IN PROGRESS: Front Street @ Adriaen's Landing

[beerbeer]

I think its impossible to have "sprawl" in six small city blocks.

At his point they just need to fill in the hole between the museum and the CCC. A low rise neighborhood with housing and restaurants would be just fine. The key is to build something self-supporting. Underbuilding this site is less of a sin than overbuilding. There plenty of space to the south to expand if demand proves strong.

Edited July 2, 2006 by beerbeer

[beerbeer]

New news on Front Street?

Take this article with a grain of salt because the Advocate is usually pretty negative and has little expertise outside of music. One thing that makes sense is that the Mayor's office seems clueless.

http://hartfordadvocate.com/gbase/News/con...?oid=oid:160388

[drc72]

One thing that makes sense is that the Mayor's office seems clueless.

No surprize there.

[HartfordTycoon]

[beerbeer]

The Mayor has scared potential developers with his strong armed union tactics. If the Mayor wants to create jobs and a vibrant city, then he has to be impartial. Perez has shown himself to be a union hack. This is an opportunity for him to show he understands what it means to be a big city mayor.

Can he do it? the jury is out.

[redbaron]

Sorry repost, missed the other page...

Edited July 7, 2006 by redbaron

[uconn99]

State Gives Front Street Developer More Time

July 15, 2006

By JEFFREY B. COHEN, Courant Staff Writer While voicing concern that the long-delayed downtown development at Front Street in Hartford is missing deadlines, the state agency that oversees the project gave the developer an additional two months Friday to complete the next phase of the operation: a promise of money from the city.

In February, the state's Capital City Economic Development Authority signed an agreement with Greenwich developer Bradley Nitkin that allows for a phased development of the retail, residential and entertainment district. The project aims to link Adriaen's Landing with the rest of downtown.

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ctfro...headlines-local

[uconn99]

Why can't things get done in Hartford? How hard is it to get things rolling. This has been 6 years in the making.

[drc72]

Great!!! More delays.

[Luca Brasi]

This is exactly what happened with Richard Cohen and Capital Properties.

And this sounded less than promising:

"But progress stalled as Niktin and the state considered overtures by an unnamed party that was interested in the property, state officials said at a meeting Friday morning. "In the end, it did not work out, so now we are refocused back on the original scope," said Michael Cicchetti, spokesman for the authority"

Does this mean that Nitkin was ready to let the project go to another possible developer that showed interest? If so, it doesn't say much about Nitkin's commitment.

Edited July 15, 2006 by Luca Brasi

[TaylorG4444]

I think this best describes how I feel at this point....

[Hartfordfan]

this is getting really annoying. just kick him off and let northland do it.

[drc72]

this is getting really annoying. just kick him off and let northland do it.

Northland did offer to take it over. Why not let them?

[MadVlad]

C'mon guys, let's be real here. More time was obviously needed because 6 years was just not enough. These things don't take hours and days, not do they take weeks and months, they take years and decades. Don't forget, whatever was promised will come true, except for half the residential, most of the retail, and any big name company. You guys think you can just snap your fingers and it happens?

[TaylorG4444]

C'mon guys, let's be real here. More time was obviously needed because 6 years was just not enough. These things don't take hours and days, not do they take weeks and months, they take years and decades. Don't forget, whatever was promised will come true, except for half the residential, most of the retail, and any big name company. You guys think you can just snap your fingers and it happens?

you're being sarcastic, right?

[drc72]

you're being sarcastic, right?

My thoughts exactly.

[uconn99]

My thoughts exactly.

Ofcourse he is.

[SOCOM]

Give the damn thing to Northland already.

[MadVlad]

Sarcasm is my middle name...

[Theophrastus Bombastus]

Come frikkin' on - at least put up the 2nd garage now.

[beerbeer]

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS --- JULY 2006

Eight years, three developers, one name change and many delays have gone by since the Front Street entertainment, retail and residential project at Adriaen's Landing in Hartford was conceived.

So what's another 60-day setback among friends?

Surprisingly, the latest holdup on breaking ground can't be blamed on a developer trying to reduce his financial risk by squeezing more subsidies out of the city or the state Capital City Economic Development Authority.

This time, the project was sidetracked for about two months because an unnamed corporation with designs on expanding its already large presence and workforce in Hartford had approached state officials about revising the existing plans for Front Street to accommodate an office tower on the site.

Believing that the daily presence of hundreds of office workers would make the project that much more successful, current developer Bradley Nitkin and officials at CCEDA spent 60 days redesigning Front Street, only to have the potential tenant reportedly change its mind.

As the plan stands, it once again calls for 200 residential units and 100,000 square feet of retail space to be built in two phases, the first phase being a $31 million project with at least 60 apartments and 43,000 square feet of rentable retail space.

According to an agreement signed in late February, the state is committed to providing $33.5 million of the $75 million to $100 million that the entire project would cost, on condition that Mr. Nitkin negotiate a deal with the city within 120 days for an additional $16 million in cash and tax abatements.

City officials, however, have told Mr. Nitkin he'll have to build the whole project at once if he wants all of their money. They argue that he could finance the first phase with just the amount that the state has already pledged.

The flirtation with the office tower has now pushed the deadline for the deal with the city from late June to Sept. 8.

Having come this far, CCEDA and Mr. Nitkin would do the residents of Hartford a big favor if they would stick to the original concept and not entertain any more ideas from big unnamed corporations. Let's get Front Street off the ground.

Edited July 26, 2006 by beerbeer

[SOCOM]

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS --- JULY 2006

Eight years, three developers, one name change and many delays have gone by since the Front Street entertainment, retail and residential project at Adriaen's Landing in Hartford was conceived.

So what's another 60-day setback among friends?

Surprisingly, the latest holdup on breaking ground can't be blamed on a developer trying to reduce his financial risk by squeezing more subsidies out of the city or the state Capital City Economic Development Authority.

This time, the project was sidetracked for about two months because an unnamed corporation with designs on expanding its already large presence and workforce in Hartford had approached state officials about revising the existing plans for Front Street to accommodate an office tower on the site.

Believing that the daily presence of hundreds of office workers would make the project that much more successful, current developer Bradley Nitkin and officials at CCEDA spent 60 days redesigning Front Street, only to have the potential tenant reportedly change its mind.

As the plan stands, it once again calls for 200 residential units and 100,000 square feet of retail space to be built in two phases, the first phase being a $31 million project with at least 60 apartments and 43,000 square feet of rentable retail space.

According to an agreement signed in late February, the state is committed to providing $33.5 million of the $75 million to $100 million that the entire project would cost, on condition that Mr. Nitkin negotiate a deal with the city within 120 days for an additional $16 million in cash and tax abatements.

City officials, however, have told Mr. Nitkin he'll have to build the whole project at once if he wants all of their money. They argue that he could finance the first phase with just the amount that the state has already pledged.

The flirtation with the office tower has now pushed the deadline for the deal with the city from late June to Sept. 8.

Having come this far, CCEDA and Mr. Nitkin would do the residents of Hartford a big favor if they would stick to the original concept and not entertain any more ideas from big unnamed corporations. Let's get Front Street off the ground.

Hmmm...OK, well at least the delay this time was actually worth it. I'm still frustrated by the "phasing" of this project. The 2 phase plan could be the death of Front Street.

[Luca Brasi]

I'm very skeptical of these numbers. I really don't think that 60 units is going to cut it in any way. And the whole phase I and phase II thing doesn't give me a good feeling either.

To really put some steam behind this, you need 500-1000 residents and a daytime workforce. Its why I was so disappionted when the 13 story office tower was taken out of the plan years ago. A large residential and daytime workforce base combined with Convention goers would give Front St. the best chance of survival. It will be tough for retail without a daytime workforce as part of the plan.

[beerbeer]

Just fill the empty lot. 60 more housing units would be nice especially in that part of the city. It would be the only residential for a couple of blocks in any direction. It would add life to an important part of downtown.

Right now there is construction on 260 units at H21, 50 at the metropolitain, 100 at Sage Allen, 200 at Coltsville. The pipeline has 17 on Pearl Street, and an unknown number at the American Airlines Buildiing and , perhaps, at the BOA Tower.

So sprinkling in 60 at Front Street (with more on the board) adds to the momentum. And that's what we are really talking about. Let's get this project moving. Let's keep the steel workers busy. Let's keep the momentum moving forward.

So it ain't the perfect project. It is less than MadVlad wanted. So what? The PERFECT is the enemyof the GOOD. Let's get a good professionally done development. Then lets move on to whatever comes next.

[drc72]

Did they say how tall the office tower would be? The idea of a really tall tower by Front Street sounds great.