State Office Tower Complex

[redbaron]

I was thinking about this with another friend. Why doesn't the state build an office tower/complex. The State is Hartford's largest landholder; they could sell off most of their buildings that are spread throughout Hartford. There are some prime spots which could probably fetch a decent price. Use the proceeds to build a new office complex revitalizing a section of Hartford, maybe north/west of 84. The City of Hartford would then gain, as all the state buildings go back on the tax roll, there would be buildings prime for conversion into residential/retail. There would probably be cheap rents for more businesses to possibly relocate into Hartford. The state and public would gain by having most services in one building. Agencies could more easily work together; redundancies in services could be eliminated. Financing could be partially achieved by sale of state property and the savings generated by eliminating redundancies (security, building management, utilities, IT, etc.). I look at it as a potential win-win... Any other thoughts out there?

[HartfordTycoon]

I was thinking about this with another friend. Why doesn't the state build an office tower/complex. The State is Hartford's largest landholder; they could sell off most of their buildings that are spread throughout Hartford. There are some prime spots which could probably fetch a decent price. Use the proceeds to build a new office complex revitalizing a section of Hartford, maybe north/west of 84. The City of Hartford would then gain, as all the state buildings go back on the tax roll, there would be buildings prime for conversion into residential/retail. There would probably be cheap rents for more businesses to possibly relocate into Hartford. The state and public would gain by having most services in one building. Agencies could more easily work together; redundancies in services could be eliminated. Financing could be partially achieved by sale of state property and the savings generated by eliminating redundancies (security, building management, utilities, IT, etc.). I look at it as a potential win-win... Any other thoughts out there?

[Luca Brasi]

I have been wondering this for some time. State offices are not only spread throughout Hartford, but all over the state. You would think in the idea of efficiency that all state offices would be housed in one place like they are in most states.

The huge parking lot across from the Bushnell was bulldozed decades ago for a state office complex that never got built. Same old story.

[The Voice of Reason]

I have been there with you wondering about this too.

Every time I see all of the low rise buildings that appear at street level to be bunkers and not offices. The state clearly has thousands of workers in town, and they work in buildings that have destroyed neighborhoods. I would love to see many of those buildings razed and the fabric of the city to be re-woven in a more efficient manner.

I am not sure a high rise is in order, but certainly there is a way to make things much more efficient and in the process make the city healthier and increase tax rolls.

and to make Redbarons point. below is all the property owned by the state according to city records. I removed a couple of parcels of Uconn Land.

Parcel ID Location Owner

105-005-0020401 FLATBUSH AV HARTFORD STATE OF CONN

106-002-0030502H FLATBUSH AV HARTFORD STATE OF CONN

310-001-0210017 TERRY RD HARTFORD STATE OF CONN

330-002-0040089 WOODBINE ST HARTFORD STATE OF CONN

416-001-0090060 WASHINGTON ST HARTFORD STATE OF CONN

429-004-0010950 MAIN ST HARTFORD STATE OF CONN

651-003-0050000 REV R.A. MOODY OVPS HARTFORD STATE OF CONN

429-004-0080950 MAIN ST HARTFORD STATE OF CONN

410-001-0080365 BROAD ST HARTFORD ADMINISTRATION STATE OF CONN

411-007-0310021 GRAND ST HARTFORD ADMINISTRATION STATE OF CONN

412-001-0320940 BROAD ST HARTFORD ADMINISTRATION STATE OF CONN

416-001-0080080 WASHINGTON ST HARTFORD ADMINISTRATION STATE OF CONN

416-001-0130275 BUCKINGHAM ST HARTFORD ADMINISTRATION STATE OF CONN

412-001-0260078 WARD ST HARTFORD ADMINSTRATION STATE OF CONN

427-002-0060069 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-002-0010080 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-002-0070194 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-002-0120111 GROVE ST HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-002-0220200 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-004-0010034 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-004-0020012 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-005-0010080 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-006-0010000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-006-0020104 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-006-0030102 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-001-0070000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-001-0080080 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-002-0020080 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-005-0050000 TAYLOR ST HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-001-0090000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-003-0020250 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-003-0030000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-004-0030000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-005-0070000 TAYLOR ST HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-006-0050000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-007-0020000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-007-0030000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-007-0040000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-003-0040000 GROVE ST HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

434-007-0050000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDADRIAEN'S LANDING STATE OF CONN

232-003-0010233 MAXIM RD HARTFORDAIRPORT DIV - AERONAUTICS STATE OF CONN

427-009-0020063 PROSPECT ST HARTFORDAMOS BULL HOUSE STATE OF CONN

409-001-0010360 BROAD ST HARTFORDARMORY STATE OF CONN

524-003-0290051 COVENTRY ST HARTFORDBLUE HILLS CLINI STATE OF CONN

418-001-0030168 CAPITOL AV HARTFORDCAPITOL STATE OF CONN

412-001-0110021 WOLCOTT ST HARTFORDCOURT HOUSE STATE OF CONN

412-001-0330912 BROAD ST HARTFORDCOURT HOUSE STATE OF CONN

104-008-0010050 BRINLEY AV HARTFORDDEPT OF AGRICULTURE STATE OF CONN

318-005-0110010 BROOKFIELD ST HARTFORDDEPT OF AGRICULTURE STATE OF CONN

318-006-0020005 OLIVE ST HARTFORDDEPT OF AGRICULTURE STATE OF CONN

104-008-0040071 WILBUR ST HARTFORDDEPT OF AGRICULTURE STATE OF CONN

104-001-0030139 NEWFIELD AV HARTFORDDEPT OF AGRICULTURE STATE OF CONN

104-001-004 NEWFIELD AV HARTFORDDEPT OF AGRICULTURE STATE OF CONN

104-008-0020123 BRINLEY AV HARTFORDDEPT OF AGRICULTURE STATE OF CONN

104-007-0090000 DEXTER ST HARTFORDDEPT OF AGRICULTURE STATE OF CONN

105-001-0010569 FLATBUSH AV HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

228-006-0010116 AIRPORT RD HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

408-002-0230024 GARDEN ST HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

408-007-0020518 ASYLUM ST HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

409-001-0040310 BROAD ST HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

432-001-0080190 MORGAN ST HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

434-002-0110232 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

438-003-0010100 VAN BLOCK AV HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

509-001-0020000 ALBANY AV HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

509-001-0030000 ALBANY AV HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

653-002-0040100 LEIBERT RD HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

652-004-0040000 WEST SERVICE RD HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

652-005-0010000 WEST SERVICE RD HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

652-006-0010000 WEST SERVICE RD HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

324-003-0120 WOODLAND ST HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

434-001-0120000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

434-001-0130000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANS STATE OF CONN

434-001-0100000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANSPORTATION STATE OF CONN

427-002-0070000 ARCH ST HARTFORDDEPT OF TRANSPORTATION STATE OF CONN

310-001-0010990 PROSPECT AV HARTFORDGOVERNOR'S HOUSE STATE OF CONN

419-003-0010159 HIGH ST HARTFORDGOVERNORS FOOT GUARD STATE OF CONN

323-001-0030061 WOODLAND ST HARTFORDHARTFORD COMM COLLEGE STATE OF CONN

217-003-0010708 FRANKLIN AV HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

217-003-0040085 VICTORIA RD HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

302-003-0020152 NEW PARK AV HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

318-002-0080037 OLIVE ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

318-002-0090030 OLIVE ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

318-004-0190155 HAMILTON ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

318-004-0200022 BELMONT ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

319-002-0080190 HAMILTON ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

320-001-0200118 SISSON AV HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

327-003-0010625 CAPITOL AV HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

331-003-0090414 SIGOURNEY ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

408-002-0090058 SPRING ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

408-006-0010070 SPRING ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

408-007-0010512 ASYLUM ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

409-002-0050525 ASYLUM ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

416-001-0100309 BUCKINGHAM ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

417-004-0030075 ELM ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

418-001-0040170 CAPITOL AV HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

419-002-0050005 HOADLEY PL HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

419-002-0060060 HUNTLEY PL HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

419-010-0050178 HIGH ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

420-006-0030010 HUNTLEY PL HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

421-003-0020316 ANN ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

421-003-0040322 ANN ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

421-009-0021031 MAIN ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

427-003-0010288 SHELDON ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

651-003-0010343 NORTH FRONT ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

432-001-0010030 MORGAN ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

433-002-0050462H COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

433-003-0010500 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

655-003-0010033 JENNINGS RD HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

658-007-0010000 LEIBERT RD HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

659-001-0020000 LEIBERT RD HARTFORDHIGHWAY DEPT STATE OF CONN

302-002-0160010 KANE ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DIVISION STATE OF CONN

435-001-0010300 SHELDON ST HARTFORDHIGHWAY DIVISION STATE OF CONN

438-001-0020002H RESERVE RD HARTFORDHIGHWAY DIVISION STATE OF CONN

438-002-0050288H HUYSHOPE AV HARTFORDHIGHWAY DIVISION STATE OF CONN

410-002-0010231 CAPITOL AV HARTFORDLIBRARY STATE OF CONN

656-001-0010025 FISHFRY ST HARTFORDNO MEADOWS JAIL STATE OF CONN

405-001-0070092 FARMINGTON AV HARTFORDOFFICE BUILDING STATE OF CONN

417-002-0010165 CAPITOL AV HARTFORDOFFICE BUILDING STATE OF CONN

417-003-0030030 TRINITY ST HARTFORDOFFICE BUILDING STATE OF CONN

417-004-0020079 ELM ST HARTFORDOFFICE BUILDING STATE OF CONN

410-003-0020223 CAPITOL AV HARTFORDPARKING STATE OF CONN

106-001-0110152H NEW PARK AV HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

330-001-0080025 SIGOURNEY ST HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

330-001-0120025 SIGOURNEY ST HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

404-002-0020410 CAPITOL AV HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

404-002-0030450 CAPITOL AV HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

404-002-0040460 CAPITOL AV HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

404-002-0070410H CAPITOL AV HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

410-001-0050340 CAPITOL AV HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

410-002-0040032 RUSS ST HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

415-001-0340505 HUDSON ST HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

417-003-0020020 TRINITY ST HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

436-005-0010190 HUYSHOPE AV HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

603-003-0020500 VINE ST HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

330-001-0110025 SIGOURNEY ST HARTFORDPUBLIC WORKS STATE OF CONN

232-001-0020101 RESERVE RD HARTFORDREGIONAL MARKET STATE OF CONN

416-001-0060100 WASHINGTON ST HARTFORDSTATE POLICE STATE OF CONN

411-004-0020075 LAFAYETTE ST HARTFORDSUPERIOR COURT STATE OF CONN

411-005-0010095 WASHINGTON ST HARTFORDSUPERIOR COURT STATE OF CONN

412-001-0180039 WOLCOTT ST HARTFORDSTATE OF CONNECTICUT

427-007-0030271 SHELDON ST HARTFORDSTATE OF CONNECTICUT

428-004-0030000 AMERICAN ROW HARTFORDSTATE OF CONNECTICUT

434-003-0050000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDSTATE OF CONNECTICUT

657-002-008 WEST SERVICE RD HARTFORDSTATE OF CONNECTICUT

316-003-0130014 FRANCIS AV HARTFORDTRANSPORTATION STATE OF CONNECTICUT DEPT. OF

316-003-0140010 FRANCIS AV HARTFORDTRANSPORTATION STATE OF CONNECTICUT DEPT. OF

316-003-0150000 PARK ST HARTFORDTRANSPORTATION STATE OF CONNECTICUT DEPT. OF

428-005-0150000 COLUMBUS BLVD HARTFORDPOLICY & MANAGEMENT STATE OF CONNECTICUT OFFICE OF

[TaylorG4444]

By the looks of how many properties there are (about 140) seems that selling all of them would almost pay for 50%+ of costs to build a new complex.

[Theophrastus Bombastus]

I was thinking about this with another friend. Why doesn't the state build an office tower/complex. The State is Hartford's largest landholder; they could sell off most of their buildings that are spread throughout Hartford. There are some prime spots which could probably fetch a decent price. Use the proceeds to build a new office complex revitalizing a section of Hartford, maybe north/west of 84. The City of Hartford would then gain, as all the state buildings go back on the tax roll, there would be buildings prime for conversion into residential/retail. There would probably be cheap rents for more businesses to possibly relocate into Hartford. The state and public would gain by having most services in one building. Agencies could more easily work together; redundancies in services could be eliminated. Financing could be partially achieved by sale of state property and the savings generated by eliminating redundancies (security, building management, utilities, IT, etc.). I look at it as a potential win-win... Any other thoughts out there?

[HartfordTycoon]

Sounds like a perfect use for Constitution Plaza (excpet the Ch.3/Clarion piece which should be torn down and made into a hotel). Also, just get rid of the 'plaza' part and bring all the buildings down to street level.

[shwoz]

The only problem with that is that the entire area is in a flood pain. That's why the plaza was constructed to be level with Main St. in the first place. I heard from a knowledgable source recently that this is part of the logistical issues afflicting Front Street and limits the uses that can be permitted on the ground floor.

[HartfordTycoon]

Isn't there a dike to protect downtown?

[The Voice of Reason]

Ya know I was nerding around the web some on Sunday and think that this idea should be expanded.

The state likely does not need any more space than they allready have, but there are huge inefficiencies in the space they do have. The thing is that a lot of those buildings destroyed areas of the city when they were built. The State and City should take responsibility for the damage they have caused and create a framework fo fix things.

It seems to me that Hartford is ready for an Urban renewal district. I found that Portland, OR has a huge urban renewal district, and wondered why CT could not do simular in Hartford.

http://www.pdc.us/ura/gateway.asp

There are so many areas in Hartford that have been so severed, so altered, that road networks set up 150 years ago are no longer valid let alont the remaining mix of buildings. There are large swaths of the inner core that have been sliced away by highways, state offices and parking lots.

Think of an area boardered by Capitol Ave to the North, Main Street to the East, Park to the South, and Oak to the West

The city/state should put together a long term plan with TIF to pay for capitol improvements. Call it Hartford 2060. and plan for percived needs and changes over the next 50 years. This was a residential area with 3 story houses. It is now just a mess. some areas should be returned to residential, some areas should be redeveloped into more usefull offices or commercial areas.

A few things I want to write before I go further is that Historic buildings should be saved. At all cost? no, but within reason, heck yeah. How do you save these buildings, but promote progress and growth? Buildings can be moved, and it can be done fairly cheeply.

The Gem theatre in Detroit was moved 5 blocks.

This was the heaviest building ever moved at that time. We do not need to move anything quite so large, but bringing in a few moving companies could go a long way here in Hartford.

I think we should move about a dozen of those 3 story brick apartments onto streets that are still residential like Oak. I would also like to see some of the residential buildings on Park street moved into residential streets near by. Park is a commercial corridore. no one actually wants to live on a busy street like that. If they do, the building should at least have a storefront on the ground level rather than The commercial buildings on the N side pf park can be moved to the S side into the gaps making the street much more vibrant and allowing for new construction on the North side. All of this space in the middle of this area could be used to create some new park space and to build more responsable and efficient buildings. The biggest violator within this district is toe state bunker and parking garage boardered by Russ, Lafayette, Oak and Grand. This building needs to go! Oak is still mostly residential, and can be patched up wioth some of those moved buildings. A new office could be built here, but one that improves the area, not one that destroys it. A building that is inviting airy, much denser, and with less wastefull parking space.

[Chessplayer]

Alternatively, we could use those movers to take back ING, MetLife, WFSB...hell even the Whalers.

[The Voice of Reason]

Alternatively, we could use those movers to take back ING, MetLife, WFSB...hell even the Whalers.

[The Voice of Reason]

More nerdly action by VOR while wifey heads to the store on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Not looking forward to a wedding tomorrow. why do people ruin a perfectly good holiday weekend by having a wedding?

So, the State of CT likes to publish info because its the law. stumbling onto this information cam make an old thread like this one all of a sudden make so much sense.

read this gem.

two words come to my mind "holy crap!"

http://www.ct.gov/opm/cwp/view.asp?a=2993&q=383348

the state is a space hog!!!!

Requests for Leased Space

SQUARE FOOTAGE - Under the "2007-2012 State Facility Plan" agencies requested an additional 1.17 million square feet of space, or approximately 41% over existing levels.

For the period covered by the "2007-2012 State Facility Plan", the OPM has approved a total of 3.59 million square feet of leased space representing an increase of approximately 25% over existing levels.

Square Footage

Existing, Requested and Recommended

Conservation & Development 14,000 14,508 14,508 3.63%

Corrections 401,459 538,912 490,939 22.29%

Education 405,709 780,144 779,925 92.24%

General Government 410,719 544,622 477,790 16.33%

Health & Hospitals 242,526 292,400 248,199 2.34%

Human Services 401,060 412,317 406,579 1.38%

Judicial 513,682 892,168 677,233 31.84%

Regulation & Protection 481,280 567,341 495,241 2.90%

TOTAL ALL SECTORS 2,870,435 4,042,412 3,590,414 25.08%

Source: 2007-2012 State Facility Plan - State of Connecticut - Office of Policy and Management - Bureau of Assets Management

ANNUAL LEASE COSTS - Under the " 2007-2012 State Facility Plan" agencies have requested an additional $27.7 million annually for leased space.

For the period covered by the Plan, OPM has approved a total of $62.4 million annually for leased space which represents an approximate increase of 43% over existing levels.

http://www.ct.gov/opm/lib/opm/assets/facil...007_to_2012.pdf

this gives the breakdown by department and use.

also of note, the state owns 55,000,000 SF of space.

A 51 story LEED Gold building totaling 1.16 Million rentable SF is nearing completion in Toronto for a cost of $290 Million. The market rate rents for this building are 27.17/SF and the floorplates are 24,400 usable SF. The rental price puts this on Par with Hartford, so I think it is fair to assume a simular building would cost the same in Hartford.

The 3.6 Million SF the state is renting right now averages $17.4/SF At current cost levels through 2012 it seems the state is making a bad investment. Maintaining this hypothetical new office tower would cost the state MUCH less than they are paying right now. In fact I would bet that this building would pay for itself in short order. the anual savings would be over 20M per year for this 1.16M SF. This is more than enough to pay off 300M in State Bonds. It should even strengthen the states finances.

Not knowing the full details of all of the state leases, and then again, not knowing all the buildings it owns, and all their total SF, I think it is pretty safe to assume that the state could build a building like this. It could likely build two.

This would allow the state to vacate many of the nice older buildings along the park, like 55 Oak that would be better served as housing.

As part of the bonding effort the state could offer up these small park side properties to developers with modest development incentives. This would put all of these properties back on the tax role and help further pay the bond, or directly fund construction of the office tower.

The Northern edge of Constitution plaza would be a perfect location for the office since there is a huge lightly used parking garage right there. if need be another floor or two could be added to the Morgan St garage if need be at a reasonable price.