News & Media

The first rental construction in six years in trendy West Hartford Center is expected to begin in a month as two forlorn buildings are torn down to make way for luxury apartments that could test the upper limits of the area’s asking rents.

The 48-unit apartment building will replace the buildings at 920 and 924 Farmington Avenue — an area considered the gateway to the heart of the Center. The new rentals could be ready by the fall of 2023.

The mixed-use project — expected to cost more than $15 million — has been christened “The Byline” after a writer’s credit at the top of a newspaper story. The name also draws on the town’s legacy of publishing and being the birthplace of Noah Webster.

New Britain developer Avner Krohn, of Jasko Development, is leading the apartment development project that will include studio and two-bedroom apartments. It will also contain about 6,000 square feet of first-floor retail and restaurant space. Amenities will include an outdoor terrace, dog washing area, gym, and bike storage. The project is estimated to be completed by the end of 2023.

With the back of the old Amato's toy shop in New Britain demolished, an excavator waits Tuesday to bring down the rest along with the buildings that housed the Dakille photo studio and Liberty Tax Service. (Don Stacom photo)

Jasko Development begins demolition in New Britain CT. By the end of 2023, there will be hundreds of new apartments downtown.

The Town Council in September voted 6-3 along party lines to authorize the mayor to execute a purchase and sale agreement of $1 for the property, a process that could take up to 18 months.

New Britain developer Jasko Development and Zelman Real Estate have proposed an “amenity rich” rental housing project of 360 or more market-rate apartments with a number of facilities for tenant use. A presentation shown at the meeting lists amenities that include a pool, dog park, club rooms, a community bar, conference and “work from home” rooms, fitness centers, and bicycles for tenant use. Plans have not been finalized, and neither a site plan nor the development agreement have been completed or approved.

The West Hartford Town Council gave a unanimous vote of approval to a project that will transform a key corner at the gateway to West Hartford Center, replacing two outdated and functionally obsolete office buildings with a mixed-use residential and commercial building that will will include 48 apartments and support the concept of “new urbanism.”

Brian Zelman and Avner Krohn, two of the principals of Farmington Avenue Acquisitions, said Wednesday morning that the existing buildings on the site are already vacant and they are excited for the construction to commence.

Avner Krohn, Brian Zelman and Richard and Zach Korris — who together own the two existing buildings as Farmington Avenue Acquisitions LLC — submitted plans to town officials on Friday outlining a 48-unit structure that would be put up at what is now 920 and 924 Farmington Ave., near the Blue Back Square shopping center. “If approved, this new community will offer residents convenient, walkable access to a wide range of services — restaurants, shops, gyms, groceries, dry cleaners, healthcare, movies, the library and many more — just a few steps from their front door,” Krohn said.

In West Hartford, developer Avner Krohn, of New Britain-based Jasko Development, a major force in apartment construction in central Connecticut, has partnered with Brian Zelman, a principal in Zelman Real Estate, and Richard Korris, of Jaz-1 Investments on the redevelopment of 920 and 924 Farmington Ave. The two office buildings, dating back to the late 1950s and early 1960s would be replaced by a 4-story, brick-and-glass structure, with one- and two-bedroom apartments including balconies and upscale finishes, all above 10,000 square feet of commercial space. The partners say they were attracted to location because it is rare that a property becomes available so close to the town center. They also see plenty of demand, with overall rental vacancy in the town at about 3%, according to town statistics, and even tighter in the center.

The Brit, Avner Krohn’s fifth project in downtown New Britain, will have a mix of ground-floor retail, including a restaurant, and apartments above. He envisions attracting young professionals who can commute to Hartford from the CTfastrak bus station one block away. “New Britain is blessed and lucky to have access points right into the downtown — Routes 72 and 9 and the proximity to I-84,” he said.

Krohn, who’s been in the development business about 17 years, said his philosophy with a project like The Brit is to create a lifestyle for his tenants. “You’re building a community. You’re creating interaction among the tenants,” he said. “People are not just looking at coming home from work and putting their head down for the night. They may be working from home a few days a week. That’s why we’re going to have an outdoor area that’s going to be landscaped and have grills. We’ll have a pet spa.”

Project by Jasko and partners Zelman Real Estate and Beechwood Forest Group meets growing need for retail, restaurants, office, medical services, and lifestyle amenities