Even though huge sections of East Hartford’s rundown Silver Lane Plaza are vacant, small businesses that remain want to head off the town’s plan to acquire and demolish the buildings.
Silver Lane Plaza tenants in East Hartford expressed their concerns about the possibility of using eminent domain to acquire the long-blighted shopping center during a Redevelopment Agency public hearing Thursday.
A redevelopment plan for Silver Lane, based on a study done by Goman & York, was approved by the Town Council on Aug. 2. The plan focuses on the plaza because of its deteriorating conditions and negative impact on surrounding businesses.
Frustrated by years and years of blight along the Silver Lane corridor, East Hartford is considering invoking eminent domain to seize control of a deteriorated half-vacant shopping center.
Development along East Hartford's Silver Lane moved forward last week, with town officials making a key approval and setting the date for another.
In a 6-1 vote, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved zoning changes on Wednesday for the 26-acre lot of the old Showcase Cinemas, proposed for construction of a 477-unit apartment complex.
New Britain-based Jasko Development plans to construct “amenity-rich” apartments at the site, with features including a dog park, swimming pool, and clubhouse.
With more than 436 upscale apartments planned nearby, East Hartford plans to use part of a $10 million state grant to buy and demolish a decaying, long-blighted shopping plaza on Silver Lane.