| Welcome
to It’s Happening. In Hartford! a Hartford Economic Development
Commission eBulletin designed to give you a quick look at the
most recent achievements within the city’s dynamic and diverse
business community. At HEDC, we bring people together to make
things happen in Hartford, Conn. By focusing on the city’s many
strengths and collaborating with the best resources, HEDC is helping
Hartford move ahead.
- Developers
making visible progress on historic city landmarks
- New signage
makes it easy to get around Hartford
- Cirque
du Soleil exceeds its own expectations in Hartford
- Pita Communications
re-locates business to Hartford
Developers
reclaim Hartford’s past by preparing for its future
Hartford’s history of ingenuity and innovation is being preserved
for future generations by developers investing private dollars
and transforming historic buildings for modern day use. Progress
is visible throughout Hartford and includes several important
renovation projects.
Colt Gateway
– At the 17-acre site of Sam and Elizabeth Colt’s former Coltsville
manufacturing complex, a $110 million renovation project is ahead
of schedule, according to developers. Homes for America Holdings,
Inc., (HFAH) purchased the property in January and established
Colt Gateway LLC, a local subsidiary, to manage it. The plans
capitalize on the ingenuity behind the original design, provide
a strong mix of residential and commercial space and present an
opportunity for Hartford to develop an historic destination with
national appeal. Colt Gateway’s first completely renovated building
will open in September when the Capital Region Education Council
welcomes children to its new school in the L-shaped building at
the corner of Huyshope Avenue and Sequassen Street. Other upcoming
milestones include new roofs and windows on the armory buildings,
a state-of-the-art heating and cooling system for the entire complex
and build out of the first new apartment homes.
Trumbull on
the Park – Anyone who drives or walks through downtown Hartford
on a regular basis will note the construction site on Trumbull
Street is a busy place. What they may not see on the less traveled
Lewis Street nestled behind Trumbull are the historic buildings
included in the Trumbull on the Park project. Trumbull on the
Park, developed by Lexington Partners, will include 100 apartments,
600 parking spaces and 8,000 square feet of retail space. The
apartments will oversee lovely Bushnell Park, the retail will
have access to downtown consumers and the historic properties
on Lewis Street will be renovated to maintain the historic charm
of this quiet side street. The project is on schedule and is expected
to be complete by year-end 2004.
36 John –
Just steps off Park Street, the center of the region’s Latino
community, local contractors are busy transforming an historic
red brick building into a modern day studio and offices for Walter
and Linda Wick. The Wicks, who met in Hartford in the early 1970s
and currently maintain a residence here, are re-locating their
studio and offices from Litchfield County to Hartford. The move
is considered by many to be an important part of Hartford’s revitalization.
The former fire vehicle maintenance facility on John Street features
large doors and windows that will be ideal for creating the settings
acclaimed photographer Walter Wick has made so popular through
the I-Spy books, puzzles, games, video games and television shows.
This project is expected to be complete at year-end.
For more information
on doing business in Hartford, please click
here.
New signage
makes it easy to get around Hartford
Hartford’s
many points of interest will be easier to find now that hundreds
of directional signs are being erected throughout the city. Currently
the signs direct visitors to about 30 of Hartford’s cultural,
civic and recreational attractions, including City Hall, local
theaters, parks, colleges and universities and historic attractions.
In addition to directing traffic, the signs were designed to add
some beauty to city streets and are sponsored by the city, corporate
and private donations and Hartford Proud and Beautiful, a division
of the Greater Hartford Arts Council dedicated to keeping city
streets clean and beautifying the urban landscape with colourful
planters and banners.
The first
of approximately 250 new signs was erected at the intersection
of Wells and Gold streets last week; signs will continue to be
erected throughout Hartford’s neighborhoods over the coming weeks.
For more information
on all the advantages Hartford has to offer, click
here.
Cirque
du Soleil exceeds its own expectations in Hartford
When Cirque du Soleil took down the Grand Chapiteau that had graced
Market Street for more than three weeks, it extended its thanks
to the city and declared Hartford to be its second-best-selling
new market. More than 75,000 people experienced Cirque du Soleil’s
DRALION, before the upscale international performance troupe moved
on to begin performances in another city.
“Cirque du
Soleil wishes to thank our partners, sponsors and especially everyone
in Hartford for their enthusiasm and support to make this a successful
and memorable engagement,” Cirque du Soleil officials declared
in a press statement. “We hope to come back to Hartford again
soon!”
Convinced
by its own message, advertising firm moves to Hartford
Convinced by its own message, a Rocky Hill advertising firm decided
to re-locate to Hartford. Pita Communications LLC, a full-service
advertising, design and public relations agency, now can call
Hartford home. The move to downtown’s One State Street is quite
fitting considering Pita develops the advertising and marketing
campaigns for Hartford: New England’s Rising Star campaign.
In 1996,
Kim Sirois Pita and Paul Pita established the agency. Today, the
multi-disciplined company develops integrated marketing campaigns
for Fortune 500 companies, including Aetna and Uniprise, state
departments, municipalities and non-profit organizations. Pita
most recently developed the identity and marketing kit for Rentschler
Field, launched the first phase of the new hartford.com, created
the Rising Star Weekends summer advertising campaign and launched
Aetna’s African American History Calendar Web site. This week
the firm will begin work on a campaign to promote the Colt Gateway
renovation in Hartford.
For more information about Hartford: New England’s Rising Star,
please click
here.
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