HARTFORD--While the recently fired developer and construction company fight to finish Dunkin' Donuts Park, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin says their proposal is simply too little, too late, and doesn't do enough to protect the city..
"Centerplan again was willing to say something to the press and to the public that they didn't back up with action, and it's disappointing," Bronin told FOX 61.
Centerplan Construction sent a plan to the city last Friday, proposing to continue work on the ballpark and pay for the extra costs for being late for now, but both the city and Centerplan could then work out who is responsible for the bill through arbitration after the fact. The plan also proposes that leaders of Centerplan, DoNo Hartford and city officials meet regularly to keep communication up-to-date.
Another part of the proposal says Centerplan and DoNo will be reinstated to complete the entire Downtown North project, but will be let off the hook from building the proposed grocery store, something local North End residents were looking forward to. The Downtown North multi-use project is supposed to include apartments, restaurants, retail and office space and a hotel, as well as the ballpark and the originally proposed grocery store.
Centerplan and DoNo say it would take several months to restart the project, and several more to complete it.
Centerplan has launched a website in what it says is an effort to be transparent about all future transactions. It offers a copy of the full proposal, which you can find here.
City leaders however are steadfast that this proposal is a non-starter.
