Only days ago, we all watched as engineers and construction workers produced a miracle, replacing a critical bridge over I-84 in Southington over a weekend. No miracles from Congress, however. The leadership seems unable to agree on a bill to pay for desperately needed road work. And they’ve been at it far longer than a weekend. On Friday, our entire Congressional delegation issued a statement, urging the cancellation of Congress’ August recess so that our representatives can finalize additional funding for the federal Highway Trust Fund, which pays for most of the nation’s transportation projects. They joined such odd bedfellows as the state AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in urging action — now!. “House Leadership should cancel the August recess so that members can stay in Washington, do their jobs, and come together to fix our crumbling infrastructure and put the nation back to work.,” said the joint statement by the five House members: John B. Larson of the 1st District, Joe Courtney of the 2nd, Rosa DeLauro of the 3rd, Jim Himes of the 4th and Elizabeth Esty of the 5th. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Could mixed-income housing model work for downtown Meriden?
MERIDEN — The six firms that recently expressed interest in redeveloping city-owned properties downtown are proposing in concept commercial and residential developments that include mixed-income apartment units. Housing policy experts see mixed-income housing as an alternative to concentrating low-income individuals and families into one building or one complex. The model is also being considered as an alternative to Section 8 housing vouchers that travel with the tenant. By dispersing small numbers of low-income families into market rate housing, the belief is that the low-income families will benefit from some of the same networking resources, and adapt the same behaviors as the market-rate tenants. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Wallingford council concerned about lack of work at hotel site
WALLINGFORD >> Town officials want a North Carolina developer to explain why work on a stalled hotel project that he acquired last year hasn’t resumed. The Town Council wants a meeting with officials with Winston Hospitality to find out why the company hasn’t restarted work on the Hilton Garden Hotel near the intersection of Route 68 and Research Parkway near the Exit 15 interchange of Interstate 91. The company, which develops hotels, wrangled concessions from the council in April that are above and beyond the economic incentives granted to most new businesses in town. The deal the council approved will save Winston Hospitality nearly $400,000 in property taxes over a seven-year period once the hotel is completed. Robert Winston, chief executive officer of Winston Hospitality, had promised the council his company would fast-track the project once he got the necessary incentives. But the hotel site remains cluttered with debris and there was no sign of any construction activity there during several visits to the location this week. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Washington – It’s not often Connecticut’s Democratic lawmakers and the state AFL-CIO agree with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, but when it comes to federal transportation funding, they’ve found themselves on the same page. In a joint statement Friday, Connecticut's delegation urged House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to cancel the August recess and work on replenishing a fund that is the source of most of the nation’s transportation projects. And like the Chamber of Commerce and the Connecticut AFL-CIO, the lawmakers want Congress to find a long-term solution to the problem.
“With the uncertainty of funding shortages already casting a shadow over needed transportation projects in Connecticut and across the country, we cannot afford to lose another opportunity to truly strengthen the Highway Trust Fund,” said the joint statement by the five House members: John B. Larson of the 1st District, Joe Courtney of the 2nd, Rosa DeLauro of the 3rd, Jim Himes of the 4th and Elizabeth Esty of the 5th. The Highway Trust Fund, the major source for construction and repairs of highways and bridges, receives most of its money from an 18.4 cent tax on gasoline, but fuel-efficient cars have slowed replenishment of the fund. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Mixed-use site in development for Oxford
OXFORD — With many of its municipal buildings spread out along Route 67 and its schools scattered throughout town, Oxford does not have a defined town center. However, it could have one by this time next year if a proposed $70 million mixed-use development is constructed.
Capitalizing on the community's need for a central location, a grocery store and other amenities to serve a growing population, Haynes Development Co. is planning to construct a project called Oxford Towne Center on 32 acres at the Haynes quarry at 297 Oxford Road, Route 67. The company is planning a mixed-use development that's part of a concept called smart growth, where people can "live, work and play" in the same area. The plan is to build a Price Chopper grocery store with a drive-through pharmacy to anchor the development, which will also include 150 residential units — one- and two-bedroom townhouses and flats — plus a bank, a medical facility, an automotive service center, a chain restaurant and smaller retailers, including boutiques, beneath office space. It is also possible that a proposed new municipal library could be built in Oxford Towne Center. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
“With the uncertainty of funding shortages already casting a shadow over needed transportation projects in Connecticut and across the country, we cannot afford to lose another opportunity to truly strengthen the Highway Trust Fund,” said the joint statement by the five House members: John B. Larson of the 1st District, Joe Courtney of the 2nd, Rosa DeLauro of the 3rd, Jim Himes of the 4th and Elizabeth Esty of the 5th. The Highway Trust Fund, the major source for construction and repairs of highways and bridges, receives most of its money from an 18.4 cent tax on gasoline, but fuel-efficient cars have slowed replenishment of the fund. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Mixed-use site in development for Oxford
OXFORD — With many of its municipal buildings spread out along Route 67 and its schools scattered throughout town, Oxford does not have a defined town center. However, it could have one by this time next year if a proposed $70 million mixed-use development is constructed.
Capitalizing on the community's need for a central location, a grocery store and other amenities to serve a growing population, Haynes Development Co. is planning to construct a project called Oxford Towne Center on 32 acres at the Haynes quarry at 297 Oxford Road, Route 67. The company is planning a mixed-use development that's part of a concept called smart growth, where people can "live, work and play" in the same area. The plan is to build a Price Chopper grocery store with a drive-through pharmacy to anchor the development, which will also include 150 residential units — one- and two-bedroom townhouses and flats — plus a bank, a medical facility, an automotive service center, a chain restaurant and smaller retailers, including boutiques, beneath office space. It is also possible that a proposed new municipal library could be built in Oxford Towne Center. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE