New Traffic Pattern at Dog Lane

Beginning today (Monday, Nov. 19), motorists will find changes to the traffic pattern near Storrs Center.  The newly constructed portion of Dog Lane will be open to two-way traffic.  This is the portion of the road in front of 1 Dog Lane (Subway, Insomnia Cookies).  Motorists will be able to turn right from the new Dog Lane to travel north on Storrs Road/Route 195.  There will be no left turn from the new Dog Lane.

Motorists wishing to turn left to travel south on Storrs Road/Route 195 will use a temporary road connecting the existing Dog Lane to Bolton Road.  This temporary road will meet Bolton Road at the existing traffic light. 

Motorists traveling south on Storrs Road may turn left onto the new Dog Lane or continue to the Bolton Road intersection and turn left at the light.  Motorists traveling north on Storrs Road may turn right at the Bolton Road intersection or continue to the new Dog Lane and turn right.

This new traffic pattern will be in effect through much of 2013 as construction progresses in the downtown.  Questions may be directed to the Mansfield Downtown Partnership (storrscenterinfo@mansfieldct.org or 860.429.2740).

Phase 1B Progressing

Mansfield residents are already enjoying the new and returning businesses that have already opened in Phase 1A of Storrs Center, and construction of Phase 1B is well underway.

With the demolition of the former Marketplace building complete,
there is a clear view of 1 Royce Circle from E. O. Smith High School.

Phase 1B consists of one building, 1 Royce Circle, which is adjacent to the Storrs Center parking garage.  This building is expected to open in August 2013 with 40,000 square feet of commercial space on the first floor and with 190 rental apartments from The Oaks on the Square on the upper floors.

One Royce Circle will face the future Town Square.

This image shows 1 Royce Circle as it will appear from the southwest,
where the building meets the future Nash-Zimmer Transportation Center.

One Royce Circle will help to define the future Town Square.  In addition to forming the east end of the square by its location, the size and scale of the building will help create a distinct sense of place within the Town Square.  A third, future phase (1C) will from the southerly end once it is completed in 2014.

Each of the buildings framing the Town Square will have commercial space on the first floors.  The restaurants and shops, along with wide sidewalks and outdoor seating, will create a lively environment in the Town Square area, where residents and visitors can meet and mingle, partake in community events, and enjoy living in a diverse university community.

While the construction of Phase 1B continues, the construction of Phase 1A is wrapping up: façades are being painted, businesses are opening up, and the streetscape is filling out.  To date, eleven businesses have opened their doors in 1 Dog Lane (Froyoworld, Subway, Insomnia Cookies), 9 Dog Lane (Body Language, Travel Planners, Skora’s Barber Styling Shop, Bank of America, Sweet Emotions, Select Physical Therapy, and Husky Pizza), and 11 Dog Lane (Storrs Automotive). In the coming months, six more businesses will open: Moe’s Southwest Grill, 7-Eleven, Dog Lane Café, and Mooyah Burgers & Fries (1 Dog Lane) and Geno’s Grille (9 Dog Lane).  

Demo of 1254 Storrs Road Underway

1254 Storrs Road

The former Marketplace building housed many businesses over the years, including Subway, Travel Planners, Skora's Barbershop, and Body Language - all of which are now open in their new locations in 1 Dog Lane and 9 Dog Lane.

1254 Storrs Road

Demolition of the building began recently.  The removal of the building will make way for the extension of Bolton Road into Storrs Center and for Phase 1C of the new downtown.

1254 Storrs Road

1254 Storrs Road

Open for Business: Storrs Center

Storrs Center is open!  Storrs Automotive, Select Physical Therapy, Travel Planners, Skora’s Barber Styling Shop, Body Language, and Subway have all opened in their new locations.  Residents of the first 127 apartments of The Oaks on the Square have moved in and are enjoying their new homes.

Subway is now open in 1 Dog Lane.

Additional businesses are hard at work preparing their spaces.  Froyoworld, Bank of America, Insomnia Cookies, Sweet Emotions Candy Shop, and Husky Pizza are expected to open in the coming weeks.

Froyoworld will open soon in 1 Dog Lane.

Dog Lane Cafe is expected to open in 1 Dog Lane later this fall.

And, later this fall, residents and visitors can expect to see Dog Lane Café, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Mooyah Burgers and Fries, 7-Eleven, and Geno’s Grille open their doors.  All in all, this first phase of Storrs Center will have almost 30,000 square feet of new retail and restaurant space.

Phase 1A = 1 Dog Lane, 9 Dog Lane, 11 Dog Lane, and the parking garage
Phase 1B = 1 Royce Circle

The next phase, scheduled to open in August 2013, is already under construction across Dog Lane.  This phase consists of one building, One Royce Circle, which will include more apartments for The Oaks on the Square, a 15,000 square foot branch of the UConn Co-op, and 18,000 square feet of medical offices for the UConn Health Center.  Additional retail space is available.

One Royce Circle is under construction and expected to open in August 2013.

Traffic Alert: Post Office Road

Charles Smith Way, formerly “Post Office Road,” will be restricted to one lane for the next several days to accommodate paving of the street.

Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians should use caution when traveling near the intersection of Storrs Road (Route 195), South Eagleville Road (Route 275), and Charles Smith Way.  Delays may occur.

Almost Ready for Residents

Construction of Phase 1A is nearly complete.  Work continues on the individual commercial spaces, the parking garage, and the sidewalks in front of the buildings.  The new section of Dog Lane, which will frame the north side of the future Town Square is completed but not yet open to general vehicular traffic (construction vehicles and the incoming businesses may use the road for construction purposes).

The original section of Dog Lane is now open to traffic.

The Oaks on the Square, the residential spaces on the upper floors of One Dog Lane and Nine Dog Lane will be opening soon to the first residents.  The Oaks staff is busy readying each apartment for the residents who will begin moving in next week.

One Dog Lane features The Oaks on the Square on the upper floors
and commercial spaces on the first floor.

Storrs Automotive and Select Physical Therapy will soon have some new neighbors in Nine Dog Lane.  Head Husky Barber Styling Shop (formerly Skora's), Connecticut Travel Planners, Body Language, Bank of America, and Sweet Emotions Candy are all hard at work readying their new spaces with a goal of opening by the end of the month.

Commercial tenants in Nine Dog Lane, including the Bank of America and
Sweet Emotions Candy, are readying their  new locations.

For a full list of all the businesses planning to open in Storrs Center, please visit www.StorrsCenter.com.

One Dog Lane and Nine Dog Lane will soon be open to residents.

While construction of Phase 1A is winding down, construction of Phase 1B is picking up.  The steel supports for One Royce Circle, which will be adjacent to the parking garage, are being erected now, and framing of the upper floors will begin shortly thereafter.  One Royce Circle will be a mixed-use building with commercial spaces on the first floor and additional units of The Oaks on the Square on the upper floors.

One Royce Circle is under construction on the south side of Dog Lane
(view above is from the south on Storrs Road).

Entering the Home Stretch

Construction of Phase 1A of Storrs Center continues with a goal of opening 1 Dog Lane and 9 Dog Lane in mid-August.  The Oaks on the Square (residential units on the upper floors) are nearing completion, while work on the commercial spaces progresses.  Sidewalks are being installed in front of both buildings.

One Dog Lane

Dog Lane remains closed to accommodate construction.  Dog Lane residents and visitors to Storrs Automotive (now open at 11 Dog Lane), Select Physical Therapy (now open in Suite 108 in 9 Dog Lane), and the businesses in 18 Dog Lane may continue to follow the detour (Storrs Road to Gurleyville Road to Bundy Lane to Dog Lane).

The realignment of Dog Lane is underway.

Dog Lane will intersect with Storrs Road to the north of its current intersection.

South of Dog Lane, work on the parking garage (also due to open in August) continues.  The garage will accommodate visitors to the downtown, employees of the new commercial establishments, and residents of The Oaks on the Square.

Adjacent to the parking garage, Phase 1B is just starting to take shape.  This next phase will consist of one mixed-use building, 1 Royce Circle, which will feature commercial uses on the first floor and residential units on the upper floors.  The residences will be part of The Oaks on the Square.  This building is expected to open in August 2013.

Phase 1B, a mixed-use building, will be adjacent to the parking garage.

Traffic Alert: Dog Lane Closed

Due to construction of the new Dog Lane connection to Storrs Road, Dog Lane will be closed between Storrs Road and Bundy Lane starting Thursday, July 19, 2012.  We expect this portion of the road to be reopened to traffic by Wednesday, August 1, 2012.  During this period, no access to Dog Lane will be provided from Storrs Road.

Businesses located on Dog Lane between Willowbrook Road and Storrs Road should direct their employees and customers coming from Storrs Road to use Gurleyville Road and Bundy Lane as a temporary detour.  From the intersection with Bundy Lane, Dog Lane will be limited to local traffic between Bundy Lane and Willowbrook Road to allow access to Dog Lane residents and businesses.  To minimize impact of the road closure on surrounding neighborhoods, all construction traffic to Storrs Center will be rerouted through University property; no construction traffic will be directed to local roads.

Please email questions regarding this closure.

Phase 1B Begins

While work on Phase 1A continues, the construction of Phase 1B has begun. Phase 1B will consist of one mixed-use building located adjacent to the parking garage. The upper floors will be occupied by The Oaks on the Square (rental apartments), and the first floor will have commercial spaces. The building is planned to open in August 2013.

Construction of Phase 1B has begun; this building will be adjacent to the parking garage.

The realignment of Dog Lane is proceeding with utilities work continuing. Once finished, Dog Lane will intersect with Storrs Road (Route 195) north of its current intersection. The construction of the new sidewalks and curbing along the existing portion of Dog Lane is currently underway. Dog Lane remains closed to through traffic. Local traffic to businesses and residences may experience delays due to the on-going work.

The sidewalk in front of 9 Dog Lane is taking shape.

Interior work on the upper floors has progressed steadily while the exteriors are receiving finishing touches. Work on the parking garage is also continuing. Phase 1A, specifically the parking garage, 1 Dog Lane, and 9 Dog Lane, is set to open in mid-August.

An artist's rendering of 1 Dog Lane, as seen from the future Town Square.
Image courtesy of BL Companies Architects.

One Dog Lane, under construction.

An artist's rendering of 1 Dog Lane, as seen traveling south on Storrs Road (Route 195).
Image courtesy of BL Companies Architects.

One Dog Lane, under construction.

A computer rendering of the north side of the parking garage.

The parking garage, under construction.

What a difference a year makes!

May 2011

May 2012

May 2011

May 2012

May 2011

May 2012

Getting ready for Phase 1B

The preparation for construction of Phase 1B has begun with the demolition of 10 Dog Lane (the former “Phil’s” building).  The demolition of 4 Dog Lane (the former location of Storrs Automotive) will begin soon as well.  Once both buildings are demolished and some other site preparation work is completed, the construction of Phase 1B will begin.

Demolition of 10 Dog Lane has begun.

Phase 1B will be a building built adjacent to the parking garage.

Phase 1B will consist of one building which will be adjacent to the parking garage.  The building will feature commercial businesses on the first floor with residential units on the upper floors.  The residential units will be part of The Oaks on the Square.  Lease negotiations for the commercial spaces are underway, including the lease for the UConn Co-op’s new satellite location.

Meanwhile, construction of Phase 1A continues with façade, roof, and interior work on 1 Dog Lane and 9 Dog Lane and interior work on the parking garage.

One Dog Lane

Nine Dog Lane is at left. Eleven Dog Lane, Storrs Automotive's new home, is at right.

Phase 1B will be adjacent to the parking garage, obscuring the blank wall seen above.

The utility work on Dog Lane continues in preparation for the realignment of the street.  Dog Lane remains closed to through traffic during the day.  Residents and customers of the local businesses may use Dog Lane but should expect delays.

Dog Lane is closed to through traffic during construction.

The work on the façades of 1 Dog Lane and 9 Dog Lane is progressing. As the work on the upper floors and roof finishes and the new businesses complete their plans, the focus will shift to finishing the storefronts.

Work on the facades continues.

Two businesses have moved into their new locations: Select Physical Therapy (9 Dog Lane, Suite 108) and Storrs Automotive (11 Dog Lane).  While construction in the area continues, they are both accessible and open for business.  Look for the signs along Dog Lane to direct you to their new locations.

Select Physical Therapy is now located in Suite 108 of 9 Dog Lane.

Storrs Automotive's new home, 11 Dog Lane, is located behind 9 Dog Lane.