The Consult

In April, HRP was pleased to learn that the East Hartford Logistics and Technology Park was awarded the CT Best in Class Industrial Award at the 30th Anniversary Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) CT Blue Ribbon Awards Gala — a night dedicated to recognizing extraordinary leadership and achievement in commercial real estate across Connecticut.

An active airport from 1939 to 1999, the 300-acre Rentschler Field site had sat largely unused for more than two decades. Today, thanks to the vision and dedication of a talented project team, it has been transformed into a regional economic engine.

Developed by National Development, the site now features more than 2.5 million square feet of Class A distribution space in two build-to-suit facilities for major national retailers. Strategically located between New York City and Boston, and less than a mile from I-84 and I-91, this development positions East Hartford — and the greater Hartford region — as a key logistics and distribution hub.

HRP was proud to play a critical role in enabling the transformation of this long-dormant site. Our team conducted comprehensive environmental due diligence investigations to evaluate the site’s industrial legacy and its potential for redevelopment. These efforts included both Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), which provided essential insights into site conditions and helped determine the feasibility and cost of moving forward.

As the project advanced, HRP supported the permitting and regulatory approval processes required to bring the development to life — efforts that also helped attract tenants and investors. We designed site-specific vapor mitigation systems (VMS) for the 1.2 million and 1.3 million square foot distribution centers and provided full oversight during their installation. The tailored VMS design not only met environmental and regulatory needs, but also resulted in a $1 million reduction in construction costs.

HRP’s development support extended to overseeing soil reuse and imported materials, managing stormwater features, and coordinating environmental response actions with state regulators, construction managers, and project stakeholders. We also reviewed the site’s construction design plans to ensure safe management of soil and groundwater throughout the build-out process.

Beyond the buildings themselves, the project is expected to drive job creation, increase tax revenue, and strengthen infrastructure in the area. It’s no surprise that state and local leaders have called it a transformational project for East Hartford.

HRP is honored to have been a trusted partner in a project that is not only reshaping a former airfield, but also redefining the future of logistics and technology in Connecticut.

Check out some before and after coverage of the site by following the links below to our YouTube Channel.

Before  After