New Delhi, June 26 -- WhenBrian Casella first set eyes on the aging commercial property nestled in Brookfield, Connecticut, he saw more than just dated siding and cracked foundations. He saw an opportunity.

"I've always believed that the most overlooked spaces have the most potential," Casella, a commercial real estate investor, says. "But this one? It made me sweat a little."

Casella, who operates through BDC Realty LLC, had a vision: transform the multi-structure property into a thriving mixed-use hub. The site included a deteriorating single-family home, a cramped commercial unit formerly housing a small retailer and a 6,000-square-foot facility that had been built for 5 separate commercial units.

The Challenges Beneath the Surface...