Manchester's J.C. Penney Center Primed For Facelift, 700 New Jobs

MANCHESTER, CT — The massive J.C. Penney warehouse on Tolland turnpike in Manchester cleared a major regulatory hurdle this week as the local planning and zoning commission endorsed an application from owner Winstanley Enterprises to renovate the property for distribution business that wants to move in by March and bring up to 700 new jobs with it.

The facility at 1339 Tolland Turnpike measures 1.95 million square feet.

According to the application 26 loading docks are among the additions. Parking for 76 trailers and 92 trailer cabs, a replacement for the rubber membrane roof and new state-of-the-art LED lighting are part of the renovation project, according to the plans.

A $40 million plan to spruce up the campus was unveiled when Winstanley bought the building last year for $70 million.

Former property owner J.C. Penney retains about 600,000 square feet in a usage agreement but Winstanley has said it wants to fill the remaining space. The campus features 33,900 square feet of office space. The campus totals 162.48 acres. It was built in the early 1980s, according to Winstanley.