CT Construction Digest August 25, 2014

Pro and con to argue Mass. natural gas pipeline

DALTON, Mass. (AP) — Representatives of Kinder Morgan are scheduled to visit western Massachusetts to present their side in a debate over a natural gas pipeline expansion.

The Berkshire Eagle reports (http://bit.ly/VJLVJ4 ) that Dalton officials intend to organize a panel of residents to argue the other side. Kinder Morgan, parent company of Tennessee Gas, is expected to file a preliminary application for the 250-mile pipeline. It would begin in Wright, New York, west of Schenectady, and follow a route through eight Berkshire communities. It would end in Dracut, north of Lowell. The cost of the pipeline is estimated at nearly $4 billion, in addition to $2 billion for a route supplying natural gas. Opponents say the public will bear the cost of construction with higher electricity rates. Opponents in Dalton won a nonbinding resolution against the pipeline.

 

Slowly, a wave of walkable town development gains speed

 

A handful of people were already gathered around the stone fountain in Glastonbury center when a family of four parked on Main Street and walked to a table in the summer sunset to enjoy their burgers and fries. Nearby, a husband and wife from East Hartford sipped smoothies and an elderly couple looked out onto Hebron Avenue, where several restaurants, some with outdoor dining, have opened in recent years along a walkable one-block stretch. A young man was writing at a table near the fountain. This is village life in a town that decades ago demolished most of its traditional downtown buildings, replacing them with newer shopping plazas, small malls and standalone structures, each with its own parking places. Now, like many towns with a sprawling business district, Glastonbury is working to restore its center as a walkable place where people can gather, complete with color-coded signs showing walking routes. "It's kind of fun to be in the midst of things," said a man who gave his name as Travis, as his family set up to eat. But it's only fun to a point. Travis and his wife, Laura, chose Glastonbury six years ago in part because the developing downtown scene is quieter than the bustle of West Hartford Center. "That might make it too crazy," Laura said. "You want restaurants, but at the same time, it's nice not to be in an urban environment." CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

Economic development tour in North Haven highlights progress and opportunities

NORTH HAVEN >> The town’s first Economic Development Tour was a success, and there could be another one next year.  Members of the Economic Development Commission, First Selectman Michael Freda, representatives from Quinnipiac University and the New Haven Chamber of Commerce and a United Illuminating representative toured the town’s development sites that include works in progress, potential revenue opportunities and those that could pose a challenge. Frank Maher, a member of the Economic Development Commission, thought it made sense to give members of the commission a visual idea of development sites they sometimes only hear about.  “I thought it went quite well and we got a lot out of it. Hopefully, there’s an opportunity to do it again next year,” Maher said.  Richard LoPresti, chairman of the commission, would welcome the idea for another tour.  “Let’s hope that due to our efforts, that there will be new places for development and some new updates (on existing sites),” LoPresti said.  The tour started at the North Haven Memorial Library and made about 13 stops, including at the Cinemark Site, Yale-New Haven Hospital Walk-In Center, Pfizer, Pratt & Whitney and the proposed train depot.  “All in all, it was great. ... It was interesting to hear folks say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know that was here’ or ‘that it’s good to finally see what he’s (Freda) talking about,’” LoPresti.  CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE