Visions For Vacancies: Enfield

ENFIELD, CT — It's time for our latest Visions For Vacancies column, in which we highlight a vacant commercial property and ask readers to tell us what they think would be the best use for it.

Forget what zone it's in, ignore setback regulations, dump lot coverage rules and all the other zoning jargon that puts most people to sleep. If you had your way, what would you like to see there? What would be the best use for the community?

Today we are featuring space in a commercial building at 25 Palomba Drive. Constructed in 1978, the building was home to Frankie's Firehouse Pizza for more than two decades before a fire in 2000. Stanley Frank bought the building later that year and moved his business, Gem Jewelry, from its previous home on Elm Street (the former site of Pete's Pizza and Wenc Package Store), which was demolished to make room for the realignment of Elm, Freshwater Boulevard and St. James Ave.

In recent years, Once Upon a Child has been the co-tenant of the Palomba Drive property. The jewelry store closed last year, consolidating into the other Gem location on New Britain Ave. in West Hartford.

About this column: In featuring available commercial spaces in Enfield, we aim to help residents take a proactive role in planning and building their community. Know of an available building we should highlight? Tell us in the comments below, or e-mail tim.jensen@patch.com.