About the Burnside Church Brownfield Revitalization Plan
The Town of East Hartford is creating a comprehensive revitalization plan for the historic Burnside and Church Street Village area through a Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (CT DECD) Brownfield Area-wide Revitalization (BAR) Grant. This transformative project will identify strategies to transform underutilized sites into community assets while creating economic opportunities, enhancing connectivity, and implementing sustainable development practices that benefit residents and visitors.
About the Study Area
The Study Area encompasses the historic Burnside and Church Street village district in East Hartford, Connecticut, a compact mixed-use neighborhood bounded by Burnside Avenue to the north and Roberts Street to the south. Covering 182 acres across 190 parcels, this area represents one of East Hartford's most significant historic mill villages, characterized by its collection of 19th-century industrial buildings and institutional anchors.​
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The Study area includes several key community assets and landmarks:.
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Wickham Memorial Library
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Lower Mill, Middle Mill, Upper Mill
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East Hartford Middle School
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Bicentennial Square Par​k
The Hockanum River runs through the center of the study area, serving as both a defining natural feature and a connector to the broader regional trail network. The river corridor offers opportunities for enhanced public access, environmental restoration, and integration with recreational amenities. The waterway also presents both opportunities and challenges related to flood management and environmental remediation.
About the Brownfields Program
Brownfield Area Revitalization (BAR) Program
The BAR program encourages communities to revitalize neighborhoods with multiple brownfields by creating coordinated strategies that generate jobs, housing, and public amenities. Benefits include:
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Environmental cleanup and improved public health
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New housing, business, and recreational opportunities
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Historic preservation
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Economic development and job creation
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Enhanced community quality of life
What is a Brownfield?
Connecticut law defines a brownfield as “any abandoned or underutilized site where redevelopment, reuse or expansion has not occurred due to the presence or potential presence of pollution in the buildings, soil or groundwater that requires investigation or remediation before or in conjunction with the redevelopment, reuse or expansion of the property.” Brownfields can be former industrial sites, gas stations, commercial properties, etc.