Downtown Hartford residential stock set to increase dramatically

[drc72]

Trump should think about the city again. With all the development going on in Hartford and Providence, I am surprised we havnt heard anything from Trump.

Are you thinking of a casino possibly being built in Hartford???? It's too bad they didn't build it back then. It amazes me how many lost opportunities this state let pass by.

[MadVlad]

I don't think Trump is even building many casinos anymore, I think he's back to just really really tall buildings. And to that I say bring it....

[somad]

I don't think Trump is even building many casinos anymore, I think he's back to just really really tall buildings. And to that I say bring it....

Trump's actually pretty good friends with Joseph Gentile (Utopia) and has been spotted on the Norwich Hospital property. You never know.. he could try and build some condos around here...

[ctman]

Are you thinking of a casino possibly being built in Hartford???? It's too bad they didn't build it back then. It amazes me how many lost opportunities this state let pass by.

The deal Weiker made with the indians pretty much made it so we won't see casinos in hartford. That would have been sweet for Hartford. A couple casinos would have attracted tons of tourists and highend retail.

[ctman]

Trump's actually pretty good friends with Joseph Gentile (Utopia) and has been spotted on the Norwich Hospital property. You never know.. he could try and build some condos around here...

Aren't most of trump's projects in well established cities, ie NYC/Miami/Los Angeles/Chicago? It would be a huge boost for hartford to have a developer of his stature to take on a project here.

[somad]

Aren't most of trump's projects in well established cities, ie NYC/Miami/Los Angeles/Chicago? It would be a huge boost for hartford to have a developer of his stature to take on a project here.

Well.. I remember from the Apprentice that he's building a tower in New Rochelle (westchester county) and from his company's web site he's also investing in Jersey City.

It seems Trump has gone beyond just building in the glamour markets and is now investing in growth markets. Hartford could position itself to be pretty attractive to a guy like Trump..

I could see him investing in the Norwich area if Utopia really takes off and makes the southeastern CT area one of the country's "hot" markets. Between people in the movie industry, high rollers, executives from the area companies, people who want second homes in the area, and retirees there could potentially be a lot of money in the condo market here. The area could be unrecognizable... and if Utopia does come along I pray to God that my Utopia/downtown/Mohegan/back to Utopia street car loop is built. It would build up more than most people would believe.

[beerbeer]

Trump uses his name to raise the value of his properties. Not sure that folks would buy into the hype in Hartford.

[drc72]

The deal Weiker made with the indians pretty much made it so we won't see casinos in hartford. That would have been sweet for Hartford. A couple casinos would have attracted tons of tourists and highend retail.

If a casino was built in Hartford, revitalization would take off at breathtaking speeds. Foxwoods and the Mohegans proved that already.

[MadVlad]

Trump uses his name to raise the value of his properties. Not sure that folks would buy into the hype in Hartford.

I disagree, I think he'd do well in Hartford. The pretentious people in West Hartford would jump at the chance to sniff Trumps dinner napkin.....

[HartfordTycoon]

I disagree, I think he'd do well in Hartford. The pretentious people in West Hartford would jump at the chance to sniff Trumps dinner napkin.....

Greater Hartford people in general would gobble it up.....

[Lone Ranger]

We weren't part of the bubble anyway so it's not really going to bust here. Things will pretty much be the same as they have been.

Hey, deja vu.

[ctman987]

Wow its funny I was just on Trumps website. He does a huge tower going up in New Rochelle, NY which is a city that is struggling a bit with its downtown. It has some new mall and entertainment type places going in, a walkable downtown and now a trump tower.

Trump also has properties or has them proposed in Jersey City, New Orleans, and White Plains, NY.

It really is up in the air where he invests. He has bigtime investments in Jersey City but not a city like Philly or Boston

[Cotuit]

I don't think Trump is even building many casinos anymore, I think he's back to just really really tall buildings. And to that I say bring it....

Trump's proposed a casino for Johnston, Rhode Island (which is just west of Providence). He's trying to compete with the Harrahgansett's attempt to build a casino in West Warwick. The whole thing is a big mess because of constitutional issues.

I'd prefer Trump were wanting to build a tower in Providence and no casino. Oh well.

[MadVlad]

To be perfectly honest, I couldn't care less what he wants to build, so longs as it energizes (which his stuff usually does) and it isn't a 5 story waste of space....

[beerbeer]

Vlad, you underestimate the 5-floor building. Cities need them as well.

[MadVlad]

Vlad, you underestimate the 5-floor building. Cities need them as well.

5 Floors is fine, just not for downtown.

[mikel]

5 Floors is fine, just not for downtown.

I'd actually prefer shorter buildings downtown! The 'skyscrapers' we have are lifeless. I hate the Batman Gothem City look, I'd rather have a European look with short buildings and no skyline. Especially since we have so many empty spaces.

Then again, let's go tearing down anything tall, I'm just saying for future buildings 8-10 stories would be a good limit downtown.

[MadVlad]

I'd actually prefer shorter buildings downtown! The 'skyscrapers' we have are lifeless. I hate the Batman Gothem City look, I'd rather have a European look with short buildings and no skyline. Especially since we have so many empty spaces.

Then again, let's go tearing down anything tall, I'm just saying for future buildings 8-10 stories would be a good limit downtown.

You are officially insane. You want to limit downtown to 8-10 story buildings? Why not just limit Hartford to the current population, or the current amount of jobs? Better yet, let's totally hamstring the city and make everything 2 storys? That would really feel European, except for the no people there, the low-rise feel. West Hartford could be the new hot-spot, and Hartford could just dwindle away to become New Britain.

Hartford has a limited footprint, what exactly would the point be to limit it to 8-10 story buildings? I see absolutely no upside to that. None, zero. A corporation wants to move downtown... oops sorry, we have this little law that says you can only build a 10 story building, so sorry!!! Please go to Philadelphia instead, their kind loves those big buildings (and they are such a dead city because of it!!).

Please go look at our skyline again, and tell me that Travelers Tower, the Phoenix Building, the Stilts Building, the Goodwin, and City Place look lifeless. Tell me how bad building H21 will be, and how effective it would be if it was 10 storys. Please tell me that Northland would be better served using the existing YMCA building at 8 or so storys instead of building a nice highrise along the park. Please, just do that for me...

[mikel]

You are officially insane. You want to limit downtown to 8-10 story buildings? Why not just limit Hartford to the current population, or the current amount of jobs? Better yet, let's totally hamstring the city and make everything 2 storys? That would really feel European, except for the no people there, the low-rise feel. West Hartford could be the new hot-spot, and Hartford could just dwindle away to become New Britain.

Hartford has a limited footprint, what exactly would the point be to limit it to 8-10 story buildings? I see absolutely no upside to that. None, zero. A corporation wants to move downtown... oops sorry, we have this little law that says you can only build a 10 story building, so sorry!!! Please go to Philadelphia instead, their kind loves those big buildings (and they are such a dead city because of it!!).

Please go look at our skyline again, and tell me that Travelers Tower, the Phoenix Building, the Stilts Building, the Goodwin, and City Place look lifeless. Tell me how bad building H21 will be, and how effective it would be if it was 10 storys. Please tell me that Northland would be better served using the existing YMCA building at 8 or so storys instead of building a nice highrise along the park. Please, just do that for me...

You ignorant prick. I actually spend most of time in downtown, not just looking at it from the highways. And the areas around the 'skyscrapers' are incredibly lifeless. Skyscrapers are just a way for companies to wave their cocks around. I'd rather have Hartford go back to when it was modern skyscraper free and actually had some life!

[mikel]

A corporation wants to move downtown... oops sorry, we have this little law that says you can only build a 10 story building, so sorry!!!

You're living in a fantasy world if you think a giant corporation is someday going to move to Hartford and want to build a skyscraper. It's over, forever. If anyone wants an office, there is plenty of available space. But a corporation that wants to build a building taller than 10 stories.... it will never happen again.

[MadVlad]

Cool, have fun in New Britain, because that is what you are describing. Also, what exactly do you know about me and the city? Apparently nothing, I'm there every single day, I'm working in houses, I'm working in skyscrapers, I'm working in business', parks and all the rest. Don't you dare to presume that I only drive through the city on the highway. I've probably been in every single important building in the city, and thousands that aren't. I talk to residents and business people every single day. The areas around downtown are lifeless? Yes, Park Street is lifeless, Farmington Avenue is lifeless, Albany Ave is lifeless. Note sarcasm. Let's build yet another 2 story building on prime downtown real-estate to fill in. Who cares if it's generic or drab, it'll revitalize everything. Get real, it's a waste of space. Lower buildings have their uses, just not in downtown in my opinion. Besides, I don't see Hartford 21, which is our brand new skyscraper (I know you aren't up on the city), being a corporate whatever waving device. It's bringing people into downtown to LIVE. Not all skyscrapers are corporate. But you're right, it won't do anything for the city, a nice 7 story building would do much better. And you're right, no corporation in their right mind would ever even consider moving to downtown Hartford. Cigna didn't do it when they were looking for a new Headquarters, Lincoln National wasn't heavily in the Hartford persuit. Oh wait, they actually were. Hah, I'm crazy!!! I guess those were anomolies. Maybe sometime soon Hartford can become more like New Britain and everything will be alright....

[mikel]

Cool, have fun in New Britain, because that is what you are describing. Also, what exactly do you know about me and the city? Apparently nothing, I'm there every single day, I'm working in houses, I'm working in skyscrapers, I'm working in business', parks and all the rest. Don't you dare to presume that I only drive through the city on the highway. I've probably been in every single important building in the city, and thousands that aren't. I talk to residents and business people every single day. The areas around downtown are lifeless? Yes, Park Street is lifeless, Farmington Avenue is lifeless, Albany Ave is lifeless. Note sarcasm. Let's build yet another 2 story building on prime downtown real-estate to fill in. Who cares if it's generic or drab, it'll revitalize everything. Get real, it's a waste of space. Lower buildings have their uses, just not in downtown in my opinion. Besides, I don't see Hartford 21, which is our brand new skyscraper (I know you aren't up on the city), being a corporate whatever waving device. It's bringing people into downtown to LIVE. Not all skyscrapers are corporate. But you're right, it won't do anything for the city, a nice 7 story building would do much better. And you're right, no corporation in their right mind would ever even consider moving to downtown Hartford. Cigna didn't do it when they were looking for a new Headquarters, Lincoln National wasn't heavily in the Hartford persuit. Oh wait, they actually were. Hah, I'm crazy!!! I guess those were anomolies. Maybe sometime soon Hartford can become more like New Britain and everything will be alright....

Hartford will never be New York. Once you realize this, you'll understand.

[uconn99]

Mikel, you seem very negative towards Hartford. To think that Hartford won't ever get another corporate tower is crazy. Remember when most of Hartford's tall buildings were constructed, it was a time when buildings didn't really incorporate into the streetscape. If there was a new office tower built in Hartford I would think it would have ground retail and or residential incorporated into it.

Most of Hartford

[MadVlad]

Hartford will never be New York. Once you realize this, you'll understand.

Having towers does not make us NYC, as soon as you realize this, you'll understand, but I dount it...

[beerbeer]

Hartford's downtown footprint goes from the river to Aetna from Albany Avenue to Hartford Hospital. Hartford is not in any danger of running out of room for future towers.

Even in the business core, there are acres of empty lots from Main to Union Street and 1-84 to Bushnell Park.