Storrs Center – a dozen businesses now in line as new tenants

Select Physical Therapy adds to a mix of businesses that have signed letters of intent to become among the first tenants of the Storrs Center development. Photo courtesy of CT Department of Health

A twelfth letter of intent has been signed by a company that wants to be a part of a new development known as Storrs Center.

Select Physical Therapy joins The Vanilla Bean Café, Cosimo’s Restaurant Group, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Insomnia Cookies in the first phase of Storrs Center.

Select Physical Therapy has been providing outpatient physical therapy and sports medicine in Storrs/Mansfield since 1998.

Scott Cross, David Hoyle, and Dorinda Miller have been with the facility for more than 10 years.

Over the years, the name has changed from Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Associates to HealthSouth to Select Physical Therapy.

Cross said about being involved in the project, “We are excited to move into Storrs Center and look forward to continuing our strong presence in the community.”

For Select Physical Therapy, the location is key.  The company has been providing athletic training services for E.O. Smith High School for almost 10 years, and they offer aquatic-based physical therapy at the Mansfield Community Center, both within walking distance of the new development.

Mansfield Downtown Partnership Executive Director Cynthia van Zelm said today, “We are happy to have Select Physical Therapy added to the diverse list of businesses that will be in Storrs Center.”

Macon Toledano, Vice President of Planning and Development for the Storrs Center master developer LeylandAlliance agreed. “The mix of different types of businesses will be key to the success of Storrs Center.  Adding Select Physical Therapy to that mix makes perfect sense, as they provide key services to the community and work closely with other nearby organizations.”

Storrs Center is planned to be a mixed-use town center and main street corridor at the crossroads of the town of Mansfield and the University of Connecticut campus.

It is to be built along Storrs Road/ Route 195, neighboring the University’s south campus, the Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building, E.O. Smith High School and the Mansfield Community Center.

Plans include a new “Town Square,” across from UConn’s fine arts center, that will occupy about 17 acres of the overall 47.7-acre site. Plans also include a smaller “Market Square.”

The remainder of the site will be preserved primarily for open space and conservation.

The design knits architecture, pedestrian-oriented streets, small lanes and public spaces into a series of small neighborhoods that will make up the fabric of the Town Center.

Ground floor retail and commercial uses will open onto landscaped sidewalks and intimate streets to bring back traditional Main Street activity and shared community space. Parking for housing, businesses and visitors will primarily be in garages.

Posted Jan. 24, 2011