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12 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JANUARY 9, 2023 5 TO WATCH ment agreement with the town, the project should be ready to launch with hotel demolition in the first quar- ter of 2023, Kenny said. After that, he's hopeful to begin construction mid-year and finish 18 to 24 months later. The first few months of 2023 could also see Kenny launch an $11-million conversion of a 20,000-square-foot former courthouse in quaint Litchfield into a 20-room micro hotel. A limited liability company controlled by Kenny and Lazowski will own 90% of the venture. The remaining 10% will be vested with Salt Hotels, which will also manage hotel operations. "It's a really great group," Kenny said of Salt. "They have people that follow them and go to their hotels all over the country." Kenny expects to begin the court- house redevelopment in early 2023 and finish 15 months later. Kenny said he has other proj- ects under consideration that could launch in 2023. A varied career Kenny's father, Maurice, was an electrical contractor turned devel- oper. Maurice and Maureen Kenny moved their family from Long Island to Glastonbury when Martin was 11. After high school, Kenny attended Boston University — just a year behind Howard Stern. After gradua- tion in 1978, Kenny went to work in politics, starting with a Massachu- setts gubernatorial campaign, then for a Connecticut congressman, then a U.S. senator from Florida. He ended his political career and went to law school at the University of Bridgeport after working on a failed Connecticut gubernatorial campaign. While in law school, Kenny said he began helping his dad work on long- term land leases and legal agree- ments that bound investors. After graduation in 1983, he worked for the Society for Savings Bank in Hartford. He joined his father's development firm, the Lexington Co., full time in 1985. From his time in politics, Kenny had learned how to connect with political decision-makers as well as gauge and respond to public sen- timent — useful tools for a devel- oper whose projects often require approval from local boards that also listen to resident concerns. At the Society for Savings, Kenny learned how commercial real estate deals were constructed and invest- ment pools developed. He also saw first-hand how deals could stumble. At the time Kenny went to work with his father, Maurice Kenny was partnered with Simon Konover Co. on a renovation of the former G. Fox retail tower in downtown Hartford into a mixed-use office building and 1,200-space parking garage. Kenny was charged with helping find a parking operator. Most observ- ers expected the job would go to Hartford's dominant parking operator at the time, Schwartz Parking. But Kenny and his father were ulti- mately sold by the persistence and energy of a young up-and-comer, Alan Lazowski, who, as Kenny put it: "Could sell ice to the Eskimos." But the decision wasn't made on faith alone. Lazowski had to come up with a $5 million letter of credit to close the deal, Kenny said. "For him to come up with a $5 mil- lion letter of credit was a big ask and it stressed him out," Kenny said. "He had to do some scrambling. He had some benefactors help him out. Ultimately, it was a home run for him and his career took off." Kenny and Lazowski became friends. In 2006, they partnered on a $12-million conversion of a former textile mill in Glastonbury into 55 apartments. The partnership went so well that Lazowski has been an investor and partner in all of Ken- ny's subsequent multifamily con- struction projects. The pair also share controlling interests in Lexington Property Man- agement and InnoConn Construc- tion Management. Kenny said Lazowski's deep pockets, banking relationships and financial savvy allow the partner- ship to tackle larger projects. Kenny provides a wealth of experience and development expertise. "He has a great vision," Kenny said. "He and I play off each other. I think he and I make each other better." (Left to right) Lexington Property Management President Christopher P. Reilly, Lexington Partners Owner Martin Kenny and LAZ Parking CEO Alan Lazowski at a recent ribbon cutting ceremony for the redeveloped Sage Allen Apartments. HBJ PHOTO | MICHAEL PUFFER REGISTER TODAY GO TO >> HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM/HBJ-EVENTS/BPTW GO TO >> WWW.BESTPLACESTOWORKCONNECTICUT.COM Event Partner: CELEBRATE WITH US! MARCH 2, 2023 | 5PM-8PM AQUA TURF CLUB