Berkowitz Project Delayed
By Robin Vinci | Editor at May 19, 2024 | 2:15 pm | Print
Douglas Bromfield of Capital Restoration Inc., a Hartford-based developer, will have to wait a little longer to start restoration of the Berkowitz Building.
This month the project did not receive money from the CHAMP Fund, a state grant.
“They did not get the money, but met with the state and are going to re-apply,” said Mayor Erin Stewart. “They may change the initial project.”
Initially the developer wanted to rehab the building and build the townhouse buildings along side of it all the way up to Beaver Street.
“We are thinking that is too ambitious, so he will do it in phases,” said Stewart. “First will be the Berkowitz rehab and 2 and 3 will be the townhouse project.”
The developer purchased the Berkowitz Building property last year from the city for $130,000. The 24,552-square-foot-building, is located at 608 Main St., near the entrance to Broad St.
Bromfield has more than two decades of experience with municipal development, having worked on the redevelopment of the Stowe Village housing complex in Hartford, the Albany Avenue branch of the Hartford Public Library system, and other projects.
The conveyance included the sale of 49 and 53 Beaver St., and 610-626, 634, 666, 676, and 686 Main St.
The four-story building was erected in 1915. Bromfield initially said he intends to preserve the pre-War architecture and unique brickwork of the building and rehabilitate the structure to have retail and commercial space on the ground level and residential housing on the top three floors. Bromfield is also planning to construct a new building next to the Berkowitz building and add a possible third structure on Beaver Street.
“He is applying for the next round,” said Stewart. “They understand now what they did not like about the proposal and they are making it better.”
