Key Takeaways
- UConn opens its first Hartford dormitory, housing about 200 students downtown.
- The $29 million project converts a former office building into UConn Hartford student housing.
- Local businesses expect students to boost downtown foot traffic and spending.
The University of Connecticut has opened its first Hartford campus residence hall, adding housing for about 200 students downtown as demand for campus living grows.
UConn Converts Downtown Office Into Student Housing
The $29 million project converts a former office building on Pratt Street into apartment-style UConn Hartford student housing. UConn leases the facility, which is about a 10-minute walk from the university’s Hartford campus.
The residence hall includes common areas, study spaces, a fitness room, and a game room. The university says the building already has a waiting list, signaling strong demand for student housing.
“I think it’s a great thing us being the first ones to be in this beautiful building,” said UConn junior Kai Blatchford.
Students are expected to begin moving into the building at the end of next week. The residence hall is the first UConn housing facility for students at its Hartford campus.
Students See Housing As Part Of Hartford Experience
Students say living downtown offers more than convenience, giving them greater access to the city and its diverse community.
“I really connected with a lot of the students on this campus,” said UConn senior Arielle Crichlow. “I think it’s very culturally rich, and as someone who is originally from Trinidad, there are a lot of Caribbean people here in Hartford.”
The opening expands UConn’s presence in downtown Hartford and adds residents to a part of the city that has seen new housing development, including UConn Hartford student housing.
Earlier this summer, another apartment building opened nearby, adding more residents to the downtown district.
UConn President Radenka Maric said the housing project is also an investment in the city.
“The investment in our students is also an investment in Hartford’s future,” Maric said.
Businesses Expect Downtown Economic Boost
City leaders and local business owners expect the new student population to bring more activity to downtown businesses, particularly along Pratt Street.
Some businesses have already begun offering promotions aimed at UConn students as they move into the area.
“It’s huge. It’s just like a dynamic shift in our downtown,” said Rory Gale of Hartford Prints. “Having been a college student before, we want Hartford to be a college town, a place where young people come. They get to experience our city, shop at all of our businesses.”
The addition of about 200 students could increase foot traffic for restaurants, shops, and other businesses near the UConn Hartford student housing residence hall.
The project also adds residential activity to Pratt Street as Hartford continues to develop its downtown housing options. For UConn, the opening marks a new step in expanding the student experience at its Hartford campus.
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