Hartford, Connecticut

Revitalization

Massive redevelopment projects are now under construction in the city. The largest is Adriaen's Landing along the Connecticut River. It will feature a 540,000 square foot (37,000 m²) convention center, the largest between New York City and Boston, and an attached 22 story Marriott Hotel. The Convention Center is currently open and the attached hotel is scheduled to open in late august 2005. An outdoor boardwalk will connect the convention center with Constitution Plaza and the recently developed Riverfront Recapture on the Connecticut River. The Connecticut Center for Science and Exploration, with approximately 150,000 square feet (14,000 m²), will open at Adriaen's Landing. A master plan has been created by the board of trustees and Cesar Pelli of New Haven has been chosen as the architect for the project.

Related Topics:
Adriaen's - Connecticut River - Convention center - New York City - Boston - Marriott Hotel - New Haven

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Another project, Hartford 21, will result in New England's tallest residential tower at 36 stories. It will be connected to the existing Civic Center Arena. The Civic Center, which was built in 1975, is still operating and hosts shows and concerts each year in addition to being the home of the Hartford Wolf Pack AHL hockey team and the part time home to the UCONN women's and men's basketball teams. "Hartford 21" will include 262 luxury condos ranging in price from $250,000 to $500,000 (approx.), a video screen flashing on Trumbull Street (similar to those in Times Square in New York), retail, office space, restaurants and public spaces. Attached to the other side of the Civic Center the newly renovated, 4 Star Hartford Hilton Hotel, reopened recently with 392 rooms on 22 floors with 15,000 square feet (1,400 m²) of meeting space. The hotel also includes a rooftop pool and two restaurants: Element 15 (bar and lounge) and Morty and Ming's (Combination delicatessen and traditional Chinese cuisine).

Related Topics:
New England - 1975 - Hartford Wolf Pack - UCONN - Times Square

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In addition to the Hartford 21 apartment complex, there are also many other apartments recently finished, under construction or in the planning stages. The "Trumbull By The Park" apartment complex by Bushnell Park is under construction with 100 apartments and ground floor retail space. The former SNET building, also by Bushnell Park, was recently transformed into luxury apartments. On Main Street the former Sage Allen Department Store will be transformed into loft style apartments that will house students from the University of Hartford and Saint Joseph's College. In addition, there are also many other apartment building, multi-family homes and single family homes being renovated.

Related Topics:
SNET - University of Hartford - Saint Joseph's College

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In addition to the residential projects planned for the downtown area, a retail and office project is currently in the planning phase. The project, Front Street, will be home to several national and local retailers. Since it is still in the design phase, many details are still unavailable. Although the project is not yet under construction, it is already receiving competion from the "Blue Black Square" in West Hartford. The project is being heavily opposed by the Westfarms Mall in West Hartford and several Hartford advocates.

Related Topics:
Front Street - West Hartford

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Also in the works is a major multi-million dollar renovation of the Hartford Public Library and Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. The Atheneum also plans to expand into the Hartford Times Building near the Adriaen's Landing site. The Old State House (the oldest in the nation) recently underwent a major refurbishing project and has been returned to its original splendor. Talks are also in the works for establishing a major bus route between Hartford and New Britain to further unify the region.

Related Topics:
Hartford Public Library - Wadsworth Atheneum - New Britain

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