Changing habitat
Sale of children’s museum property in West Hartford may bring upscale apartments, but it raises uncertainty for Conny the Whale, which would cost $200K to move
“A lot of people are a bit upset about [the museum] moving but, to be honest, we’re kind of excited about the future and what it is laying out for us. We’ve been in these buildings 60 some years, and they show it.” Michael J. Werle, the museum’s executive director
WEST HARTFORD — An apartment developer active in Greater Hartford plans to purchase The Children’s Museum property near West Hartford Center — seen as prime for redevelopment — with the museum now looking to move to a temporary location in June as it searches for a permanent home in Hartford.
Continental Properties of New York has reached an agreement with the museum property’s owner, the neighboring Kingswood Oxford School, and plans upscale apartments. A purchase price and detailed plans were not announced Tuesday. Formal plans are expected in late spring or early summer.
Howard S. Rappaport, a Continental principal, said in a release that he envisioned bringing “a beautiful, new walkable residential community to the edge of West Hartford Center.”
A redevelopment of the 3.5-acre property at 950 Trout Brook Drive near the intersection of Farmington Avenue will mean the relocation of the museum after more than six decades on the site.
Michael J. Werle, the museum’s executive director, said Tuesday the museum has two temporary locations in mind, both within a few miles and “no more than 8 to 10 minutes away.”
“A lot of people are a bit upset about [the museum] moving but, to be honest, we’re kind of excited about the future and what it is laying out for us,” Werle said. “We’ve been
in these buildings 60 some years, and they show it.”
One thing that appears to be for sure is that Conny the Whale — a 45,000-pound concrete sculpture — that has graced the museum’s grounds since the 1970s will not be moving with it.
The iconic Conny — now synonymous with the museum and incorporated into its logo — isn’t owned by the museum, Werle said. It was built by volunteers on behalf of the state to both recognize the sperm whale, Connecticut’s state animal, and to call attention to the indiscriminate killing of the creatures.
Werle said it could cost $200,000 or more to move the sculpture and with the prospect of the museum moving twice, it wasn’t financially feasible for Conny to stay with the museum.
The museum is in negotiating with a handful of potential new caretakers for the sculpture, but it remains uncertain who would pay for the move and any needed repairs, Werle said.
The museum sold the property to Kingswood Oxford in 2002 and has leased it ever since, with the intention of eventually finding a new site.
Werle said he expects the museum also will announce “in the very near future” its permanent location in Hartford — where the museum was founded in 1927. Once it does, Werle said, it would be two or three years before the museum opens in the permanent location. Fundraising for the permanent site is continuing, Werle said.
Redevelopment of the museum site would further strengthen the gateway to West Hartford Center and the Blue Back Square area, where apartment occupancy is tight. Diagonally across Farmington Avenue from the museum site, a project is planned that would demolish two forlorn buildings and replace them with 48 upscale apartments.
“This is a highly sought-after property in the heart of town, and we believe its sale will enable Kingswood Oxford to invest in its future as Continental Properties brings its vision to life in a vibrant West Hartford,” said John Cafasso, a broker at commercial real estate services firm Colliers International, which represented the school.
Founded more than 65 years ago, Continental has built 25,000 units of housing in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Florida, California and elsewhere. In Connecticut, Continental has developed and managed four projects: One Glastonbury Place, Glastonbury; Temp at The Promenade Shoppes at Evergreen Walk in South Windsor; and Montage and Alterra in Rocky Hill.
Tom Dillow, Kingswood Oxford’s head of school, said Tuesday the planned development will fit well with the school and the proceeds will be reinvested back into Kingswood Oxford.