The Springfield Redevelopment Authority has selected a Boston developer to redevelop the city-owned Court Square properties on Elm Street.
The City of Springfield has chosen a Boston developer to turn a pair of abandoned historic buildings into a downtown destination.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno named Connolly & Partners as the preferred developer for a $50 million restoration of 3-7 and 13-31 Elm St.
“This project is something that will be very symbolic for what happens in the future for the downtown,” Brian Connors, the city’s deputy director of economic development, told Banker & Tradesman. “We think it could be a catalyst.”
Under the proposal, Connolly wants to build a mixed-use project that includes a 100–room extended stay hotel, 50 apartments, ground floor retail with a restaurant and a 120-space parking garage behind the complex.
The larger of the two properties is a 100,000-square-foot former hotel built in 1892. It features Beaux-Arts architecture, Romanesque stonework, bay windows and original oak woodwork. Next door is a Federal-style brick building that was constructed in 1835. The landmarks are located on a classic New England city green, across from City Hall. The properties were seized by the city in 2006 due to nonpayment of taxes.
In December, the Springfield Redevelopment Authority issued a Request for Qualifications asking developers to submit credentials and work examples. The agency re-ceived seven submissions. Later, the field was narrowed to four: Connolly & Partners, Boston’s Trinity Financial and two Conn. firms, CSM & Cos. and Lexington Partners. Connolly was the sole developer to respond by the May deadline with a detailed plan.
But William Connolly, managing partner, said he was undaunted by the fact that his company was the last developer standing at the end of the RFP process.
“I heard that one of the other contenders was concerned that they didn’t see anything else happening in the downtown,” he said. “But we are not worried because we’re planning to build a shopping center, retail and public facilities to revitalize the area. We are not blindly optimistic.”
