Mayor Pedro E. Segarra said Friday he is backing off plans to have the city bond $60 million to build a new minor league ballpark for the New Britain Rock Cats baseball team.
In a letter to the city council, Segarra said he wants to pursue private funding instead to help build the stadium and other development in the northern section of downtown.
“Our goal has always been the successful redevelopment of the entire Downtown North area,” Segarra said in a written statement after formally withdrawing a city counsel resolution seeking $60 million in bonding for the stadium. “What was needed was a spark, a catalyst to drive further interest and development and we believed the ballpark would be that spark. We are committed to pay for the costs associated with the ballpark construction with private investment and revenues generated by the redevelopment of the entire Downtown North area.”
The city currently has a request for proposals out seeking private investors and developers willing to build a stadium and other commercial and residential development in downtown north. Proposals are due Aug. 1.
“This approach is consistent with feedback from the community, City Council and other stakeholders,” Segarra said. “To do this we have to revise the current resolution. A new resolution will be submitted by Aug. 11 and a public hearing will take place shortly after. We believe this will protect the interests of the community and allow us to continue the momentum to move Hartford forward.”
