28 High Street

The former Lewtan Building is located in the west end of downtown and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Now, the century-plus old structure has been converted into new market and affordable-rate apartments.

James Batterson built the 22,275-square-foot structure in 1860 as the first building in a planned block. The district included the buildings at 402-418 Asylum Street and 175-189 Allyn Street. The Gothic and Romanesque Revival architecture is typical of the style found in the city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Batterson’s New England Granite Company was the first business to occupy the space. The building changed hands many times before finally ending up as the home to Lewtan Industries, for which the building is most recently named. Batterson went on to form the Travelers Insurance Company in 1863, served as the company’s first president, and whose headquarters became New England’s first skyscraper.

The Lewtan Building joins the Judd and Root Building at 179 Allyn Street, another CRDA-sponsored property in the High Street Historic District, recently converted into apartments. The 28 studio, one and two-bedroom units will be 80 percent market, 20 percent affordable-rate rents based on income. The estimated market-rate rents range between $1,000-$1,050 for the studios, $1,150-$1,250 for one-bedroom units, and 1,600-$1,800 for the two-bedroom units. Unit design elements include 12-foot high ceilings, exposed brick walls, tin-embossed ceilings, and original timber beams. The project is the first of its kind in Hartford for commercial property investor, Constantinos Constantinou and is just a block from the XL Center and steps away from Union Station and Bushnell Park, an area that continues to see transit-oriented development.

The $5.5 million project received a $1.9 million construction loan from the Capital Region Development Authority and $1.2 million in state historical tax credits. The apartments are open for leasing.

Property Amenities and Unit Features Include:

• Secure Building Entry
• Elevators
• In-unit Electric Hot Water Heater
• Exposed Duct Work
• In-Unit Laundry
• Stainless Steel Appliances
• Individually-Metered Unit Air Conditioning/Natural Gas Heating
• Off-street parking (additional monthly fee)

Retail is planned for the street level of the properties.