100 Pearl St. in Hartford. Photo courtesy of Google Maps.

With the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupting its finances as elective surgeries and other non-emergency but revenue-generating treatments are cancelled, Hartford Healthcare says it’s reconsidering plans for a $24 million renovation and expansion at 100 Pearl St. in downtown Hartford.

“Hartford HealthCare remains committed to significant investments in our communities – including our Capitol city. Given the lessons learned from our COVID experience, and the need for prudent planning, we are in the process of re-assessing how to most effectively use the 100 Pearl Street location,” system spokesperson Tina Varona said in an email to The Commercial Record.

The company had planned to lease six floors in the tower. At least two parts of its expansion remain on track, Varona said: the Access Center and Community Care Center, both of which will open in July.

Part of the system’s decision to review its Pearl Street plans was the uncertainty surrounding state or federal aid for healthcare providers, who are spending large amounts of money treating COVID-19 patients and providing testing services.

When it was announced, the move was seen as another indicator in downtown Hartford’s late-cycle office renaissance.

“This space in the heart of downtown Hartford will be used to drive innovation, create greater efficiencies, and better meet the needs of people statewide who depend on our growing system of care,” President and CEO Jeffrey Flaks said in a statement at the time. “While many details are still being finalized, we are proud of this transformative project for the city of Hartford. We are planning a major announcement on the impact we expect this, and other emerging initiatives, will have in our capital city.”