Plans change, but Meridens Colony St. building gets a boost

Published: October 26, 2014 | Last Modified: October 26, 2014 01:01AM

By Andrew Ragali Record-Journal staff

MERIDEN The building at 1-3 Colony St. was targeted earlier this year for redevelopment through Connecticut Main Street Centers Come Home to Downtown program. Since March, the organization worked with the city and property owner Christine Bonito to create a plan for residential units and commercial space in the five-story building at the corner of Colony and West Main streets.

But Bonito recently leased the vacant space in her building and will no longer be going through with the redevelopment effort, Connecticut Main Street Center President and CEO John Simone said.

Its one of those good-news, bad-news situations, Simone said. The spotlight put on Bonitos property through the program made her tenants realize this is an incredible location.

While disappointed, he understands Bonitos situation, Simone said.

The good news is the building is getting more life in it, he said.

Bonito could not be reached for comment.

Connecticut Main Street Center, an organization that aims to revitalize downtowns throughout the state, piloted the Come Home to Downtown program in 2012 along with the Connecticut Housing and Finance Authority. Property owners receive free architectural services through the program to develop more mixed-income housing. In 2014, Meriden was chosen because of its position near the railway, and New Britain was selected because it is along the states new busway.

The organization worked with Bonito and the city to create a blueprint for the redevelopment of existing downtown buildings. A downtown development audit was produced, and a public meeting was held in September to gather input from downtown stakeholders and another will be held in December.

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Plans change, but Meridens Colony St. building gets a boost