CT Construction Digest June 26, 2014

Stamford work sites cited on labor violations

STAMFORD -- A local, state and federal joint operation shut down one construction site and ordered contractors off jobs at two others Wednesday where officials reported finding violations of workplace laws."We visited five projects down there, and coordinated with federal (Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials), Stamford police and the Department of Revenue Services," said Gary Pechie, director of the state Labor Department's Wage and Workplace Standards Division. This is the second time the Stop Fraud unit has swept through Stamford. Last year in January, the group visited the city to check on several sites after seeing a jump in the number of companies misclassifying employees as independent contractors. By classifying them as independent contractors, the companies evade workers' compensation requirements. Other violations over the years include paying workers in cash to avoid taxes and sometimes failing to pay them at all. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

Newest Danbury school  on track to open

DANBURY -- The parking lot is not yet paved, but the sound of power drills buzzing like a thousand bumblebees suggests that opening day is not far off for the district's newest school, the West Side Middle School Academy. "We're about 94 percent of the way done with the project," said Robert Lezotte, who is serving as owner's representative for the district. The academy will occupy the old Mill Ridge Intermediate School, which was built in 1952 and closed in 2010. But all that's left of the old building is the shell -- the inside has been gutted and rebuilt from floor to ceiling, and a 4,500-square-foot wing was added to house a new media center. When it opens this fall, the building will be home to two programs: One is the 300-student STEM program -- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math -- now housed at Rogers Park Middle School. The other is a new Global Studies program, also expected to enroll about 300 students. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

Storrs Center developer raises equity for apartments

The publicly traded Tennessee company closed its stock offering Tuesday, and will use $171 million for two acquisitions and two ongoing developments, including Oaks on The Square apartments in Storrs Center. A spokeswoman for EdR, which is also known as Education Realty Trust, said the third phase of the project — which includes 92 apartments — is set for an August debut. The $45 million fourth phase, which will include 204 apartments, is in the early stages and slated for a 2015 completion. The total number of units after phase four will be 618.
Storrs Center master developer Leyland Alliance LLC, which first recruited EdR in 2010, will develop and own 35,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground level of the development.

Canton Selectman approve street scape project

CANTON — The board of selectmen has approved a design for streetscape improvements in Collinsville, even though the plan is overbudget. The selectmen acted on Wednesday and they authorized town Chief Administrative Officer Robert Skinner to put the project out to bid. Officials are hoping to get at least some of the work done before this construction season ends.
A $387,000 grant from the state is what the town has to spend on the project. But the architect who is designing the work said what is in it at this point, including changes that the selectmen asked for earlier this month, would cost $421,000. Skinner said once bids are received staff may have a better idea of how to trim the project to bring it under budget. Brian Kent, the architect, said things could be included in the design as options but not done once work starts if there is not enough money.
The state plans on installing a traffic light at the intersection of Main and Bridge streets. Kent said features of that project overlap with what the town plans on doing and that could help lower the cost of the streetscape improvements. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

Manchester to discuss school construction

MANCHESTER — The board of directors is scheduled to meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Lincoln Center to discuss proposed school construction and renovations. The focus of the discussion will be a comparison of costs and other factors associated with building a new Verplanck Elementary School or renovating the school to "like new" condition with an addition. General Manager Scott Shanley said Wednesday that the board is to vote on one option or the other to meet a June 30 deadline on applying for state reimbursement. The meeting continues discussions on a school consolidation and modernization plan that advocates say is a clear alternative to delayed and patchwork repairs that have left many students in inferior learning environments. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

Construction employment increased in 40 states

Construction firms added jobs in 40 states and the District of Columbia over the past 12 months and in 30 states and D.C. between April and May, according to an analysis June 20 by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials said the employment gains help, but that construction employment remains below peak levels in every state and the District of Columbia, except North Dakota.  “With demand for construction growing in most states, many firms are slowly rebuilding their depleted payrolls,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer. “But if overall economic growth slows, construction employment could backslide in many states.”  CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE