lane.
The Indianapolis-based company is seeking a special use permit and site plan approval from the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission, which is scheduled to hold a virtual public hearing on the proposal Wednesday, April 14. (The town is one of many municipalities in Connecticut that’s streaming public meetings online during the COVID-19 outbreak).
After receiving an inlands wetlands permit in recent weeks, the developer would also need to obtain certain approvals from the state Department of Transportation and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection prior to breaking ground, according to economic development director Jim Burke.
Scannell has informed town officials it would cost approximately $250 million to build the distribution center, Burke said. A tenant selected for the facility has not yet been publicly disclosed, he said.
Development officials at Scannell could not be reached for comment.
According to plans, the proposed 95-foot tall distribution center would include 63 loading docks, 1,800 car parking spaces, 16 motorcycle spaces and 206 trailer parking stalls. By comparison, Scannell says the building’s footprint would be smaller than the existing Dollar Tree logistics center on International Drive and the Amazon fulfillment center on Old Iron Ore Road.
The distribution facility would be located on 124.4 acres owned by the Thrall family farm (O.J. Thrall Inc.), land records show.
The longtime family owned business stopped farming shade tobacco at the property in 2015 amid changing consumer habits and increased competition in South America. It’s currently harvesting the land for wheat, barley, hay and other grains that can be found in numerous beers across the state, according to a report by Connecticut Magazine.
The farm made headlines last summer after it tore down more than a dozen iconic red tobacco barns and listed part of its land for sale.
If approved, Scannell’s proposed Windsor facility would continue its ambitious development spree across Greater Hartford.
In South Windsor, Scannell is building a 421,000-square-foot distribution facility on vacant land that will be leased long term by Home Depot upon completion. The combined 46-acre property is officially listed at 360 Ellington Road, 245 Chapel Road and R008 John Fitch Boulevard.
The Home Depot operation will sit across the street from another Scannell project — a $42.4 million Coca-Cola office and distribution facility at 329-359 Ellington Road.
Home Depot’s new facility is also different from the 182,000-square-foot distribution that Scannell is planning to build at 240 Ellington Road in South Windsor. Scannell has yet to name the incoming tenant there.
According to its website, Scannell says it’s completed 328 development projects spanning 63.6 million square feet in 44 U.S. states and in Canada.
