Major Berlin Housing/Commercial Development Complete, Ribbon-Cutting This Week

BERLIN, CT — Construction of the Steele Center development near the Berlin Train Station has been completed, adding dozens of apartments and commercial space to the town's central business district.

Newport Realty Group LLC announced it has received a certificate of occupancy for the fourth and final building planned for the transit-oriented development along Farmington Avenue.

The final building, at 55 Steele Blvd., was completed at the end of August. The three-story, elevator-served property contains 52 apartments, including studios and one- and two-bedroom units.

The apartments include market-rate housing as well as affordable units priced for households earning 60% and 80% of the area median income.

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 16, at noon at 55 Steele Blvd.

“The Steele Center project has helped rejuvenate our downtown and bring new energy and investment to the heart of Berlin,” Berlin Mayor Mark Kaczynski said. “Our partnership with Newport Realty Group is a testament to what can be accomplished when local government and the private sector work together. We are proud to see this vision become a reality.”

Housing, Commercial Space Added

The Steele Center includes four buildings near the train station.

The mixed-use building at 9 Steele Blvd. has about 8,500 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and an outdoor patio that can accommodate dining. Its second and third floors contain 16 market-rate one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Another mixed-use building, at 10 Steele Blvd., includes about 7,200 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. Its second floor has four apartments — two one-bedroom and two two-bedroom units.

A third building is a roughly 1,650-square-foot coffee and bagel shop with an outdoor patio.

With the completion of the 52-unit building, the four-building development has a total of 72 residential units, along with commercial and restaurant space.

The project received funding from several public and private sources.

The final building was funded in part through the Capitol Region Council of Governments' Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The overall Steele Center development was primarily financed by Thomaston Savings Bank, according to Newport Realty Group.

The 55 Steele Blvd. project also received financing through Build For CT, a program sponsored by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority.

“Representatives from the Town of Berlin have worked tirelessly for many years transforming this former industrial rail sector into this mixed-use Transit-Oriented Development,” Capitol Region Council of Governments Executive Director Matt Hart said.

Thomaston Savings Bank President and CEO Stephen Lewis called completion of the development “an important milestone.”

“The Newport team did an outstanding job transforming the entire site, and it has been impressive to see the vision for the Steele Center come to life,” Lewis said.

More Housing Under Construction Nearby

Newport Realty Group also owns two other properties near the Berlin Train Station.

The company owns 861 Farmington Ave., a two-story mixed-use property containing a ground-floor commercial tenant and one two-bedroom apartment.

It also owns Newport Center at 848 Farmington Ave., a three-story mixed-use building with about 8,700 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and 16 apartments on its upper floors.

Newport is now constructing another 10 two-bedroom apartments in an oversized parking area at 848 Farmington Ave.

Those units are expected to be ready for occupancy during the fourth quarter of 2026, according to the company.

Five of the 10 apartments will be affordable units priced based on 80% of area median income. The project received a grant from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.

Newport Realty Group principals Tony Valenti and Mark Lovley said the company remains optimistic about its investments around the Berlin Train Station and its partnerships with the town, Thomaston Savings Bank, and state and regional organizations.

For more information on the Steele Center development in Berlin, click on this link.