10-03-2025
State development fund could bring $10M boost for CT mall redevelopment. Here's where.
Plans for a redevelopment of the languishing Enfield Square mall could get a crucial $10 million boost from a state economic development fund that could help lay the groundwork for razing the old mall and replacing it with apartments, hotels and new retail space.
The grant for the mall development is one of 35 totaling $77 million that will be considered Tuesday by the board of the state's Community Investment Fund. The fund, which seeks to foster economic development in traditionally underserved communities, approves grants on a competitive basis.
The CIF board also is expected to vote on $250,000 for the city of Hartford to begin planning for a major, $200 million redevelopment of the decaying One Talcott Plaza complex between Capital Community College — the former G. Fox & Co. department store building — and the burgeoning North Crossing redevelopment around Dunkin' Park, the city's minor league ballpark.
The city had sought a CIF grant of $22.3 million to demolish the One Talcott complex to make way for the redevelopment. The project would be anchored by a regional bus transit center, apartments, a park, underground parking and storefront space built on a parking lot to the west of the vacant One Talcott complex.
The redevelopment would form a public-private partnership between the state — half of the project would involve the bus hub — and the property owners. The site is owned is owned by Hartford-based LAZ Investments, an arm of parking giant LAZ Parking, and Shelbourne Global Solutions LLC, of Brooklyn, N.Y., downtown Hartford's largest commercial landlord.
The city of Hartford did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
In Enfield, the $10 million would be used for preparing the site — the grant primarily for drainage systems dealing with storm water — for a new $250 million redevelopment that would unfold in stages. A developer, Nebraska-based Woodsonia Real Estate Inc., has an agreement to purchase the mall property from its current owner, Namdar Realty Corp.
'It's a huge shot in the arm for the center of commercial district here in Enfield,' Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, said Monday. 'I have high hopes. Not only is it commercial and retail but there's residential — mixed-use. It really seems to be the way of the future.'
Initially, $20 million was sought for the Enfield project, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
If funds are approved by the CIF board, they still must be backed by the State Bond Commission.
Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@
