[Above: Dennis Morrell, chair of the New Britain Downtown District presents
“222 On Main” property owner Daniel Czyzewski with a Facade Improvement grant.]

[Above: Attending the ribbon-cutting for “222 On Main” are City officials,
property owner Daniel Czyzewski and representatives from the Greater New
Britain Chamber of Commerce and the New Britain Downtown District.]

Published in the New Britain Herald on Thursday, 28 January 2021

Written by Ciara Hooks

NEW BRITAIN – The city held a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon to officially launch an integrated living experience at 222 On Main, which will be located downtown overlooking Central Park.

Historically this has been known as the Porter Building and has been vacant and dilapidated for years. Exclusive Properties LLC, which is owned by Daniel Czyzewski, purchased the property in early 2018.

“We’re very excited to announce the residential construction completion of 222 On Main,” Czyzewski said. This was a multi-million dollar privately funded renovation project a few years in the making.”

The five-story 55,000 square foot warehouse was converted into a combination of 43 residential apartment units and 7,500 square feet of retail and restaurant space on the ground level. The project took a little over a year to complete and was designed with the young professional in mind.

“Because of its size, location and not to mention all the obstacles we’ve faced along the way, this has been nothing short of an uphill battle,” Czyzewski said. “We have worked diligently throughout all the different aspects of the markets and construction phases during this time to get us to where we are today.”

In an effort to bring a new type of housing option to the Connecticut market, loft-style apartments and community space was combined into one integrated living experience. The project offers a combination of studios and one and two bedroom units. The interior features include an industrial vibe with exposed brick work, duct work, hardwood flooring throughout, quartz counter tops, stainless steel appliances and central air.

“The apartments range anywhere from 450 square feet and all the way up to about 1,250 square feet. The average prices start at $1,000 for a studio, $1,300-1,650 for one bedrooms and then two bedrooms are $1,750 plus,” Czyzewski said.

“This is really something. It very much reminds me of the lofts in downtown Manhattan,” New Britain Chamber President Bill Moore said. “It’s remarkable the work they’ve done maintaining the stain glass windows. The view from up here is phenomenal, it’s spacious and it’s great for people who want to live a luxury style living without the great expense of living in Manhattan.”

222 On Main currently have over 60% of the apartments occupied. The ground level is now available for lease as well.

Czyzewski is a former resident of New Britain and also the owner of Flip It, a construction company that specializes in a combination of residential and multi-family construction, restoration and development.

“The day he took one of the ugly pieces of corrugated metal off this building was a great and happy day for everybody,” said Bill Carroll, economic development director. “I truly feel in my heart that with the young talent that we have in the city of New Britain only bigger and better things are going to come. A property of this magnitude and what Dan has done in addition to the people we work with is just phenomenal I can’t thank you enough.”