Eight Firms Express Interest in Helping to Shape the Future of The Hartford Property in Simsbury

The town of Simsbury has received eight proposals from firms interested in helping guide the future of The Hartford building and campus on Hopmeadow Street. 

The town, in partnership with the Hartford, is looking for a firm to help it develop a form-based codes for the 638,174 square-foot, four-story building and surrounding 172 acres. The Hartford has announced it plans to sell the property. 

Form-based codes differ from traditional zoning by allowing a wide mix of uses on a property and focusing on design standards, interaction between public, private and open space and more.

The town recently sent out a Request for Qualifications for the project. 

As part of the process the chosen consultant will lead a charrette, an intensive planning process designed to gather ideas from a wide variety of sources, such as business leaders, the public, officials, developers and others. 

The consultant will also be responsible for interviews, site analysis, background information, publicity and much more as detailed here. 

The town has received 8 proposals. In many cases they involve a lead firm or two but often include partnerships with others since there will be many areas of expertise required, said Hiram Peck III, director of planning and community development. 

The town is looking to have a draft code by September.

"It's a very tight time frame for a complex process," Peck said. 

The Hartford Land Use Study Committee, with input from The Hartford, will work to select a few finalists for interviews and the hope is to choose a firm by mid June. 

First Selectman Mary Glassman was encouraged by the interest in the project and the reputation of those who submitted. 

"Eight major firms willing to help in this process is very exciting,” she said.

Those who submitted proposals are: 
 

• Ferrell-Madden and B. Dennis Town Design — State College, PA; Washington, D.C., Providence, RI 
  
• Code Studio — Austin, TX 
  
• Gateway Planning — Dallas, TX 
  
• Robert Orr and Associates — New Haven 
  
• BFJ Planning — New York, NY; Stamford, CT 
  
• Place Makers — Albuquerque, NM 
  
• Landscape Architectural Design Associates — Simsbury
  
• Carr, Lynch and Sandell with the Cecil Group — Cambridge, Boston, Mass.