Facelift For Former J.C. Penney Center Taking More Shape

MANCHESTER, CT — The planned facelift for the state's largest industrial distribution campus — the former J.C. Penney complex in Manchester — is taking more shape.

The Manchester Planning Department said Thursday it has received applications for a special exception modification and erosion and sedimentation control plan at the complex, located at 1339 Tolland Turnpike.

Plans are to expand access driveways and truck parking and install security gate houses and a fleet fueling station.

The massive J.C. Penney warehouse on Tolland turnpike in Manchester cleared a major regulatory hurdle in the fall when the local planning and zoning commission endorsed an application from owner Winstanley Enterprises to renovate the property for a distribution business with 700 new jobs attached to it.

The name attached to the application is Adusa Distribution LLC.

The facility at 1339 Tolland Turnpike measures 1.95 million square feet. Big picture plans call for 26 loading docks, parking for 76 trailers and 92 trailer cabs, a replacement for the rubber membrane roof and new state-of-the-art LED lighting are part of the renovation project, according to the plans.

A $40 million plan to spruce up the campus was unveiled when Winstanley bought the building last year for $70 million.

Former property owner J.C. Penney retains about 600,000 square feet in a usage agreement but Winstanley has always said it wants to fill the remaining space. The campus features 33,900 square feet of office space. The campus totals 162.48 acres. It was built in the early 1980s, according to Winstanley.