East Hartford’s proximity to Hartford and easy access to I-84/I-91 and Connecticut State Routes 2, 5 and 44, coupled with its great lease terms, make it a prime location for growing a business. East Hartford is home to Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, United Technology's Research Center and the Coca Cola Bottling Company, which, combined, employ a total of 9,650 people. The 2005 net taxable grand list is $2,338,955,640.
With the opening of the Connecticut Convention Center and Marriott Hotel in Downtown Hartford, our neighbor across the Connecticut River, East Hartford gains a new focus on development. Major public and private investment by the East Hartford community, the State of Connecticut and others has energized East Hartford and the entire region.
The Rentschler Stadium just off exit 58 of I-84 hosts UCONN Football, World Cup Soccer and other great leisure events. In the past year alone, the stadium has been the site for the US v. Wales rugby match, the US Soccer qualifiers for the World Cup, the All-Star High School football game between CT and RI, and the incomparable Rolling Stones concert just last August.
Rentschler Field, the site on which the stadium stands, is an approximately 920 acre site which includes Pratt & Whitney, United Technologies Research Center, and roughly 700 acres of land once on the former airfield and now open to development. The vision of the site will include research and development, high-tech office, retail, manufacturing, sports medical facilities, residential and recreational facilities. The total build out of the site is estimated to be upwards of 5 to 7 million square feet. The Town of East Hartford, the State of Connecticut and the United Technologies Corporation have been diligently working together on the environmental impacts, and the road and infrastructure improvements needed to accommodate this project. This new development will have a significant impact on both our state and local economies,
bringing in thousands of new jobs, taxes and visitors to the area. Both Cabela’s and the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology are developing plans for new facilities at the site.
Gateway Square, a major development in downtown East Hartford is under construction. On the corner of Main Street, between Connecticut Boulevard and Governor Street, First Merchants Group has started construction on a 50,000sf mixed-use commercial development. The company just completed a 14,400sf free standing pharmacy and has now broken ground on a 21,000sf medical office building, for anchor tenants Walgreens Pharmacy and Saint Francis Hospital respectively. Negotiations are ongoing for a 5,500sf restaurant pad and a free standing 2,500 retail building. This project will significantly enhance the atmosphere on Main Street bringing new jobs and visitors to downtown.
Over the past year there has been significant industrial, commercial and retail investment in East Hartford:
· Hampton Inn Suites was approved in November for a 150 room hotel on the corner of East River Drive and Pitkin Street.
· GH Berlin Oil recently purchased and renovated 42 Rumsey Road, a 60,000sf distribution
center for its new headquarters.
· Baker’s Best Pies expanded its advanced manufacturing space by 26,000sf to Park Avenue.
· Garston Sign and Supply purchased and renovated 570 Tolland Street, a 60,000sf industrial
building.
· Accra Market constructed a new 8,800 retail building on the corner of Tolland Street and
Burnside Avenue
· Brooks Pharmacy built a new 18,000sf building on Burnside Avenue.
· At 36 Main Street, Shampoo One expanded by more than 2000sf.
· Carpets Plus purchased and renovated an 18,000sf industrial building at 19 Franklin Street
· Alert Scientific expanded by more than 5,000sf.
· The Hard Hat Café opened at 775 Silver Lane
· Best Joslin Architects moved to town and opened at 58 Brewer Street
· CME Engineering expanded to Commerce Center in East Hartford, adding 2200sf
· Corporate Translations moved into a new 10,000sf office to house their 50 full-time employees.
Major Planning & Zoning approvals for the fiscal year include:
· Penske Truck Leasing – construction of a 4,840sf garage and parking lot expansion at 283
Burnham St.
· Gengras Realty, LLC – addition of 5,000sf to the Chevrolet dealership at 460 Connecticut
Boulevard
· Fournier’s Landscaping – addition of 1600sf at 33 Sterling Road
· Crossroads Community Cathedral – construction of a 32,208sf addition to this existing house of
worship at 1492 Silver Lane
Other expansions and relocations include Aaron's Rentals, Seemore Realty, Elexio’s Barber Shop, All Wireless and the State Department of Mental Retardation, totaling more than 50,000sf in new leases.
Come join the excitement! To learn more about East Hartford’s many assets please contact our Development Department at (860) 291-7300 or jwebb@ehworks.com
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