Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM| JANUARY 9, 2023 11 5 TO WATCH Martin Kenny, owner of Hartford-based Lexington Partners, inside the former sanctuary at the Sisters of St. Joseph convent property in West Hartford. Kenny and partners are converting much of the property into housing. HBJ PHOTO | MICHAEL PUFFER Prolific Hartford area developer Kenny will debut, kick-start major apartment projects in 2023 By Michael Puffer mpuffer@hartfordubusiness.com L ong one of Connecticut's most prominent multifamily developers, Martin J. Kenny and his business partners in 2023 will deliver hundreds of apartments in West Hartford and begin work on hundreds more in Cromwell. Kenny, owner of Hartford-based real estate investment and devel- opment group Lexington Partners, has had a hand in developing more than 2,000 apartments in 18 signifi- cant projects over a career spanning more than three decades. Now, the 66-year-old developer is working with two of his adult sons — Patrick and Kevin Kenny — and is ready for additional ambitious projects, he said. "I worked for my father and now I have both of my sons working with me," Kenny said. "All of the sudden I got rejuvenated." Also by his side is his longtime business partner and friend Alan Lazowski, head of the LAZ Parking empire and a prominent investor. Lazowski has invested in each of Ken- ny's multifamily projects since 2006. Recent successes Kenny and Lazowski stood shoul- der-to-shoulder with Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and other dignitaries on Nov. 10 for a ribbon-cutting cele- brating completion of a $9.1-million conversion of 42 rental townhouses in downtown Hartford into 86 apartments. Kenny and Lazowski partnered with Shelbourne Global Solutions — the city's largest landlord — on the project, dubbed the Sage Allen Apartments. The three were also partners in a conversion of office buildings on nearby historic Pratt Street. They transformed 196 Trumbull St. into 32 apartments with 6,000 square feet of first-floor retail space in a project completed in 2021. A similar conver- sion of 99 Pratt St., into 97 apart- ments above 12,000 square feet of retail space, is just now wrapping up. A far larger project will come to fruition in 2023 as Kenny completes a $70-million development of 292 apartments at the 22-acre Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery convent in West Hartford. Avon-based Corridor Ventures is the primary investor in the project. Kenny said he anticipates finish- ing conversion of the century-old convent building into 92 apart- ments around late March. A roughly 46,000-square-foot section of this building has been reserved for 70 nuns remaining with the order. Kenny has a right of first refusal should they decide to sell. The remaining 200 apartments, expected to be completed in June, are being added in a modern building nestled against the historic convent. The development, titled "One Park," at the corner of Park Road and Prospect Avenue, will have a rooftop deck, saltwater pool and community center, along with other amenities. Meanwhile, Kenny has two other projects ready for launch in 2023. In Cromwell, Kenny and Lazowski are partnered with California-based investment management firm M360 Advisors in a $100-million redevel- opment of the shuttered and decay- ing Red Lion Hotel property. The plan is to knock down the hotel and replace it with a mixed-use development of 254 apartments, 20 townhomes and 30,000 square feet of commercial space, Kenny said. The property will offer residents numerous amenities and could include a high-end restaurant. The Cromwell project has passed through local land-use boards. After securing approval from the State Traffic Commission and a tax-abate- MARTIN J. KENNY Founder Lexington Partners Education: Boston University; University of Bridgeport/Quinnip- iac University School of Law, law degree Age: 66

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