HARTFORD — A $35 million renovation of the city's aging XL Center arena is nearly complete: Black granite shines in the new fan club; lighted signs brighten a refreshed concourse; and lower-level loge boxes offer premium seating closer to the action. But the four-month project is little more than a warm-up for what is coming next: a crucial study on the future of the 39-year-old arena.
The Capital Region Development Authority, which controls the XL Center, has hired SCI Architects of New York and its consulting team to find an answer to a long-debated question. Could the existing venue — and its 16,000-seat arena — be retrofitted so it can offer what will be expected of arenas in the next several decades, or should it be scrapped altogether? It's time to call the big question," Michael W. Freimuth, CRDA's executive director, said. "The work ahead is going to have substantial consequences. This study is a critical component to charting the optimal course." The long-term viability of the arena has been questioned for years, and the recent renovations are expected to take the XL Center only through the next decade, if that. Whatever the outcome of the SCI study, the cost of a major redevelopment could easily run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, with a public subsidy most certainly needed. And it would require something even more tricky: marshaling the political, corporate and tenant support to make the venture possible.
A new arena could cost $400 million or more, by some estimates. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Ansonia starts at the top for infrastructure repair projects
ANSONIA >> Three city-owned buildings are in line to get some much-needed new roofs over their heads. The Board of Aldermen during its Oct. 14 meeting unanimously approved bids for the roofing projects. The projects were included in an overall $5 million bond referendum for city infrastructure improvements that residents approved last November. City officials had said with interest rates at historically low rates, and paying off some maturing debt, enabled the city to take on some new debt with no increase to taxes. Scholar Painting of Seymour was awarded two of the three roofing jobs. They were the low-bidders for both the City Hall roof, at $28,231, and the Nolan Field Athletic Complex field house roof, at $17,830. DiGiorgi Roofing & Siding, Inc. of Beacon Falls was awarded the roofing job at Eagle Hose Fire Co., having submitted the lowest bid of $47,000. According to Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley, all three roofs are more than 20 years old, in bad shape and way beyond their useful shelf lives. “Mayor Cassetti is working on a long range plan for the maintenance of the city’s buildings and infrastructure so that these projects don’t lag and are done in a timely fashion,” O’Malley said. “The new roofs will be installed after a pre-construction meeting. We will know better after that what the time frame is, but we intend to begin as soon as possible.” Replacement of the Eagle Hose Co. and City Hall roofs were included as part of $1.2 million in the bond referendum earmarked for energy conservation improvements, which also included HV/AC for Ansonia Rescue and Medical Services, the Ansonia Public Library and police station; a new boiler and replacement windows, sprinklers, new fire alarm and new generator for the police station; new water heater and windows for the library. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE