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Hartford’s Planning & Zoning Commission just gave unanimous approval to Levo International’s permit to operate a year-round hydroponic farm and education center in the Upper Albany neighborhood.
This nonprofit had been operating, informally, since May. The permit resolution addresses that past gap, giving the project official footing.
The plan is audacious for an urban setting: heated greenhouses, indoor grow zones, educational spaces, and a projected output of 50,000+ pounds of produce annually. The facility is also designed to create up to 25 jobs.
Even though the site is in a former industrial area, the commission pressed for environmental guardrails. Soil testing, wastewater runoff controls, and buffer zones were among the conditions referenced.
The Upper Albany Neighborhood Revitalization Zone backed the project for its alignment with local goals around economic development and food access. Levo’s leaders emphasized education and compliance, pledging to incorporate community input moving forward.
From a planning perspective, this is a strong signal: urban agriculture is becoming not just symbolic but infrastructural. Integrating food systems into city blocks addresses resilience, equity, and placemaking. But scaling this model demands careful oversight: nutrient cycles, energy use, stormwater, neighborhood interface, and long-term land tenure all matter.
Hartford’s move signals growing confidence that agriculture and urban form can coexist. If Levo succeeds, it could inspire similar projects in former industrial zones across many mid-sized cities.