U.S. General Services Administration
GSA gathers community feedback for new Hartford, Conn. Courthouse
Hartford, Conn. is in need of a new federal courthouse and GSA is working to make that happen.
Approximately 75 community members attended the public meeting hosted by GSA at the Lyceum Center in Hartford on November 13, 2024. The hearing was a chance for individuals to learn more about the project and let their comments be heard as part of the environmental analysis being conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The existing courthouse, the Abraham A. Ribicoff Federal Building and Courthouse, was constructed in 1963 and does not have the space, functionality, security, and building systems to meet the current and projected needs of the Court.
GSA released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for public review on November 1, 2024. The purpose of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is to analyze the potential impacts to the human and natural environment from the proposed acquisition of a potential building site and the subsequent design, construction, and operation of the new federal courthouse. GSA released the Draft EIS for public review on November 1, 2024.
Currently, two city locations are being considered for potential acquisition and subsequent design, construction, and operation of the new courthouse:
● Woodland Site - a state office building with an ancillary building and a parking lot consisting of 10.19 acres at 61 Woodland St.
● Allyn Site - a surface parking lot consisting of 2.19 acres at 154 Allyn St.
GSA’s Draft EIS also analyzed a “no action” alternative where the Court would continue to operate under current conditions, as required by NEPA.
The proposed plan for a new facility includes up to 281,000 gross square feet, and includes 11 courtrooms, 18 Judges chambers and offices for court-related agencies along with secured parking spaces.
GSA accepted in-person comments during the November 13, 2024 public meeting. Written comments on the Draft EIS must be submitted or postmarked by December 16, 2024, using one of the following methods:
● Email: Send an email to HartfordCourthouse@gsa.gov and reference “Hartford Courthouse EIS” in the subject line.
● Mail: Send comments to the following address:
General Services Administration
Attention: Robert Herman, Project Manager
Abraham A. Ribicoff U.S. Courthouse
450 Main Street, Suite 435
Hartford, CT 06103
● Drop Box: Place comments in the drop box at the main entrance of the Ribicoff Federal Building and Courthouse:
Abraham A. Ribicoff U.S. Courthouse
450 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
Project updates and information, including public hearing materials, transcript, and audio/video recording, will be available at GSA’s project website: http://gsa.gov/hartfordcourthouse.