Parking Garage Now Being Demolished In West Hartford’s Bishops Corner Redevelopment

The outdated parking garage in the shopping center at the southwest quadrant of Bishops Corner in West Hartford is now being demolished, part of a $20 million redevelopment plan that will add a Wal-Mart neighborhood grocer.

Work has yet to begin in earnest on the Neighborhood Market by Wal-Mart which will occupy the Adams supermarket space, empty for nearly a decade.

The outdated parking garage in the Marshalls plaza at Bishops Corner in West Hartford is now being demolished. Photo by Kenneth R. Gosselin/kgosselin@courant.com

The center’s owner, South Carolina-based EDENS, has dramatically scaled back from the $100 million redevelopment it envisioned in 2008 for what is known as the Marshalls plaza. It will add a TD Bank branch and several new stores, along with a community plaza.

A year ago,  residents at a public hearing prior to the town council vote approving EDENS’ plan were not told the name of a supermarket operator, but the plan included revival of the old Adams location. Some neighbors said they were worried that the project would bring more noise and traffic to their neighborhood, while town officials touted the area’s revitalization.

In addition to demolishing the parking garage, EDENS plans such improvements as new walkways, lighting and changes to the facade.