274 replies to this topic

[beerbeer]

I have a question.

Mixed use is a concept that is widely used that been ignored in Hartford. The idea of lower floors being office space and the upper floors being apartments.  I worked in one of the most famous of these type buildings, the John Hancock Building in Chicago. The original plans for the Cutter Tower was as a mixed use building. Mixed use doesn't have to be a tall tower just big enough for the apartments or condos to make financial sense.

Broadcast House would seem to be a perfect location for mixed use.  Living on the upper floors would provide great city views in every direction. Walk to the river park, walk to work, restaurants etc.

Has any consideration been give to a mixed use building?

[The Voice of Reason]

I am going to post this here because it is relevent and because David W should see it.

Commercial Investment Real Estate Magazine
Office optimism
http://www.ciremagaz...article_id=1277
top 10 markets for forecasted office rent growth

Hartford ranks 9th

Edited by The Voice of Reason, 03 September 2008 - 05:49 PM.

[DanielW]

The Voice of Reason, on Sep 3 2008, 06:24 PM, said:

I am going to post this here because it is relevent and because David W should see it.

Commercial Investment Real Estate Magazine
Office optimism
http://www.ciremagaz...article_id=1277
top 10 markets for forecasted office rent growth

Hartford ranks 9th

Very interesting, indeed --- thanks for the heads up!

DAN (not Dave!) Whittemore
AI Engineers, Inc.

[The Voice of Reason]

DanielW, on Sep 3 2008, 06:55 PM, said:

Very interesting, indeed --- thanks for the heads up!

DAN (not Dave!) Whittemore
AI Engineers, Inc.

appologies...
my memory can be "special" some times

[JayCT]

The Voice of Reason, on Sep 3 2008, 06:24 PM, said:

I am going to post this here because it is relevent and because David W should see it.

Commercial Investment Real Estate Magazine
Office optimism
http://www.ciremagaz...article_id=1277
top 10 markets for forecasted office rent growth

Hartford ranks 9th

Hartford in the top 10?  Wow.  

Saw in todays current that the deal went through and Merideth sold Broadcast House.  Listed at $700k.  can't wait to see what goes there.  Jay

[The Voice of Reason]

DW,

any word on how the current liquidity shortage might affect your plans?

I would love to hear about a viable project making progress during the down market.  If anything gets built during the bad times it bodes quite well for things around here after a recovery begins.

since your project is not market driven, I fugure this should still have some legs.

[DanielW]

VoiceOfReason et al--

All I can say right now is that our project moves forward.  We are very, VERY close to letting you all know what we've got coming up - if all goes according to plan, its going to be hard to NOT to see what we're up to.  As I have stated in the past, it has been very hard to not let my friends here know what has been going on with us but, well, it had to be done.  This phase is almost over, you have my word!

No, I can't say much more regarding the project right now (so don't ask!), but I think you'll be pleased with the results.  Hopefully doubly so.  As usual, I continue to use you all as my daily quick window into what is going on in downtown Hartford - you continue to be a great resource as usual.

I will say - I and others from my organization are going to be hitting the streets very soon (I personally already have a speaking event scheduled in the not-too-distant future), and I look forward to actually meeting some of you out in the real world!

Dan Whittemore
AI Engineers, Inc.

Edited by DanielW, 15 October 2008 - 07:01 PM.

[The Voice of Reason]

DanielW, on Oct 15 2008, 03:17 PM, said:

VoiceOfReason et al--

All I can say right now is that our project moves forward. We are very, VERY close to letting you all know what we've got coming up - if all goes according to plan, its going to be hard to NOT to see what we're up to. As I have stated in the past, it has been very hard to not let my friends here know what has been going on with us but, well, it had to be done. This phase is almost over, you have my word!

No, I can't say much more regarding the project right now (so don't ask!), but as I have stated in the past, you all should be pleased. Hopefully doubly so. As usual, I continue to use you all as my daily quick window into what is going on in downtown Hartford - you continue to be a great resource as usual.

I will say - I and others from my organization are going to be hitting the streets very soon (I personally already have a speaking event scheduled in the not-too-distant future), and I look forward to actually meeting some of you out in the real world!

Dan Whittemore
AI Engineers, Inc.

Thanks for the fast reply DW!

looking forward to the news.
And seriously,  any time you are in Hartford I will try and meet ya for a beer.  I am busy as hell, but have been known to make time for a beer.  just post here and we will see.

[MadVlad]

DanielW, on Oct 15 2008, 04:17 PM, said:

VoiceOfReason et al--
No, I can't say much more regarding the project right now (so don't ask!), but as I have stated in the past, you all should be pleased.  Hopefully doubly so.

So, will we be 5 floors pleased, 11 floors pleased, or 18 floors pleased?

[ConnMan]

"No, I can't say much more regarding the project right now (so don't ask!), but I think you'll be pleased with the results. Hopefully doubly so. "
Dan Whittemore
AI Engineers, Inc.


Two buildings?!?

[Chessplayer]

ConnMan, on Oct 16 2008, 09:44 AM, said:

"No, I can't say much more regarding the project right now (so don't ask!), but I think you'll be pleased with the results. Hopefully doubly so. "
Dan Whittemore
AI Engineers, Inc.


Two buildings?!?

Nice pick up.  Maybe twice as high?  Twice the square footage?

[The Voice of Reason]

Really?  

I will just take his words for their simple meaninf and not read too much into them.  If there is some cryptology to that last post I will be happy to be wrong.

I am DOUBLY pleased to hear the current credit cycle is not getting in the way of this company moving to Hartford, and more importantly the redevelopment of this key downtown location.

[jdrct]

Forgive me for a bit of a "dorky" question....as a student of television/broadcasting, I always wanted to tour WFSB, but never got the chance.   Does anybody here have any insight as to the layout of the building when it served as a TV station. Specifically, where were the different on-air studios, newsrooms. I always assumed the main news studio was on the lowest floor, but between the street-level weather center and the garage, I'm not sure where it would fit. Also, did Meredith leave any of the sets in place when they abandoned the building, or is it pretty much cleaned out?  Just curious, since I'll never get a chance to go inside.

Still, it's great to hear about the plans for the site.

[drc72]

MadVlad, on Oct 15 2008, 08:48 PM, said:

So, will we be 5 floors pleased, 11 floors pleased, or 18 floors pleased?

Maybe even higher!!!!!

[The Voice of Reason]

In light of what is happening at Front street I just want to say this in simple english.  you asked for what we want to see here and picking brains and stuff so here goes.


knock down what is there and replace it with ANYTHING!!!!  as long as it is at least 4 stories from street level, and has pedestrian friendly street frontage.

yup.  thats it.  I dont care how many floors al long as its more than 3.  3 floors is suburban.  4 stories is more urban   and street frontage.  real interaction for pedestrians.  

[ConnMan]

The problem with Columbus Blvd in the area of Broadcast House is that the buildings on the east side of the street have zero potential for retail at the street level. The first floor of those buildings are parking garages. Terrible urban design, which will make redevelopment in that area difficult to implement. That whole section of Columbus is a dead zone on the weekends.

[The Voice of Reason]

ConnMan, on Oct 24 2008, 08:21 AM, said:

The problem with Columbus Blvd in the area of Broadcast House is that the buildings on the east side of the street have zero potential for retail at the street level. The first floor of those buildings are parking garages. Terrible urban design, which will make redevelopment in that area difficult to implement. That whole section of Columbus is a dead zone on the weekends.

Yes, but a city is not built over night.  it is also not built all at once.  it is built piece by piece over time, and if this one peice can incorporate a positive pedestrian interaction, it is yet another small step forward in this marathon of recovery.

As other pieces fall into place, the older buildings will concider renovations to join the progress.  The Uconn school of business has gone halfway to contributing.  all it needs now is to make the open the ground floor to retail and allow people to see whats happening behind those smoked out windows.  piece by piece.

[Chessplayer]

The Voice of Reason, on Oct 24 2008, 10:38 AM, said:

Yes, but a city is not built over night.  it is also not built all at once.  it is built piece by piece over time, and if this one peice can incorporate a positive pedestrian interaction, it is yet another small step forward in this marathon of recovery.

Nor should it be built all at once.  Piece by piece development encourages diversity of residents, uses, etc - the hallmark of a true city.

The city could approximate this sort of development simply by shrinking the lot sizes.

Edited by Chessplayer, 24 October 2008 - 11:37 AM.

[mikel]

The Voice of Reason, on Oct 24 2008, 10:38 AM, said:

Yes, but a city is not built over night.  it is also not built all at once.  it is built piece by piece over time, and if this one peice can incorporate a positive pedestrian interaction, it is yet another small step forward in this marathon of recovery.

As other pieces fall into place, the older buildings will concider renovations to join the progress.  The Uconn school of business has gone halfway to contributing.  all it needs now is to make the open the ground floor to retail and allow people to see whats happening behind those smoked out windows.  piece by piece.

Speaking of the UConn business school, I walked in there once to see the new store after they closed the UConn Co-Op on Pratt St.    I was told at the security desk that it's only for students.   You would think they could make a a little business at least by selling some office supplies to all the nearby workers.   Also, I bought some other things on Pratt St. like an Ipod charger.    The campus is very insular unfortunately.     At least Capital's store is open to the public, although prices are cheaper at CVS and FedEx Office.

[The Voice of Reason]

mikel, on Oct 24 2008, 11:47 AM, said:

Speaking of the UConn business school, I walked in there once to see the new store after they closed the UConn Co-Op on Pratt St. I was told at the security desk that it's only for students. You would think they could make a a little business at least by selling some office supplies to all the nearby workers. Also, I bought some other things on Pratt St. like an Ipod charger. The campus is very insular unfortunately. At least Capital's store is open to the public, although prices are cheaper at CVS and FedEx Office.

Yeah I would love to see the store and maybe a bit more of a books atore sitting right there under the tiker.  those windown take away from an otherwide high potential street.  mind you its 1000x better than the loading docks across the street.