What's Happening in Hartford, CT…

New York investor Ray Bauer has completed a purchase of the Fuller Brush Company complex and plans to renovate it.

Bauer, who owns various properties in Westchester County as well as Manhattan, said he and a business partner plan to make several million dollars' worth of renovations to rejuvenate the property. Although Bauer has renovated properties in other states, the Fuller Brush complex is his first Connecticut project.

Fuller, known for its technique of selling brushes door-to-door, built its Hartford location in 1922, and consolidated eight city locations. The property is in the North End, and has remained a Hartford landmark even though Fuller Brush left in 1962.

At the moment, two Connecticut state agencies, labor and social services, anchor the site. However, the state is trying to consolidate its various offices, so these leases may expire. Bauer said he is open to multiple tenants in the complex, which comprises 320,000 square feet, and includes two main buildings divided into approximately 12 smaller structures.

Bauer also noted that the property, which sits on 12 acres, could be used as housing, which would be in line with other cities that have renovated industrial sites into apartments and condos.

Since Bauer is looking for tenants, he could consider working with brochure printers to create a mailer for area realtors, describing his plans and including artists' renderings of the renovated complex.