Two downtown Hartford development plans that include a new New Britain Rock Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark are under consideration by city officials.
The two plans address the issue of municipal office space, but they differ extensively otherwise: one would add retail and residential, and the other more modest plan would focus on the ballpark and municipal space, per the Hartford Courant:
A group led by New York-based LeylandAlliance and Middletown-based Centerplan has proposed building a ballpark, more than 210,000 square feet of municipal office space, more than 600 residential units, and retail space that features a grocery store.
Boston-based CV Properties LLC submitted a plan that includes a new municipal office building, a ballpark and a garage. The company, which called the proposal a “catalytic project,” said it would partner with other interested developers “to advance the housing and retail components of the project.”
The city expects either proposal to reach the $500-million investment level, but otherwise financials are not being discussed. A new ballpark is expected to cost $60 million, and whether there’s any level of city aid — whether it be some sort of bonding or TIF financing — will be decided down the road.
A third proposal from Thomas Hooker Brewing Company’s Curt Cameron doesn’t actually address funding or building of a ballpark; Cameron expressed interest in building a $10-$15-million brewery next to any new ballpark. A fourth proposal was rejected out of hand by city staff for not meeting guidelines.
The city plans on reviewing the proposals before conducting interviews with developers on Aug. 15-16. The goal is a 2016 ballpark opening.
RELATED STORIES: Four Hartford ballpark developments submitted; New Britain plays hardball with Rock Cats over unpaid property taxes; Hartford pulls public bonding for new Rock Cats ballpark; Backlash emerging against new Hartford ballpark; Hartford: New ballpark already attracting development; Why are Rock Cats moving to Hartford? Follow the money; Hartford ballpark plan: 10,000 capacity, $60M price tag; Rock Cats negotiating move to Hartford: report
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