EPA Grant Recipient:
East Hartford, Connecticut
Technical Assistance Tools:
N/A
Grants:
Brownfields Community-wide
Assessment Grant
Additional Funding Sources:
HUD Community Development
Block Grant
A Sweet Treat for an
Evolving Neighborhood
East Hartford, Connecticut
The intersection of Main and Pitkin streets in East Hartford, Connecticut, has
seen a variety of businesses come and go over the years, including a gas station,
diner, laundromat and floor tile store. Most recently and notoriously, an adult
entertainment venue was shuttered there after several instances of illegal activity.
The site is uniquely situated as a gateway to both the town's Downtown
District and an office complex called Founder's Plaza, making it a perfect
candidate for redevelopment, according to Eileen Buckheit, East Hartford's
Development Director.
"East Hartford is designated as a 'distressed municipality,' which can make
Widespread economic development a challenge," says Buckheit. "We knew that
if we could transform this site into something long-lasting and valuable to our
community, there would be cascading positive effects."
The Opportunity
The town's Development Department Worked with the property owner to find an
appropriate use for the site and ultimately settled on a local franchisee of Dunkin',
the coffee and doughnut chain widely beloved by New Englanders.
However, the sale of the property stalled when the buyer's commercial lender
required an environmental assessment before moving forward. Both the buyer and
the town were concerned about the costs for site testing, but Buckheit and her
team worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields
Program to secure funding for an assessment.
"There was a sense of gridlock," says Buckheit. "Without the Brownfields
Program's resources and expertise, the project would have been in real danger of
never reaching its full potential."
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

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The Assessment
The town used approximately one-quarter of a $200,000 Brownfields
Community-wide Assessment Grant for Phase I and Phase II environmental site
assessments, which a local environmental firm conducted. The assessments revealed
no environmental contamination, but the firm did uncover and remove several
storage tanks that were a holdover from the site's former life as a gas station.
The Redevelopment
When construction began. Buckheit, still eager to achieve those "cascading positive
effects," began exploring how the town could make a deeper connection between
the site and other parts of the community. The Hockanum River Linear Park, a
3.5-mile waterfront trail that leads to the Downtown District, has an entrance near
the Dunkin' site, but the pathway to the trailhead was in disrepair The town used
a $100,000 Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to revamp the sidewalk and beautify the
entrance to the trail, which was completed in May 2019 alongside the new Dunkin'
"It just made sense,' says Buckheit. "Whether you're starting or ending your trip
along the trail at Main and Pitkin, you can grab a pick-me-up from Dunkin' on
your way."
The Benefits
When the Dunkin' opened, it was one of only 50 of the company's more than 12,800
restaurants to have a "next-gen" design. The design features innovative water runoff
technologies, an open layout, and warm colors to create an approachable and
comfortable atmosphere for customers. The store employs 25 people full-time and
generates approximately $29,000 in annual tax revenue.
Buckheit emphasizes that getting the project done required a team effort. I don't
think I've been part of a project before where all the stakeholders, from federal to
state to municipal, public and private, were all on the same page," says Buckheit.
"The town of East Hartford was a first-time recipient of Brownfields funding, so there
was a bit of a learning curve for us. But that sense of collaboration and desire to
complete a common goal Was greatly, greatly appreciated."
The new Dunkin' is one of a select
few franchises built using innovative
design practices.
This project is the
linchpin of
our town's
redevelopment
efforts in the area.
EPA support was
absolutely crucial in
seeing it through.
Eileen Buckheit,
Development Director,
East Hartford, Connecticut
then
April
2013
2015
2017
May
2019
now
Adult entertainment
venue closes
Phase I and Phase II site
assessments completed
Construction begins
Dunkin' opens
for business
For more information:
Visit the EPA Brownfields website at www.epa.gov/brownfields or
contact Amy Jean McKeown at 617-918-1248 or
' 	 		' ~ "	:gm SB0-PW174
mckeown.amyjean@epa.gov.	2521

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