A long-empty school in the Scitico section of Enfield, CT could get a second life. A developer named NHR LLC has submitted plans to redevelop the former Nathan Hale Elementary School at 5 Taylor Road into apartments for residents 55 and older.[1]
The building has sat vacant since it closed in 2017, and the town has spent years looking for the right reuse. Here is what the current proposal describes, who is behind it, and why it is a community story worth following.
What Is Being Proposed?
NHR LLC has applied to the Enfield Planning and Zoning Commission to convert the school into age-restricted rental housing, informally referred to as Nathan Hale Apartments. The plan takes an adaptive-reuse approach: keep the existing building rather than tear it down, and reshape the inside into apartments.[1][3]
The application describes the following:[1][3]
| Project component | What is proposed |
|---|---|
| Homes | About 39 apartments for residents age 55 and older (early coverage cited 38) |
| Unit mix | Roughly 31 one-bedroom units and 8 studios, plus townhouse-style units |
| Approach | Adaptive reuse of the existing 1962 building, keeping its footprint with minimal new construction |
| Existing large rooms | The former gym and auditorium would be divided to create additional units |
| Exterior changes | Pitched-roof elements and individual entrances to soften the building's institutional look |
| Amenities | Storage areas, indoor and outdoor bicycle storage, and a central common area |
Reporting has varied slightly on the exact unit count — some early coverage referenced 38 apartments and later coverage 39. These are proposed features, and the details can change as the town reviews the application.[1][3]
Who Is Behind the Project?
The applicant is NHR LLC, a locally based ownership group. A company controlled by Chris Marszalek purchased the property for $500,000 in early 2026 and is leading the redevelopment. The purchase price is separate from what the renovation itself would cost.[2][1]
To move ahead, the developer needs town approvals — including a zone change to a Special Design District and site plan approval. The developer has already fenced the property and begun cleaning out the site, and has said it hopes to begin construction as early as spring 2027 if approvals come through. A hoped-for start date is not a guarantee.[1][3]
A Long Search for the School's Next Chapter
The Nathan Hale school building dates to 1962 and served the neighborhood's youngest students before the district closed it in June 2017. Since then, the town has tried more than once to find a new use for the roughly 46,000-square-foot property.[5][2]
| Date | Milestone | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | The Nathan Hale Elementary School building is constructed at 5 Taylor Road. | Hartford Courant |
| June 2017 | The school closes; the building has stood vacant since. | Town RFP |
| 2023 | Planning and Zoning denies an earlier rezone request tied to questions about an incomplete environmental study. | Journal Inquirer |
| 2024 | The town issues a request for proposals; the Town Council later selects a different buyer (The Court LLC, at $750,000) for a plan that does not proceed. | Town RFP |
| Early 2026 | A company controlled by Chris Marszalek buys the property for $500,000. | Hartford Courant |
| September 2026 | NHR LLC submits the 55+ apartment proposal to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Submission does not mean approval. | Patch |
| Spring 2027 | The developer's hoped-for construction start, subject to approvals. This is a target, not a confirmed date. | Patch |
Earlier reuse efforts ran into questions about site conditions and environmental review. The current proposal will go through the town's normal public process, where residents can weigh in and the commission decides. Submission of an application does not mean it has been approved.[6][1]
Why This Matters for Enfield's Local Businesses
If the project is approved and built, a cluster of new 55+ households would move into the Scitico neighborhood. New neighbors mean new customers for the restaurants, shops, and service providers that already make Enfield feel like home.
For Enfield Marketplace, the connection is simple: help residents — long-time and brand-new — discover what is available nearby. Our mission is to connect people with local businesses, services, events, and community resources while encouraging everyone to shop local.[7]
Any boost to local spending would depend on whether the project is approved, how many units are occupied, and the choices residents make. That is our read on the opportunity, not a guaranteed outcome.
Get Your Business in Front of More Neighbors
Whether or not new housing opens at Nathan Hale, there is no reason to wait to reach more local customers. The Enfield Marketplace Ad Network helps neighbors discover businesses through rotating advertisements on screens inside participating businesses around town.[8]
The network offers:
- Free membership: Participation is advertised as free.
- Visibility beyond your storefront: Ads rotate at participating business locations.
- Local cross-promotion: Businesses introduce their customers to other nearby businesses.
- Community reach: Advertising appears where local customers already shop.
- Display options: Use your own screen or ask the team for help getting started.[8]
Enfield Business Owners: Join the Network Now
Help more neighbors discover your business—and help them discover other great businesses across Enfield, Connecticut.
Questions? Call 866-467-8631.
Join free. Promote your business. Help Enfield grow together.
Sources
- Patch — Enfield: “Former Enfield School Could Become 39 Apartments.”
- Hartford Courant: “Deteriorating ex-school in northern CT could become 55-and-over apartments.”
- Hartford Business Journal: “Former Enfield school proposed for apartments for residents 55 and older.”
- Journal Inquirer: Coverage of the Nathan Hale School property in Enfield.
- Town of Enfield: Nathan Hale School Request for Proposals (2024).
- Journal Inquirer / CT Post: Coverage of the 2023 Nathan Hale rezoning decision.
- Enfield Marketplace: About and community mission.
- Enfield Marketplace: Ad Network benefits, participation information, and contact details.
Project information reflects news coverage and public materials reviewed as of September 25, 2026, and may change as the town reviews the application. The photograph retains its original source credit; reproduction rights remain with the owner.