Image courtesy of Metro Realty Group

Citing a lack of workforce housing near Farmington’s UConn Medical Center, a developer is proposing to erect a mid-sized apartment complex within walking distance of the hospital complex.

Prominent local developer Metro Realty Group has proposed to build a 146-unit apartment building on 8 acres of land at 402 Farmington Ave., part of an 18-acre parcel it bought from a local church for $1.1 million in 2019, according to public records.

The proposal gives 4.65 acres to the Farmington Land Trust and leaves about 6 acres of the wooded site undeveloped. The parcel size and location down the slope from abutting residential buildings gives it several hundred feet of separation from nearby homes.

The apartments would be located in a 4-story building centered around an amenity courtyard that contains a pool, patio and dog run. Plans filed with the town indicate 222 parking spaces will be provided in a mix of covered and open spots.

In a presentation to town planning officials earlier this week, Metro representatives noted that the neighborhood, which is home to a 4 million-square-foot regional concentration of medical providers, already has several multifamily developments. However, those nearby units include only 120 “modern” apartments for the 32,000 people who work in Farmington. The project will also include the construction of new sidewalk connections to enable residents to walk to work at any of the nearby medical buildings.

The project still needs zoning approvals from the town before it can be built, application documents indicate.