Town Faces Challenge Trying to Redevelop Land in Manchester

It has become a bit of a challenge to redevelop a piece of land in Manchester.

The parcel has been bare since 2009 when the town of Manchester purchased the property and tore down the abandoned shopping plaza on the Broad Street piece of land.

Scott Shanley, the general manager of the town, told NBC Connecticut what he wants to see on it.

"The comprehensive plan for that master development envisions medical, educational institutional type uses with associated housing," Shanley said.

But there’s a 1966 cross-easement agreement that’s making it difficult to redevelop the land.

That means any development of the town-owned 17-acre parcel must be in the building footprint of the shopping center that was originally here, that way it doesn’t affect parking for the three abutting properties from three different owners: the Parkade Shopping Center, the Parkade Cinemas and Stop & Shop.

The town can’t overrule that 1966 agreement without consent from the other property owners.

"We’ve been working with the owners of the property I think it’s been very productive. You know these kinds of things take time," Shanely said.

The town said they reached out to the property owners this week about trying to terminate the agreement in hopes that they can move forward with their development.

Residents hope the parcel turns into something.

"That’s pretty interesting bring a lot of people to the city I think that would be good," Abigeille Gordon, of Manchester, said.

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