[JayCT]

A plan for the redevelopment of the area south of Bushnell Park, called Bushnell South, has been released by planners. The plan calls for mixed use development to create a new neighborhood for as many as 1,800 people. The plan calls for modest land prices and tax incentives to encourage developers to come forward and move forward quickly. It certainly would be a welcomed addition to the city. Jay

https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/art...bushnell-south

[WouldLoveTo]

Originally Posted by JayCT

A plan for the redevelopment of the area south of Bushnell Park, called Bushnell South, has been released by planners. The plan calls for mixed use development to create a new neighborhood for as many as 1,800 people. The plan calls for modest land prices and tax incentives to encourage developers to come forward and move forward quickly. It certainly would be a welcomed addition to the city. Jay

https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/art...bushnell-south

Looks like it's replacing a lot of parking lots! Do people live in that area now? I can't blow up the photo. Would be cool if it turns into an artsy area.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by WouldLoveTo

Looks like it's replacing a lot of parking lots! Do people live in that area now? I can't blow up the photo. Would be cool if it turns into an artsy area.

A large part of this development area is under utilized surface parking but some of it is reuse of existing commercial buildings. They once housed state offices but those were moved several years ago to more modern buildings, opening up these attractive buildings to redevelopment.

There are residential neighborhoods south and to the east. The neighborhood to the south is gentrifying and to the east is pretty nice. It’s commonly called SoDo. There are beautiful old brownstones, nice apartments and some nice restaurants, offices and shops. This project adds to that and should help further gentrify the streets to the south. Seems a win-win for everyone. Jay

[ConnecticutSir]

Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood, once a manufacturing powerhouse, is on the cusp of rising again as a 21st Century innovation district

Article: https://www.courant.com/business/hc-...d_4OVFayAlIIkk

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by ConnecticutSir

Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood, once a manufacturing powerhouse, is on the cusp of rising again as a 21st Century innovation district

Article: https://www.courant.com/business/hc-...d_4OVFayAlIIkk

Saw that and it looks intriguing.

[Johnho771]

Originally Posted by ConnecticutSir

Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood, once a manufacturing powerhouse, is on the cusp of rising again as a 21st Century innovation district

Article: https://www.courant.com/business/hc-...d_4OVFayAlIIkk

Nice article. Opening paragraph says a lot about where the area unfortunately has gone, comparing it to once being like Silicon Valley a century ago. However Mouta does seem to be a pivotal person who could bring promise to the area, and already has had success with his Parkville Market.

I think it's great that Mouta is looking outside of Hartford for inspiration, as he hopes to "Brooklynize" the area. I think Boston's Seaport District could also serve as inspiration about how to revitalize the area. The once industrial area of the once rough neighborhood of South Boston, has really emerged over the past decade with very nice apartments, restaurants, businesses, and entertainment venues. It has become a very fast growing and popular area. It would be nice to see Hartford try to mirror the success of that project.

[bushewick]

Parkville is the Sunset Park of CT
LIC too

[ConnecticutSir]

Downtown North developer wants to convert upper floors of Hartford Hilton hotel into apartments

Article: https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/art...d-hilton-hotel

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by ConnecticutSir

Downtown North developer wants to convert upper floors of Hartford Hilton hotel into apartments

Article: https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/art...d-hilton-hotel

Better than seeing it close permanently.

[MikefromCT]

Originally Posted by bushewick

Parkville is the Sunset Park of CT
LIC too

Parkville isn't bad, but IMO Sunset Park is a safer neighborhood. As someone who's been to that neighborhood, Sunset Park feels safer and more diverse. Maybe that's where Parkville will be a few years from now, though.

Originally Posted by ConnecticutSir

Downtown North developer wants to convert upper floors of Hartford Hilton hotel into apartments


Article: https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/art...d-hilton-hotel

When I first read about this last week, I was under the impression that the entire hotel was proposed to be converted to apartments. My issue with that is, that would mean one less hotel in the city once this pandemic eventually ends. There will be a demand for hospitality again, and if there's a shortage of this in the city, that means people will go elsewhere, which means less revenue for the city. There may be a need for housing, but there's also a need for commercial properties so they can pay some of the property taxes instead of the residents. A partial conversion makes more sense, IMO.

I took the Springfield-New Haven train from Windsor to NH on Saturday, and I was amazed at how many empty lots there are in the corridor west of the train tracks and north of downtown. All of that land is just sitting there, empty and unused. And all I could think was, what a tremendous opportunity to clean up that land and put it to use. I realize everyone will be stonewalling me in response, saying it's never going to happen or the environmental costs are too much, etc. It doesn't matter. If people wanted to do something productive with that space, they could. Hopefully, at some point in the near future, they will.