Gov. Dannel P. Malloy was in Bridgeport Wednesday, July 16, 2014, to announce funding for a new train station at the site of the former Remington Arms factory on the south side of Barnum Avenue. Local 478 business representative Duane Gates, center, introduces Gov. Malloy to Michael Robinson, the business representative for the greater Bridgeport area of the Local 210's Carpenter Union following a press conference.
BRIDGEPORT -- City and state officials stood at the desolate Barnum Avenue lot next to the railroad tracks and envisioned what could come with a second train station there.
Local businesses and Bridgeport Hospital employees could more easily access their places of employment. The owner of the remaining Remington Arms factory buildings across the street could see a worthy return for demolishing the existing buildings and remediating the property.
And plans to build a mixed-use development on the former Father Panik Village site across the tracks could be bigger and bolder. "We're talking about a complete transformation that the government needed to invest in," said Mayor Bill Finch. And on Wednesday, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced he was doing just that by putting $2.75 million on the State Bond Commission's agenda for the proposed P.T. Barnum station's design, with an opening projected for 2018.
It was the governor's second trip to the city, which played a key role in his 2010 election, in as many days. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Train council gets peek at plan for Stamford station
STAMFORD – Stamford Manhattan Development Venture presented its $1 billion plan for mixed use development at the train station to the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council Wednesday night.
Meeting on the third floor of the Government Center, SMDV Principal, John McClutchy walked the council, a government appointed panel representing the interests of train commuters, through the plan. He is proposing to create a new 975 space garage on South State Street, construct a multi-use building on the site of the old 1980s garage and an accompanying building on Manhattan Street. Combined the project would create 30,000 square feet of commercial space, 300,000 square feet of office, a 155-room hotel and 165 apartments. He said this represents a $1 billion investment in Stamford.By the way this is also a transit oriented development, a notion that was all the rage a decade ago. McClutchy noted that there are two demographic forces at work to support this type of development Boomers wanting to downsize to smaller homes in walkable cities with access to public transit and the millennials who are environmentally conscious and interested in using public transit.
One caveat that has come up in other industry analysis of millenddials, however, is that they are now just beginning to have families and might be, like other generations, interested in moving to the suburbs to raise families in roomier homes. That’s out of the National Home Builders Association, by the way. Ok, back to Stamford’s train station. There’s been a concern in Stamford that the Department of Transportation, which is spearheading this development, could cut the city out of the design and planning of the project due to sovereignty. While the DOT maintains it does have privilege in the matter, a deputy commissioner told the council the State is working with Stamford, though it doesn’t have to. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
NY board approves $256M Tappan Zee Bridge Loan
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A state board on Wednesday approved half of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to use clean water funds to help finance construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge.
The Public Authorities Control Board authorized the $256 million, five-year, no interest loan from the Environmental Facilities Corp. after two members noted federal authorities haven't signed off yet and the full project cost and future bridge and highway toll hikes are still unknown. "The Tappan Zee Bridge is an essential bridge for the state of New York," state Sen. John DeFrancisco, a Syracuse Republican and board member, said afterward. He said that the funding has to come from someplace and that he believes there's enough flexibility in the environmental law to allow this use.
He said he'll consider withholding approval for the next loan if he's still lacking a full accounting of the cost and expected toll hikes. The Thruway Authority's request for a second $256 million loan at 4 percent interest, originally on Wednesday's agenda, was postponed. Officials said it will be resubmitted to get more funding in 2016. Thruway Authority Executive Director Tom Madison said they expect no toll increases next year and the low-cost loans will help keep future toll increases lower. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Asbestos abatement underway at Greenwich High School
Asbestos abatement is underway at Greenwich High School, work that is related to the construction of the MISA performing-arts complex. The abatement is being done on a band room wall, which is being opened to connect a hallway adjacent to the school’s current auditorium to the galleria of the new auditorium being built. “Now that the wall is coming down, there’s a need to abate it because it’s being exposed,” said Ron Matten, the school district’s director of facilities.
The asbestos was sealed in the wall and did not present a health risk to students and staff before the abatement, Matten said. The abatement work started July 10 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of this week, according to Matten. While the abatement is taking place, minors are not allowed in the Greenwich High building. A handful of students are visiting the building this summer for activities such as school registration and placement tests. Carrying out the abatement without students in the building will cost less than doing the work with them in the building, according to Matten.
“Both methods are equally safe, but there’s a higher degree of monitoring when we have minors in the building,” Matten added. “It’s just a higher degree of comfort for parents that we’re doing when their children are not in the building. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Berlin police station faces another hurdle in construction plans
BERLIN — After years of discussion and planning, the building of a new police station still hangs in limbo. At the urging of Town Council Republicans, a scheduled public hearing regarding $21 million in bonding for the project has been pushed back to September. This will almost certainly further delay construction of the new police department. Republican Town Committee officials said their asking for a later public hearing date comes with good reason. “The Berlin Republicans would like nothing more than to provide those who protect us every day with the newest and best technology to assure they can go home safely to their families and to protect our citizens,” party leader Anne Reilly said, regarding the move to set a hearing date for Sept. 16. “That’s very important to all of us in town. What the BRTC is asking is that our citizens make the final call on this project.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Demolition on National Welding makes way for CTfastrak
NEWINGTON — If all goes as planned, the former National Welding building at the intersection of Rt. 175 and Fenn Road will be demolished by the end of this year, making room for new development around CTfastrak’s adjacent Cedar Street Station. At its July 22 meeting, Town Council will vote on authorizing Town Manager John Salomone to enter into contract with the state Department of Economic Development, which awarded the town $2 million for the demolition and abatement of the blighted 3.9-acre Brownfield site. Since the council accepted the grant in February a lot has happened behind the scenes to move the project along, according to Town Economic Development Director Andy Brecher, who addressed councilors at their meeting Tuesday.
“The drawings and specifications for the demolition and abatement have been developed,” he said, adding, “Unfortunately, more PCBs and contamination were found. It’s going to be a little more expensive than any of us had hoped.” In order for the project to stay within its $4 million budget, the town is seeking a go-ahead from the Department of Public Health to use alternative work practices to abate the site. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Wethersfield approves extended hours for construction of CREC's Discovery Academy
WETHERSFIELD — Over the objections of some neighbors, the planning and zoning commission on Tuesday granted the Capital Region Education Council's request for extended construction hours at its new Discovery Academy. The commission ordered major work at the Cumberland Avenue site to stop by 4 p.m. and gates to close at 5 p.m., an hour earlier than CREC wanted. It also lifted the ban on Saturday work. Denis Harrison, whose home at 3 Park Avenue is directly across the street from the site, expressed disappointment with the ruling. "I think they were too easy on them," he said. "We have to live with it. Money talks. I'm just a little guy." Zoning commission Chairman Rich Roberts said the commission sympathized with neighbors, but felt it was better for them to grant extra hours and get the $35 million school done faster. CREC, which operates magnet schools in Greater Hartford, has said that without the expanded hours, work would extend at last three months past its August 2015 completion date. "I think that getting the project over with sooner, balancing that with not giving CREC all the hours they requested, seemed to be what the commission's objective was," Roberts said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
New Haven planners approve Chatham, Hamilton projects
NEW HAVEN >> Developments on Chatham and Hamilton streets can proceed after the city’s Plan Commission approved site plans for both locations. Regina Winters, owner of Zared Enterprises on Blatchley Avenue, presented the plans to the commission for the 32-unit affordable housing complex.
“It’s a severely neglected site. We feel this will be a great transformation,” Winters said. The Chatham project is expected to cost about $23 million and the first phase of the Hamilton project could cost about $40 million The housing complex will take the place of an abandoned industrial warehouse on 197 Chatham St., which will be demolished. The complex will consist of a community space and a small office along with the two- and three-bedroom units. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Seymour Lumber & Supply will face wrecking ball
SEYMOUR >> Town officials hope the former historic Seymour Lumber & Supply Co., which has remained a vacant eyesore downtown for the past six years, will face the wrecking ball within the next 30 days. That’s according to Economic Development Director Fred A. Messore who said an alternative demolition plan for the property at 78-101 Bank St. is awaiting approval from the state Department of Public Health. Once approval is granted, which Messore expects should happen within the next two weeks or so, a demolition permit from the town needs to be applied for, and work can commence. Messore said property owner Thomas Tkacz already has several contractors lined up to perform not only air quality monitoring and asbestos removal, but for the actual demolition itself.
The initial plan, according to Messore, was to remove asbestos and other contaminants inside the building, prior to demolition. However, because the dilapidated structure has been deemed “unsafe” for workers to be inside by the town building inspector, Messore said the plan is to now take the building down “hot” with the contaminants inside. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
O&G to host reunion for retired workers
TORRINGTON >> Inside a small first-floor conference room, Raymond R. Oneglia flicked his iPhone and started playing a song that made his eyes water. The vice chairman of one of the city’s biggest businesses, O&G Industries, is planning on playing the song — “Like a Rock” by Bob Seger — after he makes some remarks during a special company reunion this Sunday. It’s a rock song released in the 1980s; a breezy, easygoing anthem, but the lyrics talking about strength and persistence get to him. Oneglia was 16 when he assisted building Route 8 for the company his father, Ray, helped establish. Now 66, Oneglia said he chose the song because portions of it characterize the vision many of the workers had when they first started out at the company. “This is the typical young construction worker; they’re like a rock, standing arrow straight,” Oneglia said Wednesday, quoting the song. The reunion, which is helping bring together retired employees of the company, will take place at Elk’s Pond on Guerdat Road in Torrington. Past and present employees have kept the company going, Oneglia said, and the picnic is a celebration for them, not necessarily the company. “This business wouldn’t be here without the hard work, dedication and loyalty of our employees,” Oneglia said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
State to help repair Naugatuck bridge
NAUGATUCK — The state Department of Transportation has agreed to fund about half of a local bridge repair project that officials have discussed for more than a decade. DOT notified Naugatuck officials this week that the borough will receive $3.19 million from the state's local bridge program to repair the century-old Whittemore Bridge across the Naugatuck River on Maple Street — which was designed by famed architect Henry Bacon, designer of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.. The total cost of the project is estimated at $6.75 million, said Naugatuck Public Works Director Jim Stewart, a certified engineer who is overseeing the project for the borough.
"If all goes as planned, we would begin construction by next summer," he said. With the state grant, Naugatuck has more than $5 million for the project. Voters approved about $2 million several years ago. Taxpayers will be asked at a referendum this fall whether to bond an additional $1 million to cover the cost. The DOT has ruled that the bridge is in need of repair. Stewart said it is not a safety hazard, but noted that the bridge does have a 40-ton weight restriction, meaning that some large trucks cannot use it. The state has said that concrete on top of the bridge's arches is rotting and must be replaced. The riverbed will be excavated to add stone to the footings, which have deteriorated due to flowing water over the decades, the DOT stated. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE