Developer wants series of apartment buildings, fresh businesses between Route 4 and Farmington River in Farmington
A West Hartford developer is proposing to build 190 apartments and refurbish commercial space along a stretch of Farmington Avenue in Farmington.
The plan involves rehabilitating a nearly century-old grain storage building alongside the Big Bird Bridge, and constructing more than a half-dozen new residential buildings on the mostly wooded property.
The nearly-25 acre site is wedged between Farmington Avenue and the Farmington River, and Kaoud Real Estate Development LLC will need a wetlands permit. The local wetlands commission will review the proposal at a hearing Wednesday at 7 p.m.; the session will be in person at town hall and also online at us02web.zoom.us/j/89789302343.
The Planning and Zoning commission supported the concept last year when it granted a zone change to encourage mixed-use development there.
Without that change, “the most likely future development would be strip retail development taking advantage of the Route 4 frontage. This would not be the ideal development of the parcel,” planners wrote.
“Perhaps the most unique attribute is the former McCallum grain storage building,” they wrote. “There are two buildings totaling 40,000 square feet. One building is four stories with impressive views. The buildings are almost completely vacant and ripe for redevelopment.”
An auto parts business currently occupies the first floor of the main building, which was constructed in 1924 as a flour mill with nearby grain elevator.
The building still has a third-floor trestle leading to the former rail line that once ran between New Haven and Massachusetts; the path — including the so-called Big Bird Bridge — is now a popular rail trail. West of the Big Bird, the trail continues over a far longer bridge across the river.
Kaoud’s plan is to rehabilitate that building and a vacant one nearby for commercial and possibly residential use. The developer also envisions a pool, clubhouse, grill and barbecue area for residents, along with a bocce court and playground.
The site stretches south from Farmington Avenue and east from the rail trail, and toward the western end, wraps around the back of the Gallery Salon. Kaoud plans a series of three-story apartment buildings with parking beneath them.
The project would include a bike path linking to the adjacent Farmington Canal Heritage Trail.
The property also is a little less than a mile from Monteith Drive; the town is interested in extending Monteith from town hall across Route 4 and on to New Britain Avenue. That would add a bridge over the Farmington River, an addition many town officials believe is needed to alleviate traffic.
