State Office Relocation

Another responsibility given to CRDA as part of the legislation creating the Authority is the construction oversight of state agency office relocation in the City of Hartford. The state purchased the two buildings at 55 Farmington Avenue and 450 Columbus Boulevard as part of it’s plans to consolidate employees from approximately 20 leased and ageing state-owned properties in and around Hartford. The state estimates it will save about $100 million in lease costs and maintenance over the next 20 years, $200 million when adjusted by inflation by the consolidation.

55 Farmington Avenue

The state purchased the high-rise for $18 million from The Hartford Financial Services Group in April of 2013. The 12-story, 287,000 square foot structure was built in 1990 and is located in the Asylum Hill area of the city. Financing for the purchase, as well as $19 million for the renovations, was approved by the State Bond Commission. About 1,100 employees of several state agencies have relocated from the state-owned building at 25 Sigourney Street to 55 Farmington. Those agencies are the Department of Social Services, the Department of Aging, the Department of Rehabilitation Services, IT workers for payroll and human services and the Criminal Justice Information System. The state has also purchased the garage at 50 Farmington Avenue to accommodate for parking for the employees.

450 Columbus Boulevard

CRDA completed the renovations to 450 Columbus Boulevard in 2016. The property, also known as Connecticut River Plaza, is a 575,000 square feet two-building complex built in 1984. The state officially purchased the Class A office tower for $34.5 million in August of 2013. The tower was essentially empty since its previous major tenant, United Healthcare, moved its downtown Hartford headquarters to City Place. Eight hundred employees from the Department of Revenue Services and the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities moved to the 11-story South Tower in June, July and August of 2016. Over 1,300 employees from the State Office Building at 165 Capitol Avenue have relocated to the 15-story North Tower between November 2016 and March 2017. Other relocating agencies include the Department of Administrative Services, Department of Agriculture, Consumer Protection, the Department of Education and Early Childhood and the Department of Economic and Community Development.