The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Space for those who have been ‘left behind’
$4.1 million multi-use project planned for Main Street property
MIDDLETOWN — A photo of JR Hargreaves and his Snow Elementary School classmates is a large part of the inspiration for the developer’s vision to create a multi-use building that will combine residential units with business incubator and events spaces, and much more.
The project is an adaptive re-use of the 20,000square-foot former professional building, roller rink and furniture store at 54547 Main St.
Hargreaves, who grew up in Middletown, points to the diversity in his fifth grade class photo as the inspiration for the project.
“It was such a diverse
elementary school,” the 40-year-old biracial developer said.
“It’s what I want the space to be: a space for folks who have historically been left behind. I want to create a safe space for the BIPOC community where they can hang out and build their businesses, live and come to an event,” he said.
That dream hearkens back to Hargreaves’ old neighborhood, he said.
“I had everything in my community. It did not matter what race you were. We played together and hung out at each others’ houses. Today, we need to help each other.”
What’s being called 545 Main Street is a privatepublic partnership, he said. The unnamed project sponsor has self-financed the acquisition pre-development work and initial demo and clean-up of property, which is estimated at $800,000.
The total development cost is approximately $4.1 million.
The project includes creating seven “workforce” residential units and over 12,000 square feet of lowerlevel program and office space.
Hargreaves applied for a 10-year tax abatement for just the apartment portion, since part of the facility will be occupied by a nonprofit organization that is expected to sign a 50-year lease, according to Director of Economic and Community Development Joseph Samolis. The organization’s name has not yet been released.
“Ultimately, the property’s value for the residential would be fixed over the term of 10 years, at the current value of the residential portion of the building to the estimate value by the end of the agreement,” Samolis said. “The value of the residential is estimated at $560,000.”
The project was approved unanimously at the last Economic Development Commission meeting. It is expected to be on the Common Council’s November agenda for approval, Samolis said.
Hargreaves was born in Middletown and graduated from Middletown High School in 1999. He lived in public housing — at Santangelo Circle and Daddario Road — until he graduated from college, he said.
The developer, who purchased the building in November 2020, said he realizes larger projects such as these often elicit criticism.
“Anytime people see a project, they’re always side-eyed or skeptical. I’m born and raised here, I live in town, walk the streets here, so everything I’m doing I want the [approval] of the town,” he said. “I think people will see that when the project is completed.”
“I want to applaud you for coming back to the community that you grew up in, investing quite a bit of money into this acquisition, and being focused on
giving back to your community,” Common Councilwoman Jeanette Blackwell said during the meeting.
It’s indeed an ambitious project, Hargreaves said, but he’s ready for the challenge. “I’ve always dreamed of doing bigger things. I think we have the right city leadership, the right community. For me, it’s risky, but I truly believe in Middletown long term.”
There will be space in the basement that will include urban farming; a sustainability/research/ teaching lab; and digital media space/podcast studio.
On the first floor, Hargreaves plans a start-up/ incubator space for technical, educational and social impact entrepreneurs — similar to those found at the city-owned R.M. Keating Historical Enterprise Park in the North End.
There will also be a space where practitioners, such as a chiropractor or acupuncturist, will be located, he said.
On the second floor of the old medical building there will be six “workforce housing” apartments, and one more on the third floor.
Residential units will be income restricted to individuals earning up to 120 percent of the area median income designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Hargreaves has pledged a “100 percent commitment to local disadvantaged entrepreneurs by offering the best-class office space and supportive resources at affordable and below market rates,” according to his presentation.
The nonprofit will oversee and implement an urban sustainability and food systems program, shared space and resources for small start-ups and small businesses, health and wellness program spaces, and a multi-use creative space, Hargreaves said.
Hargreaves said he knows recent college graduates who earn less than $50,000 and cannot afford apartments in Middletown. They also do not qualify for affordable housing.
“So, where do they live? I want to make sure Middletown has some residential options for folks so we can retain talent and keep people in Middletown. These people will be walking on Main Street, circulating their dollar on Main Street. If you look nationally at workforce housing, there’s a need for this population,” the developer said.
The old skating rink will contain a tea shop run by a local entrepreneur. It will also include four to six retail or workspaces, he said.
The project is being overseen by Northeast Collaborative Architects of College Street. The firm also designed the six-story apartment building at Court and Broad streets.
“There’s something special about Middletown and there’s so much more to do,” Hargreaves said. “I hope this project is the start of the next chapter of what we can do for the community.”