The change comes fast in some Connecticut towns.
New three- and four-story apartment buildings began changing the look of the town centers in Portland and Windsor in 2025 — and set the foundation for a new community hub for Rocky Hill.
Three modern complexes brought more than just new housing: They’ve added a decidedly contemporary tone, and their size makes them commanding components of the surrounding streetscape.
Kelson Row in Rocky Hill created 225 apartments where the old Ames headquarters stood abandoned for years, Brainerd Place has built the first 100 of 348 apartments in Portland and the initial phase of Founders Square added 70 apartments in Windsor’s center with another 50 to come.
A blazingly fast spread of modern mid-rise apartment complexes over the past few years has reached most Connecticut cities and towns over the past few years, with the location and style largely determining how much difference they make to the community’s overall look.
The new six-story, 105-unit Trolley Pointe complex, for instance, made an enormous splash when it opened last year because it’s in the heart of Derby’s downtown and changed the skyline. But the five-story, 260-apartment Residences at Main in Trumbull had much less impact visually, because it’s located near the Trumbull Mall and far from the town center.
Height is often a factor, but not nearly as much as location. Vessel Technologies and Jasko Development largely completed five-story apartment buildings this year, for instance. Vessel’s 70-unit structure has no impact on Cheshire’s village center, while Jasko’s 48-unit The Byline has become a significant part of the West Hartford center skyline.
Among the complexes that made a substantial difference this year, Brainerd Place in Portland is on track to be the largest. Builders have completed the first 100 studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments, and another 248 with ground-floor retail are expected to follow.
The three-story complex dominates most views in the town center, and ultimately will cover most of the 14-acre site formerly occupied by the Elmcrest Psychiatric Hospital. Developers advertise a fitness center, outdoor pool and courtyard with grills, with apartments offering quartz countertops, modern stainless steel appliances, designer lighting, individual terraces and other amenities.
The vast majority of its units are leased at market rates, with rental agents citing a range of $1,660 to $3,125. But what’s currently available begins at $1,900 for a 586-square-foot studio and climbs to $2,760 for a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment of 1,213 square feet.
Kelson Row’s 225 units are spread between several buildings along Main Street, Dividend Road and Pratt Street.
Directly across the street is Rocky Hill’s tiny Center Green. Unlike many other New England communities, the Green didn’t spur a cluster of 18th or 19th century homes or small shops that later become the community historic district. Instead, Rocky Hill is hoping Kelson Row will create some of that atmosphere and attract more commercial construction to give Center Green the feel of a traditional gathering place.
The three- and four-story buildings are now the visual focus of that section of town.
Amenities include an outdoor pool, a fitness center, game room, pickleball court, coworking space and more. Apartments have granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and washers and dryers, with some offering balconies and vaulted ceilings.
The complex will include one-bedroom units, but the current inventory consists of two-bedroom apartments ranging from 1,086 to 1,323 square feet with rents from $2,675 to $3,060.
In Windsor, Gregory Vaca’s new Founders Square has given the town center an entirely refreshed look, but with facades that blend in a bit more with the historic buildings along nearby blocks. A failing and dowdy 1950s-style strip center was the village centerpiece for decades; Founders Square continued with first-floor retail, but added second- and third-floor apartments.
The first sections are complete, but an all-new building with 50 more apartments is under construction now.
Amenities include an outdoor patio with grills, a dog park, coworking space, a private cafe, a pet spa, a roof deck and more. Apartments have soapstone countertops, GE stainless steel appliances, Shaker-style cabinetry with modern hardware and subway tile kitchen backsplash. Some units have walk-in closets and private balconies.
The current inventory includes studios and one-bedroom units ranging from 535 square feet to 723; rents go from $1,805 to $2,180.