Demolition has started for the former New Britain Police Department.
The Columbus Boulevard Building has been vacant for about three years. City and state leaders hope to revitalize this area.
The building is being torn down because it is filled with asbestos. The current police department building is on Chestnut Street.
The asbestos removal will take about three months. It will take one month to demolish the building and prepare the area, which will cost about $2.9 million.
“It’s right next to our downtown area. It’s seconds away from a hotel. There’s so much opportunity that can be had here on this old police station site,” Said New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart.
The site is about two acres.
Mayor Stewart hopes the future of the area will be a more lively one.
“So I’m thinking first floor retail, upper above apartments, that ties into a larger parcel that’s behind us right now which can become a large development,” Said Mayor Stewart.
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Just a few blocks away from the 47-year-old building is a stop for CT Fastrak.
Department of Transportation officials said ridership expectations have already doubled; they hope the transit will help spur new development.
“This particular location has always been on our radar as a prime piece of property on the entire corridor for the kind of development that really works well with a high frequency transit systems like CT FastTrak,” Said Jim Redeker, Department of Transportation Commissioner.
Proposals to develop the area will be accepted starting in a month.
