Building a neighborhood
By Kimberly Drelich, Day Staff Writer
Published: Jun 25, 2026 1:00 AM - Updated: Jun 26, 2026 10:14 AM
Stonington — READCO, an Old Lyme-based developer, is seeking to build a technology park with three large buildings on vacant land it owns on upper Route 2 near Interstate 95.
CEO Michael Lech explained there is now greater demand for technology space than when it received approval for the 80,000-square-foot Stonington Technology Center further south on Route 2.
So READCO is re-envisioning the concept as a technology park, but has shifted the project closer to Interstate 95, he said.
The proposed Stonington Technology Park would serve as a space for high-tech companies in a park-like setting with walking trails, Lech said. The park would be adjacent to READCO's Stonington Village development, where apartments are under construction. There is also a Stop & Shop supermarket and McDonald's, developed by READCO, next to the apartment development.
Readco Holdings, LLC and Readco Hookset, LLC are seeking a zoning map amendment to the Neighborhood Design District to add two office buildings and a light manufacturing building.
Specifically, READCO is seeking approval for two 80,000-square-foot, four-story office buildings, built in phases, and up to a 125,000-square-foot, two-story light manufacturing/research and development facility along the east side of Route 2, Lech said.
He said READCO is also reimagining how the land it owns at the corner of Routes 2 and 49, originally proposed for the technology center, could be used. Ideas include retail shops, entertainment, medical offices and multifamily housing. READCO would need to seek approval for a proposal there.
Lech said READCO, a larger holder of commercial properties in southeastern Connecticut, had noticed the pent-up demand for high-tech office space.
"There's just a lot of growth in this region, and we're anticipating that different technology companies are going to want to have a home in this region," he said.
Lech said the idea is to develop an environment that will lend itself to creating a strong technology footprint.
He said READCO is talking to a handful of prospective tenants for the technology park. He said the target is high-tech jobs, which can be anything from computer programming to computer design.
"They're high-tech, highly skilled, highly educated-type jobs, so it's great for the region," Lech said. "It's great for Route 2. It's great for Stonington, and it'll be unbelievably beneficial to the whole community."
The project is across Route 2 from an large residential and retail project being proposed by Breslin Realty on land it has owned for about 25 years.
No data center
Lech said he gets asked all the time if the plans include a data center. He said the answer is no.
"We have no interest in creating a data center," he said. "We want people. We want employees. We want economic development."
"We've created a little village for people to live in and shop at," he added. "We want to create life along Route 2."
Lech said READCO created the same concept in Old Lyme with the Eastport Office Park, home to Sennheiser Electronics, Brunswick Corporation, Hartford Healthcare, Pepperidge Farms and other businesses. READCO also developed the adjacent Chestnut Hills residential community.
"We see the need along Route 2 to create a comprehensive mixed-use village akin to Old Lyme," he said. "The two sites and towns share very similar attributes."
Lech said READCO plans to install a comprehensive groundwater protection system.
The application is scheduled for a public hearing at 7 p.m. July 21 at the Stonington Board of Education District Office at 204 Mistuxet Avenue in Mystic, according to the town.
Lech said the development would also require site plan approval.
If the proposal is approved, Lech said construction would begin as soon as possible and be completed in about 20 months.