Plans for dozens of new apartments and condominiums in and near West Hartford Center now include a proposal for 172 luxury rentals on the site of the relocating Children's Museum.
Complete streets is a concept that economic development experts have talked about for decades, and it’s an approach to planning, designing and operating neighborhoods particularly downtowns that enables safer access for people, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and public transit users.
Increasingly, Connecticut cities and towns are embracing the concept to make their communities more attractive for residents, businesses and even visitors to live, work and play.
To a community long hungry for investment, the attention of a developer who sees your potential can be a blessing.
Fifteen years ago, that community was New Britain and the developer was Avner Krohn.
Krohn’s company, Jasko Development, took a long-neglected building on Main Street and renovated it into a mix of first-floor retail and luxury apartments above. Jasko also renovated the Rao and Raphael buildings into mixed use.
Based on public popularity and private developers’ investments, New Britain is looking to expand its downtown Complete Streets initiative to reach more neighborhoods ranging from Barrio Latino to Belvedere and North Oak.
Despite the rocky path for office buildings since the pandemic began, developer Avner Krohn - known for huge apartment complexes in Connecticut - bought one in New Britain. The historic former post office downtown, the only office building in Krohn's portfolio, is very different that high-rise office towers or sprawling complexes, he says.