What Will Happen to the Chuck's Steakhouse Building?

By Jessie Sawyer

Potential plans to put a bank and residential building at 784-788 Farmington Ave. (right past the curve on Rt. 4 in Farmington) might mean knocking down a long vacant former restaurant and a neighboring building with businesses inside.

Town Planner Jeffrey Ollendorf, who will retire in August, said that developer Robert Wienner of JDA Development has approached town planning officials about his interest in demolishing the former Chuck's Steakhouse and the white building next door to build a 12-unit residential building and a bank. The land in question is in a newly formed Farmington Center Zone for mixed use, he said.

The apartment building would be three stories high and have parking underneath, according to preliminary plans informally discussed with the Farmington Town Planning and Zoning Commission, according to Ollendorf.

Wienner, one of the original developers of Blue Back Square in West Hartford, told the commission at a June 24 meeting that he "had been looking for a new project."

It is unclear at this time what the plan, which has not been officially submitted to the commission yet, will mean for Green Dog Market and State Farm. The two businesses are located in the white building, that is owned by Farmington Country Club, next to the former Chuck's Steakhouse. If plans moves forward, the small building would be knocked down to house a new bank, the meeting minutes state.

Wienner has been in discussion with the State Department of Transportation about adding a back drive to access the property. it would empty out onto Route 4 at a "signalized intersection with High Street," the minutes state.

The property is still listed for sale, according to a sign near the entrance to the drive. Wienner has entered into an agreement with the current owner of the site, according to the meeting minutes.