Construction on the long-awaited, $50 million first phase of redevelopment around Dunkin’ Donuts Park is now underway, with an official groundbreaking expected in two weeks. The first phase of “Downtown North” — located just south of the ballpark at Main and Trumbull streets — is the beginning of a four-part, $200 million redevelopment of city-owned land that is seen as critical to reconnecting downtown with the city’s northern neighborhoods. On Thursday, backhoes dug into the first phase, known as “Parcel C” in front of the former Red Lion Hotel, and payloaders dumped soil into massive piles. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said Thursday the Downtown North project is transformative for the city. Construction is starting more than two years after the city chose RMS as the new developer and in the aftermath of a bruising court battle with the previous developer to regain control of the four city-owned parcels encompassing Downtown North.
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