The court-approved foreclosure of a majority of Hartford’s Constitution Plaza is expected to open up options for the future, but just how redevelopment unfolds — or over what period of time — is the next chapter in the plaza’s long struggle to find a niche in the half century since it was built. Building a cohesive, redevelopment plan for the 7-acre property is seen as essential, but won’t be easy given the multiple owners with interests in the plaza. The foreclosure, approved Monday by Hartford Superior Court Judge Claudia A. Baio, involves six buildings of about 671,000 square feet — including the two office towers at One and 100 Constitution Plaza — parking garages with 1,743 spaces and the pedestrian surface of the plaza. The foreclosure also included part ownership of the pedestrian bridge the connects the plaza to Nassau Financial Group’s iconic “Boat Building.” Constitution Plaza also has been mentioned as a location for a $100 million practice facility for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, should the franchise move to Hartford from Mohegan Sun. In addition, there is the potential for a temporary location for the applied artificial intelligence center that the Arulampalam administration hopes to establish in the city. A permanent location has been identified just east of Dunkin’ Park, the city’s minor league ballpark, where a vacant, decaying data center would be demolished.
Massive CT office complex foreclosure lends no easy answers for future redevelopment.
