Visions For Vacancies: What Business Should Go Here?

Periodically, Suffield Patch will highlight a vacant commercial property and ask you to tell us what you think would be the best use for it.

Forget what zone it’s in, ignore setback regulations, dump lot coverage rules and all the other zoning jargon that puts most people to sleep. If you had your way, what would you like to see there? What would be the best use for the community?

Today we are featuring a 56-acre parcel at 1760 Mapleton Avenue, close to the Massachusetts border and Six Flags Amusement Park. Formerly known as Hilltop Manor, the property was converted in 1963 into Saint Alphonsus College. In more recent years, it served as home to the Connecticut Culinary Institute.

About this column: In featuring vacant buildings in Suffield, we aim to help residents take a proactive role in planning and building their community. We’ll take your feedback to public officials and property owners, to inform their decisions about future uses. Know of a vacant building we should highlight? Tell us in the comments below, or e-mail tim.jensen@patch.com.