Blighted Property Near Hartford Ballpark Targeted

HARTFORD, CT — State and city officials Wednesday morning unveiled a state grant announcement that will try and beautify and develop a blighted parcel in the city.

The area targeted for the $6.3 million grant is a long-blighted area just north of downtown Hartford near Dunkin’ Donuts Park between North Crossing and the Clay Arsenal neighborhood.

With the Hartford Yard Goats AA minor league baseball team regularly drawing big summertime crowds, it's hoped this development of a nearby parcel with feed off that energy.

"It's going to be extremely vibrant and gorgeous," said Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Deputy Commissioner Alexandra Daum.

She said the proposed development would feature 43 apartments, 25 percent of them deemed "affordable," 8,500 square feet of ground floor retail space and a plaza area for food trucks to gather or for festivals to utilize.

The Lamont administration’s newly created Connecticut Communities Challenge Grant Program, the City of Hartford, in partnership with the San Juan Center and Carabetta Development, will use the grant for the development.

It will also be used to enhance pedestrian connections in the area.

The governor was joined at the event by Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, Daum, and other local and state officials.

Bronin said the development will break ground "as soon as possible." "We're pushing as fast as we can," he said.

From August to October, applications will be collected from prospective residents, Daum said.

"The goal here is to create housing options," Bronin said.

For Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin's Facebook Page, which features the press conference, click on this link.