STAMFORD -- The ongoing redevelopment of the South End may be drawing all eyes south of Interstate 95, but several miles to the north, Stamford's Springdale neighborhood is undergoing its own quiet revival.The city, state and federal governments are spending millions this year repaving the neighborhood's main road, replacing sidewalks and installing new traffic signals and road signs. Private developers recently added a new shopping strip to the neighborhood and are in various stages of construction on two new apartment buildings. Spurred by the coupling of low construction costs and high rental prices, the recent surge in development is the first real test of the neighborhood's new village commercial zoning regulations. The Springdale Neighborhood Association was the driving force behind the major zoning change, which took effect in 2009, and closely monitors new construction to make sure developers comply. "We held many, many meetings for residents and the architects and the city planners to put down in writing exactly what we wanted," said Marilyn Trefry, the association's former president who has lived in Springdale for 48 years. "We really wanted to protect ourselves from huge car washes. People did want to keep the village aspect." CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
Bridge would link Black Rock to Fairfield Metro
The new Fairfield Metro railroad station lies just over the border from Bridgeport's trendy Black Rock neighborhood, on the other side of Ash Creek.The former could use commuters. The latter -- a gateway into Bridgeport -- needs foot traffic to keep its businesses healthy and attract more investment.That's where a proposal for a new pedestrian bridge comes in. "It will help everything," said Gerry Manning, a Black Rock community leader. Manning and his neighbors last week were briefed on a feasibility study to better link the Fairfield Metro and Black Rock, with a bridge from the end of Fox Street, over Ash Creek to the Fairfield shore. Spearheaded by the Greater Bridgeport Regional Council, the study took a year-and-a-half to produce and, officials hope, will lead to construction of the bridge and related street and sidewalk improvements in 2016.
That's a relief to Black Rock residents who say it's too dangerous to walk or bike across the busy Brewster Street bridge by Showcase Cinemas to reach the station. "You've got to take your life in your hands to get over there," said Realtor Gail Robinson. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
Southington middle school renovation work on schedule
SOUTHINGTON — The addition portion of the $89.7 million Kennedy and DePaolo middle school renovation project is on track for completion next month, according to project officials.
The south and west additions are on time and will be completed by April 14. Brand new science, math, social studies and other classrooms will make up the south addition while the west addition houses the new administration area, music rooms and the media center. “They’ll be moving into those additions over the school break,” said Tom DiMauro, vice president of Newfield Construction, the project manager. Edward Pocock Jr., chairman of the building committee, is looking forward to moving items into the office and classrooms and seeing the transformation of the buildings.Even after overcoming some obstacles, such as determining technology used in the media centers and updating curriculum to make sure the right items will be in the building, Pocock said he’s been “happy” with Newfield’s work. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING
New London - A Maryland-based investment group announced Thursday its intention to pump $1.6 million into the rehabilitation of Huntington Towers, a three-decade-old downtown building with 120 affordable apartments for seniors and the disabled.Enterprise Community Investment Inc., a Columbia, Md., nonprofit that focuses on affordable housing nationwide, said its equity investment in the five-story apartment building was done in partnership with Leon N. Weiner & Associates Inc., a Delaware company that built Huntington Towers at 149 Huntington St. and has operated the high-rise apartment through its associated firm, Arbor Management, since 1983. The two firms will be co-owners of the apartment complex, with Weiner running the day-to-day operations. Chris Herrmann, senior director for Enterprise, said in a phone interview that a total of at least $2 million - including some money from the original developer - will be going into improvements at the 10,000-square-foot housing complex starting in April. Upgrades, financed through Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital and PNC Bank along with the partners, will focus on new energy-efficient windows, modern boilers, an improved air conditioning system, kitchen makeovers and parking-area improvements.
Consultants: Replacing Aetna Viaduct is avery long term project
Planners studying what to do about the aging stretch of I-84 above Hartford are estimating at least a 13- to 18-year period for designing and building a replacement.
The state transportation department says it already anticipates having to keep the Aetna Viaduct in safe condition for quite some time, and points out there's no budget for a $1 billion to $2 billion reconstruction or ground-level replacement of the highway.
"I think we're here with the viaduct for quite some time yet," State Transportation Commissioner James Redeker said at a recent legislative briefing about the CTfastrak busway. "We're just at the beginning phase of what to do with the viaduct."
Four years ago, a group of Hartford neighborhood advocates and businesses pressed for something more than a simple replacement of the elevated highway. Instead, they said in the "Hub of Hartford" report that putting I-84 at ground level – or even partially underground – would beautify the city, restore neighborhoods divided by the highway, recover acres of wasted space beneath the current roadway, and sharply reduce long-term maintenance costs. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE READING