NJ developer plans $100M residential project in Connecticut

It took a while, but Hartford may have it after all. After nearly a year, a New Jersey developer presented to the Capital Region Development Authority Board of Directors new designs for the redevelopment of a 2.8-acre parking lot near Hartford’s Bushnell Park.. 

The developer, Michaels, outlined plans for a scaled-back development that includes 233 apartments and several townhouses, with an estimated project cost of nearly $100 million, the Hartford Business Journal reported.

The initial concept, proposed by Michaels when it was selected as the preferred developer last November, was for 345 apartments and 15 townhomes.

The proposed design, presented by Anthony J. Amenta of Hartford-based Amenta | Emma Architects, includes an eight-story apartment building, a five-story apartment building, and three three-story townhouse buildings, according to the outlet.

The townhouses are intended for owner occupancy, and the plan also includes 3,500 square feet of retail space. The buildings are arranged around the perimeter of the lot, which is bordered by West and Buckingham streets, Capitol Avenue, and a 1-acre park adjacent to a state office building.

The developer plans “mass timber” construction in the eight-story building, utilizing a “cross-laminated timber” floor system. The technique, popularized in Canada and Europe, allows for greater heights compared to traditional wood-frame multifamily buildings. 

Mass timber offers advantages such as rapid construction, appealing wood aesthetics, and larger spans of glass due to the exterior skin hanging on the side of the building.

The CRDA Board members expressed overall positive feedback regarding the design, with some concerns raised. Board member Robert E. Patricelli praised the project while expressing apprehension about the modern exterior design potentially clashing with the surrounding architecture. Patricelli also questioned the inclusion of a large surface parking lot. Geoff Lewis, Michaels’ Director of Development, explained that underground parking was not feasible due to high costs, but the design was intended to conceal the surface lot from view.

CRDA Executive Director Michael Freimuth emphasized that the project aimed to push the boundaries of the marketplace, offering a higher-end building incorporating new technologies and green building practices. The design’s scalability on the site provides greater architectural flexibility.

— Ted Glanzer