EAST HAMPTON >> Construction has begun on an ambitious mixed-use development that officials say could signal a new chapter in the town’s growth. Workers have begun putting up the first building in the Edgewater Hill development, which will include a mix of commercial space and an assortment of housing options. The development, which is essentially a community within a community, is being built on a nearly 74-acre site bounded by East High Street and Laurel Ridge. The project, which is being built by Dream Developers of Marlborough, calls for construction of 300,000-square feet of commercial space and a mix of detached single-family homes, attached single-family homes, town houses, bungalows and multi-family dwellings. “This is extremely exciting moment for the community and, hopefully, the beginning of any number of great things for East Hampton,” Town Manager Michael Maniscalco said. At present, only the first phase of the project has been approved by the planning commission. Assuming the full project is approved, the developers will alternate construction of commercial space and residential space as the build-out continues, according to town planning officials. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Larger road repair projects to begin in Middletown
MIDDLETOWN >> Public works crews, out in full force on city streets repairing an abundance of potholes created by a particularly snowy winter in the last two months, will soon move on to larger road projects around town.Middletown Public Works Director Bill Russo said come June, resurfacing and the installation of new sidewalks will begin in the southwest portion of the city, when students are on break and vehicular and bus traffic lessen for the summer.“Staff have been out in the last six weeks, three crews at a time, patching potholes daily,” Russo said. “Rain, sleet and snow and plowing really beat up the road conditions. During winter, we apply a cold patch which is only a temporary fix.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
West Street Bridge in Middletown to close for repairs
MIDDLETOWN >> State transportation workers will shut down the West Street Bridge this week to repair the structure’s surface.The state Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that, from Monday through Friday, maintenance crews will be shutting down West Street between Butternut and Middlefield streets.“Traffic control personnel and signs will direct traffic onto Route 156 south, left onto Butternut Street, and then back to West Street,” DOT officials wrote Wednesday.
Workers are scheduled to be at the site from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.“Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions,” wrote the DOT. “Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this vicinity.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Coast Guard Mueseum project digs in
Museum supporters gathered at City Pier with the barque Eagle and the lifeboat CG36500 as a backdrop to watch Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio and Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr., the Coast Guard commandant, sign the deed. Groton City Mayor Marian Galbraith and Norwich Mayor Deb Hinchey were there to witness it and to symbolize that the entire region will benefit from the museum.
“This museum will not only be a home for all the veterans of our Coast Guard, it will not only be an economic driver for our city and our region, but it will truly be a national treasure for all Americans,” Finizio said after the city’s law director signed the deed, certifying that it was complete.
Papp and Finizio then shook hands, finalizing the deal. “I have the deed, can you believe it?” Papp said as the audience cheered. “I think I’m going to sleep with this tonight.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
To build a new pipeline
EVERETT, Mass — A ship docks here twice a month, next to a scrap metal yard upstream from Boston Harbor. It pumps millions of gallons of supercooled liquid natural gas into two large white holding tanks. From there, the terminal makes the liquid into a gas, which is pushed into a nearby power plant, and also into metro Boston's distribution lines and New England's interstate pipeline system. The facility has extra capacity, though, to send out far more fuel through the region's constrained natural gas pipeline system. And that raises a question that the Everett terminal's operators, and others in the region, are asking: Is the plan from New England's six governors to build a pipeline that would tap into the cheap natural gas in states to the west really needed? CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
$10M in NPU work on tap for Norwich City Council
NORWICH — The City Council on Monday is set to weigh the fate of a trio of ordinances that, if approved, would clear the way for nearly $10 million worth of upgrades to the Norwich Public Utilities water system. Steve Sinko, NPU's chief financial officer, said the work will be paid for using low-interest state loans, and NPU will use water rate revenue to pay them back.
NPU enacted a 36.8 percent water rate increase in 2012 almost entirely to fund the work.
“The money is in the budget and has been for the last three years,” said Chris LaRose, NPU's assistant general manager. “But we have had to revise pricing and changed the scope of some of the projects because of new technologies.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE