Hartford Business Journal

13 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | FEBRUARY 28, 2022 Shaw said she believes renovation estimates run between $14 million and $16 million. Funding would come from the state, historic tax credits, private dollars and borrowing. A fundraising campaign could be in the mix. "We serve several thousand folks through this center now," Shaw said. "Our hope would be we see far fewer people needing those services because they've been able to get a career that has adequate pay and benefits and self-respect and stability for their families." Shaw has seen the neighborhood evolve since Hands on Hartford bought its current headquarters in 2014. Back then, the location had its doubters, she recalled. "There were some who thought we were imbalanced for buying in Parkville because this neighborhood was more deserted than now," Shaw said. "We didn't have a Parkville Market. We didn't have a Know Good Market. We didn't have a brewery. We didn't have ax- throwing. We didn't have reSET in the neighborhood. We didn't have any of this vision at the time. But we were sure our investment here could matter." Contemporary arts nonprofit Real Art Ways also recently announced a $14.7 million expansion and renovation of its newly-purchased, 83,000-square-foot building on Arbor Street, located close to Parkville Market. Tech and higher-ed Several of the city's colleges and universities are ready to put their resources behind the innovation corridor. Mark Boxer, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the University of Hartford, said his institution is collaborating with Trinity College and UConn. Boxer envisions faculty participating in research in the Parkville technology incubator spaces, guiding startup businesses and sending students to participate in "experiential learning." The door swings both ways, Boxer noted. Trainees from the neighborhood could access resources at the university campus as well, he said. "If you look at the history of things like Silicon Valley or the Research Triangle, it's been government collaborating with private industry and academia that's been the secret sauce to the success of those places," Boxer said. The city's ability to attract technology companies, Boxer said, has already been proven with recent arrivals and expansions of tech giant Infosys; IT and business consulting firm HCL; and IT services firm GalaxE.Solutions Inc. "They have proven the case that Hartford can be attractive as an innovation corridor," Boxer said. "Now with the successes to date, we are advancing into Parkville." Meantime, Capital Community College is interested in bringing an advanced manufacturing or training center to Parkville, City Economic Development Director Erin Howard told members of the City Council's Planning, Economic Development & Housing Committee during a Feb. 2 meeting. The state grant requires a four-to- one match, meaning the state's $50 million would require $200 million invested in Parkville from other sources, according to Elizabeth "Liz" Torres, a member of Vita Nuova. Her redevelopment planning group was hired to help Hartford prepare its application. The state has received 12 notices-of-intent to apply for the grant, according to Department of Economic and Community Development spokesman Jim Watson. The "first phase" of work in Parkville will add 246 apartments and 333,000 square feet of commercial space, Torres said. The development pace in Parkville is so great that the Capital Region Development Authority Board voted Jan. 20, to allow Executive Director Michael Freimuth to hire a consultant to manage Parkville projects. If the state grant comes, Freimuth told his board, the neighborhood will probably get its own development corporation. TOTAL PROJECT SIZE: 42,000 SF Building For Your Success MK AUTOMATION BLOOMFIELD, CT For this project, PDS served in a design build role to complete a new 42,000 square foot addition for our long standing client, MK North America. Standing at 22' tall, this pre-engineered metal building will be utilized as production space for the expanding conveyor systems manufacturer. For over 56 years, PDS has always built relationships based on trust, efficiency and transparency to provide the highest quality end result. SPOTLIGHT ON: PRE-ENGINEERED METAL BUILDINGS 107 Old Windsor Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002 | 860.242.8586 | pdsec.com THINK • PLAN • BUILD Barbara A. Shaw, executive director of Hands on Hartford, outside a dormant coal-fired power plant that once powered factories in Hartford's Parkville neighborhood. Plans call for the plant to be renovated, offering space for technology training, a day care and other uses. HBJ PHOTO | MICHAEL PUFFER

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