3 Proposals Meet Criteria for Construction of Hartford Ballpark

The mayor's office says a final vote could come as early as next month.

Three of the four proposals submitted to develop Hartford's Downtown North area and build a ballpark there have met the city's criteria, according to a release from the mayor's office Wednesday.

The baseball stadium would host the Rock Cats, provided the team moves forward with a plan to move to Hartford from New Britain.

The eligible candidates include the Bloomfield-based Thomas Hooker Brewing Company, CV Properties LLC, based in Boston, and New York-based Leyland Alliance, in parternship with Middletown's Centerplan.

“We’re excited about the redevelopment of Downtown North and the opportunity to utilize this property to its full potential, while strengthening and expanding the vitality of downtown Hartford,” Mayor Pedro Segarra said in a statement Monday, citing a boost to the economy and more family-friendly activities.

According to the release, two of the three proposals include the construction of a municipal office building, which the mayor's office says was part of the final design plan formulated by residents and city stakeholders.

Hooker brewery said last month it was eyeing plans for a 50,000-square-foot brewery and restaurant at the new Hartford stadium. The mayor's office says the entrance to the new brewery's tasting and event room would be located across the street from the ballpark.

"We are not putting in a master [development] plan but rather we would like to be up and running day one with the ballpark," said Hooker brewery President Curt A. Cameron told NBC Connecticut in an email Monday. "Our feeling is that by creating a fantastic attraction day one, it will help to ignite the spark and create a real excitement about the project and really get the ball rolling."

Leyland Alliance, the main developer of the Storrs Center project near the University of Connecticut, would partner with Centerplan to construct a ballpark, retail area including a grocery store, restaurants, a brewery, 600 residential units and 210,000 square feet of office space, according to the mayor's office.

The proposal also includes street improvements that would make the area friendlier to pedestrians bicycles, and would create additional on-street parking, the release says.

Leyland Alliance spokesperson Howard Kaufman describes the plan as comprehensive.

Boston-based CV Properties would also build a ballpark and municipal building, according to the mayor's office. The company also proposes a parking garage as part of a "catalytic project" to help create additional housing and retail in Downtown North and would partner with other developers to build up the area.

Thomas Deller, director of Development Services for Hartford, said the city will now analyze the proposals to determine which would be the best fit.

The City Council could receive a recommendation in early September and vote on the proposals later in the month, the mayor's office said.

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