Vacant Enfield building eyed for redevelopment

Susan Danseyar, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·2 min read

Apr. 25—ENFIELD — The town is working in partnership with a local construction company toward developing a long-vacant Weymouth Road property for mixed business use.

Leading Edge Construction of Moody Road has proposed purchasing 132 Weymouth Road, the former site of Porter and Chester Institute, and renovating the building for office space, meeting areas, first-floor retail, and storage areas.

The Town Council voted last week to use $150,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the public-private redevelopment project and to apply for a Connecticut Communities Challenge grant that could fund up to $1.6 million for its construction.

The town also has an application pending with the Capitol Region Council of Governments' brownfield assessment program to fund the second phase of an environmental site assessment, according to Nelson Tereso, director of economic and community development.

Company owners Todd and Serge Lessard are planning to bring the building up to code through improvements to doors, windows, and electrical, plumbing, and building systems, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.

Tereso said the project is designed as a mutually beneficial public-private partnership with the goal of creating new jobs in town. He said the proposed improvements would add value to the building, allowing the town to collect additional tax revenue.

The Weymouth Road site has been vacant for the past decade, most likely because the building requires substantial work for occupancy, Tereso said.

He said Leading Construction is committed to developing the building based on priorities of the town and state grant program. Those priorities include using the concept of transit-oriented development to ensure the building fits into the neighborhood and allows access through multiple modes of transportation, and adaptive re-use of an available building with existing infrastructure already in place.

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