Amid Controversy, West Hartford OK's Upscale Apartment Project

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Citing the Blue Back Square retail/commercial development, West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor says major projects never come without controversy.

So it was no surprise Cantor, along with six other West Hartford Town Council colleagues, said "yes" to a massive, 172-unit luxury apartment complex to replace the former site of a beloved children's museum in town, much to the chagrin of some community critics present.

Technically speaking, the council voted 7-2 last week in favor of a residential zone change within the town's "special development district."

This paves the way for the apartment complex, a situation that requires council approval in West Hartford before the zoning board takes over.

But the reality — after four and a half hours of public hearing testimony, comments and presentations Oct. 12 — was the town's top elected body was debating the future of West Hartford and how it wants to see itself.

For Cantor, a Democrat, the matter was about progress, diversifying a tax base and, simply, not being fearful of change in town, change some say is a necessity if the community is to grow and prosper.

"If we don't do some of the big things, we will stay still," Cantor said prior to the council vote. "We have to keep moving our town forward and to be the best that we can be."

What was decided

Before a series of impassioned remarks for and against the proposal, local leaders heard an in-depth presentation from West Hartford Partners LLC, the development arm of Continental Properties, which plans to build the 172-unit apartment building at 950 Trout Brook Drive.

According to plans, the development would be over 3.9 acres at the site, which also includes a portion of 125 Kingswood Road.

The developer is planning to purchase the site from the private Kingswood Oxford School and is seeking the zone change as part of the process.

So far, the developers have received approvals from some advisory land-use committees, as well as the town's wetlands board (which is the plan and zoning commission in West Hartford).

Following the council's vote, the developers will need to get project specifics approved by the plan and zoning commission through a separate process.

For decades, the address was the site of the beloved West Hartford Children's Museum, which left the location in early September for a temporary site at a West Hartford synagogue.

While the iconic whale statue is moving to a nearby trail network for hikers to enjoy, the museum is actively seeking a new, permanent location in the area.

"From day one, we have recognized the importance of the property to the Town of West Hartford," said Hartford-based land-use attorney Tim Hollister, who represents the developers.

During the hearing, Hollister and a team of project engineers and consultants went over multiple aspects of the proposal, discussing traffic patterns, building components and what, exactly, is being built there.

Vocal opponents

But the proposed upscale apartment project had its share of opponents, especially from those living nearby.

Outlook Avenue resident Michael Cocca said he had both environmental concerns and safety worries associated with the increase in traffic at that site. "I see it as dangerous," he said.

Cocca also said the development didn't have enough pro-environmental features that modern developments have.

"This is an 80s development," he said. "It is not a modern development that represents an environmentally friendly development."

Jeanne Bonner, who also lives on Outlook Avenue, worried about her family's quality of life as a massive apartment project is being built near her property.

"It will upend my family's enjoyment of our property and it will upend our neighborhood," Bonner said, adding one neighbor has already opted to move out because of the development.

Local resident Marina Creed, who lives nearby on Outlook Avenue, cited air pollution concerns from the vehicles coming and going to the site.

She also offered up some criticism of developing a luxury apartment project designed for upscale professionals, a demographic West Hartford is known for having already.

"After watching this presentation, it appears to be a resort," Creed said. "I'm surprised there's not dolphins in the pool."

"This is not a benefit to West Hartford," Creed said. "This is not affordable housing, which we are actually in need of."

Detractors did have some support on the council, with two Republicans on the board — Alberto Cortes and Mary Fay — being the lone dissenters.

For Cortes, while he supported the project on an economic and development standpoint, he couldn't support it given the amount of public opposition evident in the neighborhood.

"Even though this is something I'd like to see more of, I got elected to support the people," Cortes said.

Fay said luxury apartments in West Hartford are common and this particular project is, simply, "really, really big."

"They're springing up everywhere," she said regarding upscale living units. "Is that what we want for West Hartford?"

Public support

West Hartford resident Lee Gold, who lives on Mohawk Drive, cited economic opportunities as his reason for supporting the proposal.

He said the apartment complex represents a chance to increase town tax rolls, with the additional residents able to help out small businesses in town.

"A project such as this is another generational opportunity that we need to embrace as a town moving forward," Gold said.

Windwood Road resident Marc Shafer agreed, adding such a development could keep young, well-paid college graduates from leaving the West Hartford area for the cities.

He said such a scenario has played out in his family.

"I'm here for 100 percent selfish reasons," Shafer said. "I want my kids to come back home."

Shafer said such an apartment complex would attract and keep the twentysomething and thirtysomething professionals in town, plus the complex's proximity to local shopping and recreational sites would be a selling point.

"This is where their world comes together for them," Shafer said.

Council supporters said such a project is needed, saying it would not only keep young professionals locally, but, perhaps, convince them to settle down in West Hartford.

"When I heard about this development, to be honest, I was very excited," said West Hartford Deputy Mayor Liam Sweeney, a Democrat. "I think it is in harmony with the rest of the neighborhood."

Republican Councilman Mark Zydanowicz said this development can give a new direction for West Hartford, one that might actually be financially beneficial to area residents when done in the form of increased property values and added rental income for landlords.

"If we want the same-old, same-old, we'd still be in the 1980s," Zydanowicz said. "We have to evolve. The future of our town needs to evolve. We can't get stuck in the past."

To watch the Oct. 12 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.

To see the minutes of the Oct. 12 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.

From Oct. 7: 'Old Museum Site Development To Go Before West Hartford Council'