Costco Delayed Again Due to Entrance
By Robin Vinci at May 16, 2024 | 10:00 am | Print
It will be at least a few more months before the first shovels go into the ground to open a new Costco on Hartford Road.
Costco Corporate representatives met last week with Mayor Erin Stewart, Chamber of Commerce president Tim Stewart and Business Development Director Bill Carroll to do a marketing assessment on the site and examine where to build a new entryway.
“It needs to go to the department of transportation (DOT) to get approval in order to build a separate entrance, because the landlord of Target did not want to cooperate,” said Stewart. “We have been in contact with DOT and state department of economic development concerning this issue.”
The two stores were close to an agreement in January, but could not work out several issues.
Plans for Costco involve building the store on 15.49 parcels of land on Hartford Road. Three holes on the Stanley Golf Course would be moved to a part of Newington that the City purchased.
The original plan for Costco was approved under Former Mayor Tim Stewart.
The project will bring in about $475,000 a year in new taxes and 220 jobs.
Joseph Montosano representing Costco said at the time the contract details were announced that it included a cost of $4.1 million for the property; Costco would pay to redo all the holes; Costco would pay real estate taxes in full in New Britain and in the town of Newington; Costco would pay for all road improvements and pay all fees for permits.
Forbes magazine placed Costco at No. 3 on its top 10 places to work list.
To purchase goods at Costco, a membership is needed; they start at $55 per year. The company says it has more than 50 million members. Other locations in Connecticut include Waterbury, Milford, Enfield, and Brookfield. The company started in an airplane hangar in California in 1976.
Since the project began over three years ago, Costco is $2 million over budget.
“We are exploring ways to help Costco meet budget requirements,” said Mayor Erin Stewart. “We are working with them to make this a seamless process. We are monitoring it in every way, because we don’t want to lose the relationship with Costco.”
She said it will be a win for the City of New Britain to have the store here.
“There are a few more steps it has to take,” said Mayor Stewart. “It went a year and one half with nobody talking and that certainly did not help the process along.”
Former Mayor Tim O’Brien said he was against the plan when running for office, but later endorsed it.
“All the heads are back at the table again,” said Stewart. “We are moving forward and should see progress over the next couple of months anticipating the state DOT will come through.”
Mayor Stewart said everyone came out of the meeting excited and can’t wait to break ground on the project.
“I want to be the one to break ground on that project,” she added.
