It would be hard to find two figures more impactful to multifamily development in Connecticut than Chris P. Reilly and Alan Lazowski.
Reilly heads up Lexington Partners, a Hartford-based firm that is either leading, or partnered in, some of the largest mixed-use developments in Connecticut. Lazowski heads national parking giant LAZ Parking, and has for years been a faithful partner in all of Lexington’s endeavors.
Lexington and Lazowski are among several partners advancing a redevelopment of the Founders Plaza office park along the Connecticut River in East Hartford. Plans call for about 1,000 apartments mixed with 400,000 square feet of commercial space and an expansion of park-like amenities.
Reilly expects to begin that project this year with the demolition of an office building at 99 Founders Plaza. That will set the stage for construction of a roughly $100 million to $120 million, 330-unit apartment building overlooking the riverfront.
Even before that ground-up development begins, Reilly aims to launch a roughly $90 million conversion of a 19-story office tower at 111 Founders Plaza into 240 apartments. That project should take about 30 months, he said.
Lexington and Lazowski are partnered with Shelbourne Global Solutions on the ongoing transformation of a downtown Hartford office building, at 64 Pratt St., into dormitory space for 200 UConn students. That roughly $30 million project is expected to be completed by July 2026.
Lexington and Lazowski are also advancing plans for the redevelopment of the Westbrook Outlets near the shoreline into 595 apartments, 100 townhomes, a new hotel and restaurant and entertainment space. Reilly said the goal is to break ground around the end of the first quarter of next year. The project will take up to four years to complete.
Reilly took over Lexington Partners in fall 2023, following the sudden death of company founder Marty Kenny, a close friend. So far, Reilly has helmed projects initiated or envisioned by Kenny.
Now, his firm is advancing new projects, including a 130-unit apartment development in West Hartford.
Reilly said he sees no letup in demand.
“Housing needs are off the chart,” Reilly said. “We know that because every time we build something, it fills up quickly.”