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Despite Problems, New Hartford Ballpark Sparking Development

Hartford Yard GoatsIt was sold as a project that would spur development in Hartford’s Downtown North area, and despite the many construction woes that delayed its opening by a year, it appears Dunkin’ Donuts Park, home of the Hartford Yard Goats (Class AA; Eastern League) is fulfilling that promise.

Virtually all the headlines surrounding the ballpark in the last month has centered on the inability of developers DoNo Hartford LLC and Centerplan Construction Co. to open the ballpark on time and the subsequent firing of the firms. With the ballpark slated to finally open in April, attention is now turning to the reason why the city got involved in funding a new ballpark in the first place: spurring development in Downtown North.

And the news isn’t all bad. DoNo Hartford LLC and Centerplan Construction Co. are still the developers of record for the 16-acre ballpark site, and obviously the issues with the construction — as well as pending litigation — are clouding the issue. Past those 16 acres and there are signs of development in the area, per the Hartford Courant:

Meanwhile, however, the construction of the ballpark and the plans for the area are sparking new development outside the core Downtown North, or DoNo, area.

The owners of the nearby Radisson Hotel are combining guest rooms on the top nine floors of the 18-story hotel into apartments. The $19.5 million project will create 96 rentals, some of which will overlook Dunkin’ Donuts Park. The first apartments are expected to be ready by this summer.

Hotel owner Inner Circle U.S. said the apartment project was planned prior to the plans for the stadium, but the ballpark helped sell the idea of rentals to Inner Circle’s lenders.

One sign of success: parking may be scarce in the area.

RELATED STORIES: Hartford, Centerplan File for MediationProgress Made on Dunkin’ Donuts ParkDunkin’ Donuts Park Part of Lawsuit Between Arch, CenterplanConstruction Resumes at Dunkin’ Donuts ParkCenterplan Documents Dunkin’ Donuts Park; Work May Resume;  Centerplan Files Suit to Prevent Dunkin’ Donut Park Construction WorkWork to Resume Next Week on Dunkin’ Donuts ParkDeveloper Sued by Contractor in HartfordArch to Takeover Dunkin’ Donuts Park CompletionAudit Shows Rising Costs in Hartford;  McEachern to Hartford: Finish the Ballpark!Hartford Mayor: No Thanks to Solomon’s Financial OfferYard Goats Release 2017 Sched; Solomon Offers to Pay for Ballpark WorkIFG: Over 180 Issues With Dunkin’ Donuts Park;Contractor: We Could Resume Hartford Ballpark in SeptemberWork Set to Resume on New Hartford BallparkYard Goats Bring up Possibility of Leaving HartfordDunkin’ Donuts Park Will Not Open for 2016 SeasonFinally: Dunkin’ Donuts Park Spat Ends Up in CourtHartford, Team May Finish New Yard Goats BallparkHartford Rejects Settlement OfferHartford Developer Pitches Ballpark Completion PlanFire Watch Unfolding at Dunkin’ Donuts ParkYard Goats Lay Off Four in Wake of Ballpark BreakdownNew Hartford Ballpark Now InsuredHartford Ballpark Uninsurable After Developer BootedCenterplan CEO: City Recklessly Terminated ContractYard Goats to Play Two Home Series in BinghamtonTensions, Schedule Changes in HartfordHartford Stadium Authority Cancels Contract with DeveloperWhen Will Hartford Ballpark Be Done? No One is SayingLegal Issues Could Prevent Hartford Ballpark Opening This Season

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