Torrington Properties to develop Fox Run Mall Into mixed-use space
Will Martino
Torrington Properties purchased the JCPenney in Newington for $8 million last month, securing the fifth and final piece to their ownership of the Mall at Fox Run. The nearly 82-acre property — including the mall and surrounding buildings — now belongs to the New England-based real estate development company.
But what fate awaits this relic of the late, great American mall scene remains largely unspecified.
“It’s on us to come together to work collaboratively and do something with this site that everyone is proud of,” Jay Bisognano, CEO of Torrington Properties, said to Newington’s Board of Selectmen last week.
Bisognano said plans are to convert the area to a mixed-use development, consisting of retail, entertainment, and commercial properties. Despite speculation, Torrington has no plans to turn the sprawling lot into housing developments like many of their other projects, he said.
“The sentiment that we felt was that residential (development) was not welcome,” Bisognano said. “We’ve chosen to not fight that point.”
Brandon Arsenault, chair of Newington’s Board of Selectmen, was quick to point out that resistance to residential development was not just a reflection of local sentiment, but a matter of zoning as well. Newington’s zoning ordinance does not permit residential housing in the area.
But aside from the parameters of retail, entertainment, and commercial, it is not yet clear what is to be expected for the oversized buildings and sprawling asphalt lots.
“We will be thinking larger scale because we think the site deserves it,” Bisognano said. “It’s no secret to anyone in this room that you go to that mall and there’s a lot of pavement. It’s not utilized at all, and we just think we can do better.”