Now pending auction, the 1960s-era Constitution Plaza in downtown Hartford is at once a subject of concern and a source of possibility. There’s a way to replace the risk of failing real estate with new uses that unlock the potential of surrounding assets and move Hartford forward. The Connecticut Science Center, Connecticut Convention Center and the riverfront parks attract more than 1 million people each year, while an equal number attend games and events at the renovated PeoplesBank Arena and Dunkin’ Park to our west. Yet, too few of these visitors find their way across downtown from one destination to the other, leaving our best assets isolated and downtown less competitive as a place to enjoy, convene, learn, work and live. This is a moment to think big. Constitution Plaza, where Connecticut residents once gathered for holiday festivals, has handsome buildings and plaza spaces that can be revitalized to complement their newer surroundings rather than compromise them. Repurposed for hotel rooms, one tower would help the Convention Center compete for multiday conferences and the significant economic benefits they bring, capitalizing on the recent expansion of Bradley International Airport. Apartments, in high demand downtown, could occupy other buildings within the complex.
Opinion: Revitalizing Constitution Plaza can bring downtown Hartford together
