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Hartford's Mixed-Use Projects Transform Downtown and Bushnell Center
Mixed-use projects advance around the Bushnell Center and downtown areas with new housing and commercial plans underway.
How we reported this
The Bushnell South Neighborhood Development is transforming 20 acres of vacant land and parking lots surrounding the Bushnell Center into a new mixed-use, mid-rise neighborhood and arts district linking Main Street to the Capitol.
Why These Projects Matter Now
Hartford residents see direct benefits from replacing unused surface parking with residential and commercial space that connects key downtown corridors. The Capitol Region Development Authority selected The Michaels Organization to lead the Bushnell South effort, focusing on vibrant residential and commercial space in place of surface lots. This builds on broader city efforts to create connected neighborhoods without relying on distant comparisons.
Bushnell South and Trinity Street Conversions
The Michaels Organization is moving forward on the Bushnell South area, which surrounds the Bushnell Center and targets the link between Main Street and the Capitol. Nearby, two historic state office buildings at 30 and 18-20 Trinity St. near Bushnell Park are slated to convert into 108 mixed-income apartments connected by a new pedestrian plaza, with a sale deadline extended to end of 2024. These steps replace vacant lots with housing and public space in established central locations.
Downtown North and Citywide Housing Financing
Downtown North (DoNo) Phase One, a $250 million mixed-use project by RMS Cos. adjacent to Dunkin’ Donuts Park, includes 270 apartments and commercial space, with ongoing plans for additional phases to expand the area. Nine new housing developments across Hartford, including Bedford Gardens in Clay Arsenal (84 units) and MLK Apartments in Sheldon/Charter Oak (155 units), received over $108 million in state financing to create 722 total units, mostly affordable. These initiatives add measurable residential capacity in neighborhoods such as Clay Arsenal and Sheldon/Charter Oak.
Development activity continues with these supported projects replacing surface parking and office buildings with apartments and mixed-use space. Local planning documents outline next steps for phased expansion around existing venues like the Bushnell Center and Dunkin’ Donuts Park.