West Hartford has received two grants through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program.

By Ronni Newton

The construction of a Transit-Oriented Development project on New Park Avenue and assessment of expansion space for Park Road businesses have both received significant support from the state following the announcement by Gov. Ned Lamont on June 12 that West Hartford was awarded two grants through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Brownfield Remediation and Development Program.

The two West Hartford grants include $688,000 to support the demolition and remediation of 579 New Park Avenue, a 1.21-acre site that the Hexagon Group plans to develop into The Jayden. When complete, the five-story building will include 70 units of housing and 1,500 square feet of ground floor retail.

The other grant is for “assessment activities of the former A.C. Petersen Ice Cream Production Facility, a 1.02-acre site located at 240 Park Road.” The grant announcement notes that the “assessment and subsequential cleanup will allow the building’s existing businesses, including the Playhouse on Park, a performing arts theater, to expand into the environmentally affected areas which have been unused or underused for several decades.”

A former ice cream production facility is located on the second floor of the building that includes Playhouse on Park and A.C. Petersen Farm. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

The DECD Brownfield Remediation and Development grants – to support returning blighted or contaminated properties to productive use – are applied for by towns or other municipal authorities, and implemented through a public-private partnership with the property owner/developer.

“We are grateful for the most recent Brownfield grant from the State of Connecticut. This funding will play a pivotal role in supporting the remediation of a key site within our Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) district,” Mayor Shari Cantor said of the award, which will spur the redevelopment project at 579 New Park Avenue that was one of the first approved under the town’s TOD zone.

“We remain deeply committed to responsible growth that meets the needs of our residents at all income levels while enhancing sustainability and walkability in our community. This includes project aligns with our long-term vision to build a more inclusive and connected West Hartford, where everyone has a place to call home,” Cantor added.

The West Hartford Town Council voted unanimously to establish the Transit-Oriented Development District Zone in 2022, a move tabbed “transformational” in achieving the town’s goal of promoting the creation of mixed-use, higher-density, pedestrian-friendly development that activates the streetscape and is accessible to mass transit. The TOD zone is located in the areas directly surrounding the Flatbush Avenue and Elmwood CTfastrak stations, where there is easy access to Hartford as well as Newington and New Britain.

The Jayden has also received $1 million of a total $2 million in funds approved by the State Bond Commission last fall to support affordable housing development projects in transit zones.

“On behalf of The Hexagon Group, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Mayor Cantor and Town Manager Rick Ledwith for assigning [Economic Development Coordinator] Kristen Gorski to assist us with our application. Kristen dedicated countless hours to preparing the materials, and her support was invaluable throughout the process,” said Tommy Li, principal with The Hexagon Group after he learned that the grant had been approved.

“We would also like to thank state Rep. Kate Farrar and the team at the Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development (OBRD) for their continued support and guidance. This grant enables us to bring a meaningful development to a neighborhood where many of our partners were raised and educated. With the town’s planned street improvements, proximity to public transportation, and the expanded Trout Brook Trail, future residents will enjoy a vibrant, connected live/work lifestyle,” added Li.

Rendering of The Jayden. Courtesy of The Hexagon Group

The Park Road area project has also received prior support from the state. In December 2024, the State Bond Commission approved a grant to support Playhouse on Park’s goals of expansion, including architectural and engineering costs associated with expanding the Playhouse into space located on the second floor of its existing building.

Playhouse on Park currently leases a roughly 7,000-square-foot space at 244 Park Road that’s one of four commercial condominiums in an industrial building constructed in 1929, originally occupied by the entire A.C. Petersen Farms dairy operation. Three of the condominiums – including the space the Playhouse occupies – are now owned by Catherine Denton, who also owns and operates the A.C. Petersen Farms restaurant in a portion of the original building. Cricket Press also occupies one of the condominiums.

The roughly 13,000-square-foot space at 240 Park Road, directly above Playhouse on Park – formerly the factory where ice cream was made – is owned by New York-based HPDI LLC, which until about five years ago used it as an auxiliary location for manufacture of its Ronnybrook brand ice cream. Since then, the space has been vacant.

Vacant space on the second floor, above the Playhouse on Park theater, which was formerly an ice cream plant. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

“I want to thank Governor Lamont, the Department of Economic and Community Development, and the Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development for their continued partnership and support. Together, we are helping West Hartford thrive –economically, socially, and environmentally,” Cantor said.

Members of West Hartford’s legislative delegation also weighed in with thanks for the grants.

“I am grateful to the governor for awarding West Hartford these grants. This is a great opportunity to support housing growth and business expansion in town,” said Farrar (D-West Hartford/Newington), who represents the 20th District which includes the future Jayden. “New Park Avenue continues to develop as a vibrant area of our town and this grant will facilitate more needed housing options near transit and business.”

“This grant program is a great example of leveraging state dollars to clean-up blighted properties and attract economic growth, create housing, and invest in our communities,” said state Sen. Derek Slap (D-West Hartford/Farmington/Burlington/Bloomfield). “I am grateful for this funding and look forward to seeing these projects progress and better serve our town.”

State Rep. Tammy Exum (D-West Hartford/Avon), said,  “I am excited about the improvement of unused areas around the former A.C. Petersen Ice Cream facility as well as the 70-unit mixed-use housing development on New Park Avenue. These projects will help our town remain one of the most vibrant places to live, work and visit in the state. I want to thank DECD and its Brownfield Remediation and Development Program for recognizing West Hartford.”

“The Town of West Hartford has a proven track record of repurposing our land and buildings,” said state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford). “I am grateful to the state for this investment and look forward to seeing how these two projects positively impact our community.”

“Securing state funding to replace an existing building with 70 new residential units is a major win for West Hartford,” added state Rep. James Sánchez (D -West Hartford, Hartford). “This project restores vitality to the neighborhood and creates new housing opportunities for individuals and families at a time when they’re desperately needed.”

A total of $18.8 million in grants have been awarded for assessment and/or remediation of 227 acres of land throughout the state – 23 properties in 19 different towns.

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