www.HartfordBusiness.com • December 11, 2017 • Hartford Business Journal 9
PDS has been meeting
the needs of the
construction industry
since 1965. Our
dedicated team of
design and construction
professionals welcomes
the challenge of serving
its past and future
customers on their most
demanding projects.
Family Dollar | Wethersfield, Connecticut
PDS was selected as Design Build General Contractor
to renovate the existing 20,000 square foot building
and to construct a 10,000 square foot addition. This
retail facility includes a Family Dollar and 5 additional
tenant spaces for future businesses. Brick veneer and
EIFS was a substantial component to the exterior
construction of the building.
Project Size: 30,000 SF
107 Old Windsor Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
(860) 242-8586 | Fax (860) 242-8587
www.pdsec.com
DESIGN BUILDERS • GENERAL CONTRACTORS • CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS
SPOTLIGHT ON: Retail
PDS ENGINEERING &
CONSTRUCTION, INC.
THINK • PLAN • BUILD
and he's encouraged by the state's and
city's efforts to revitalize the city. He points
to the relocation of more than 2,000 state
employees to nearby Connecticut River
Plaza, UConn's new downtown campus
presence, and the opening of Dunkin' Do-
nuts Park as signs of transformation.
"Hartford has a lot of runway in front of
it to continue to grow," he said, noting com-
mercial property pricing is much cheaper
and financing is more readily available in
Hartford than in the region's other major
metropolitan centers.
"It's difficult to have a huge impact on
New York City, but we felt like we could in
Hartford," Ravetz said.
CDRA's Freimuth said he is also encour-
aged by the signs that he sees. "In the past
five years, we've seen five new coffee shops
open downtown," he said. "These are small
entrepreneurial efforts capitalizing on a
changing environment downtown."
He notes that Spectra's Wired Café
opened under a building that was empty
for 17 years and now houses more than
200 residents.
"These [converted] buildings are chang-
ing from empty shells into performing
rental properties," Freimuth said. "And (they)
have added about $1 million to the city's tax
revenues, not to mention the discretionary
income from tenants to support downtown
restaurants, retailers and entertainment."
Ravetz said he also wants Spectra Wired
Café to be a community partner.
"We want to help local artists display
their art, and have local musicians play," he
said. "We want to be an integral part of the
community and its growth."
Spectra Wired
Café (above and
below) has a
modern look with
ample seating.
Spectra Boutique Apartments
also has a basketball court.
WINNERS FROM
OUR PAST ClassES!
Dr. Shelley Best
Jody Ferrer
Susan Herbst
Jill Hummel
Paddy LeShane
Bonnie Malley
Kristen Roberts
Doris Sugarman
Nancy Wheeler
Teresa Younger
NOMINATION DEADLINE:
February 6th, 2018
ISSUE DATE:
April 2nd, 2018
EVENT DATE:
May 10th, 2018
LOOKING TO DISCOVER
OUR NEXT CLASS
2018 NOMINATIONS
NOW OPEN
go to www.HartfordBusiness.com/ourevents, click
on Women in Business to submit your nomination.
Contact Amy Orsini at
aorsini@hartfordbusiness.com or
860-236-9998 X134 with questions.
