Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JUNE 10, 2024 17 Building Ideas That Work... We're Connecticut's industry leader in the Design/Build delivery of projects providing full service in-house engineering and general contracting. For more than 80 years, we've provided quality and reliability with design and energy efficient construction. We're prepared to work with you all the way from concept to occupancy. We would love to discuss your project with you. Phone: (860) 482-7613 Email: sales@borghesibuilding.com Website: borghesibuilding.com Address: 2155 East Main Street, Torrington, CT Project Spotlight: Mizu 21 Building Ideas That Work... CROWLEY FORD, PLAINVILLE SULLIVAN HONDA, TORRINGTON Contact us at 860.482.7613 or visit us at BorghesiBuilding.com 2155 East Main Street Torrington, Connecticut 06790 © 2011 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing ™ is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. SULLIVAN JEEP, TORRINGTON No matter what brand of vehicle you purchase, you want to be sure that it is reliable. Choosing a builder should be no different. For more than 80 years, Borghesi Building & Engineering Co., Inc. has provided quality and reliability with design and energy efficient construction. With on time construction, Borghesi Building & Engineering Co., Inc. will create a smooth transition from construction to completion. Building Ideas That Work... CROWLEY FORD, PLAINVILLE SULLIVAN HONDA, TORRINGTON Contact us at 860.482.7613 or visit us at BorghesiBuilding.com 2155 East Main Street Torrington, Connecticut 06790 © 2011 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing ™ is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. SULLIVAN JEEP, TORRINGTON No matter what brand of vehicle you purchase, you want to sure that it is reliable. Choosing a builder should be no different. For more than 80 years, Borghesi Building & Engineering Co., Inc. has provided quality and reliability with design and energy efficient construction. With on time construction, Borghesi Building & Engineering Co., Inc. will create a smooth transition from construction to completion. Building Ideas That Work... CROWLEY FORD, PLAINVILLE SULLIVAN HONDA, TORRINGTON Contact us at 860.482.7613 or visit us at BorghesiBuilding.com 2155 East Main Street Torrington, Connecticut 06790 © 2011 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing ™ is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. SULLIVAN JEEP, TORRINGTON No matter what brand of vehicle you purchase, you want to sure that it is reliable. Choosing a builder should be no different. For more than 80 years, Borghesi Building & Engineering Co., Inc. has provided quality and reliability with design and energy efficient construction. With on time construction, Borghesi Building & Engineering Co., Inc. will create a smooth transition from construction to completion. connecting riders from Amtrak and Metro-North lines. Other towns with new train stations — like New Britain and Berlin — have seen tens of millions of dollars in adjacent public or private develop- ment projects, from new roads, side- walks and infrastructure to mixed-use housing and retail complexes. Enfield is hoping to attract similar transit-oriented development, with the goal of creating a more vibrant, "live, work, play" feel in town, officials said. More than $3 million in funding will support public streetscape and utility improvements around the Enfield station, including upgrades to sidewalks, roadways, lighting and parking, Marcavitch said. Additionally, he said the nearby Connecticut River is a massively underused resource in Enfield, and he's hoping the planned develop- ment projects can spur revitalization along the waterfront. "We'll try to unlock dollars, to get out there and rally for these projects," he said. "Many parcels are owned by the town, or involve the town, so leadership is really hoping these will move the needle." Paving the way for housing A senior housing project conceptu- alized two years ago would redevelop the Felician Sisters' Our Lady of the Angels Convent campus, which sits on nearly 30 acres at 1297 Enfield St. An initial zone change proposed by Boston-based The Community Builders, which would have allowed more than 300 housing units on-site, faced opposition from local residents concerned about the project's scale and was rejected by the town. However, this past April, the Enfield Planning and Zoning Commission made an amendment allowing for elderly housing in the convent area via special permit approval. A new redevelopment plan, which hasn't officially been submitted to town land-use boards, will scale down the original concept by calling for 45 units reserved for lower-income residents ages 62 and older. Proponents of the new plan said it would bring much-needed senior housing to Enfield and find a suitable reuse of the convent campus. Right track Poland, of Goman+York, said each project has its benefits, but one clearly has the greatest potential for economic impact and smart reuse. "At the end of the day, the mall is the standout site," he said. "It's past its prime and underperforming, it's in a highly visible area and will be an anchor to the community with its potential for housing and critical mass." Drew Snyder, pres- ident of Woodsonia, said traditional malls have "a broken busi- ness model" and are struggling to compete with large online retailers like Amazon. Large malls are often centrally located and prime for mixed-use redevelopment, Snyder said. However, the project, which is only in the design phase, is far from a sure bet. The redevelopment hinges on at least $20 million in state funding to help pay for construction. It will also require numerous government approvals. The town has been eyeing a mixed-use redevelopment of the mall since at last 2018, Marcavitch said. "So, the idea of housing, retail, walkability, maybe hotels, restau- rants, having an improved mix, better circulation, better connection, is right on target," he said. The town supports Woodsonia's redevelopment proposal, and will seek funding from the state Depart- ment of Economic and Community Development's Community Invest- ment Fund to help make the project a reality. The town has also approved a local property tax break, giving the mall site a $7.3 million tax assess- ment for 10 years along with a credit enhancement agreement. "That's the best and most viable option for that site," Poland said of the redevelopment proposal. "Time and time again, with retail, whether it's malls or strip plazas, big box retail, they are scaling back on the amount of retail; rightsizing is a common strategy." These four projects alone won't completely transform Enfield, Poland said, but they will put the town on the right track, with a focus on multifamily development and creating a more vibrant, walkable community. Drew Snyder 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 ENFIELD'S NET GRAND LIST Note: The grand list is the aggregate value of taxable property within a town. | Source: CT Office of Policy & Management/CT Data Collaborative $4B $3.5B $3B $2.5B NET GRAND LIST

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