The Simon Konover Co., a West Hartford-based developer, intends to donate to East Hartford about 19.7 acres of its 35.3-acre property at 341 East River Drive, before starting construction on an apartment complex next to Great River Park. The Town Council is scheduled to review the donation at its Aug. 19 meeting. Konover acquired the site more than 40 years ago with plans to build an office building that never materialized. The company is now moving forward with a residential project that will market proximity to the park and riverfront trails as key amenities. The donation is part of a plan to subdivide the property, which is structured as a condominium. Under the proposal, 6.9 acres — currently occupied by a middle school — would be deeded to the Capital Region Education Council (CREC); 10 acres retained for the apartment development; and the remainder transferred to the town. In terms of the apartment project, Konover aims to complete local land-use reviews before October and begin a roughly 18-month construction by year’s end.

Developer to donate 20 acres to East Hartford ahead of 150-unit housing project