Plans Announced For Howard Johnson Property In Milford

MILFORD, CT — The concrete towers and former Howard Johnson property will be demolished to make way for a new car dealership in Milford.

The Planning and Zoning Board approved a plan to put a Genesis car dealership at the former Howard Johnson hotel site, located at 1040 Boston Post Road. The parcel that contains the former Friendly's restaurant will be merged into a single parcel.

The project consists of demolishing the Howard Johnson and the unfinished staircase towers of the aborted Fairfield Inn project. The site will be the home of a 24,600 square foot showroom and car repair area along with 286 parking spaces.

Developers for the project told the Planning and Zoning Board they plan to recycle concrete and rebar from the demolition.

The dealership will be owned by Key Automotive Group, which also owns Key Hyundai of Milford, Key Chevrolet of Middletown and Key Hyundai of Manchester. Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury vehicle line.

The Genesis dealership will be the fifth approved in the entire country and the only standalone Genesis dealership in Connecticut, said Chuck Dortenzio, director of operations for the Key Automotive Group.

“We fell in love with them the first time we walked them,” Dorentzio said of the property sites. “And despite the fact that there are no financial incentives available here, as there are in some communities, we want to build in Milford.”

Separately, the Key Automotive Group also has a purchase and sale agreement in place for the adjoining 990 Boston Post Road property, which was the former home of Hooter’s restaurant. The plan is to eventually develop the property for another business, but to keep it consistent with the luxury theme of the nearby Genesis property, Dorentzio said.

“We’re going to work very, very hard to make sure that the rest of the development, the rest of the property looks appropriate for the customer and the clientele that’s going to be coming to this location,” he said.