KILLINGLY - A massive beautification project in downtown Danielson has reached its halfway point and is on schedule to be complete before Christmas, officials said. On Monday, workers stood waist-deep inside trenches dug near the eastern intersection of Water and Main streets while, on the opposite side, streams of concrete poured from a cement mixer was layered between a section of new curbing and freshly-laid sidewalks. The "streetscape" project, paid for through a combination of state and local funds, is adding new walkways, curbs and ornamental touches along Danielson's main business strip, from the borough's post office to Academy Street. The main impetus behind the work, begun last month, was to improve degrading curbs and crumbling sidewalks in the area, said Mary Bromm, Killingly's community development administrator. "Most of the east side of the road is finished," she said. "Curbs are being set and workers will begin grading for the sidewalks on the east side." The project, years in development, is being funded by a $500,000 state grant, supplemented by $150,000 in town funds. It is scheduled to be finished mid-December. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Groton OK's renovation plans for two schools
Groton - The Groton Board of Education approved plans on Monday for renovating Carl C. Cutler Middle School and West Side Middle School into elementary schools for students in pre-kindergarten through grade 5. The plans go next to the School Facilities Task Force for review and further action. They then move on to the Town Council, Representative Town Meeting and, if approved, to voters at referendum. The plans, or "educational specifications," detail for the state Department of Education how Groton would renovate each building and what it would include, such as the number of classrooms and the number of students it can expect. The Cutler and West Side projects are part of a larger plan to achieve racial balance across the district, deal with aging schools and make the district more competitive with surrounding school districts. "What we have here is a plan to restructure the whole district to make it the most efficient and effective it can be," Superintendent Michael Graner said. "We believe that bringing in the programs that we are planning will make Groton one of the premier districts in the state of Connecticut." He said he believes Groton would qualify for 80 percent reimbursement from the state for at least one of the renovation projects, because it's being done to achieve racial balance. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
CT's bankroll quickens brownfield redevelopment
Owners and developers of contaminated, vacant or underused Connecticut commercial-industrial sites are finding the state's funding window open for cleanup and redevelopment of "brownfield'' parcels. In early October, the state Department of Economic & Community Development's brownfield division launched a new round of brownfield funding of up to $300,000 per project — $1.5 million in all — to conduct revitalization studies and assessments of any one of the estimated 400 old mills, factories and other historic industrial sites around the state.
Earlier this year, 42 applicants with remediation/redevelopment proposals totaling $75 million bid for the $20 million in cleanup funds DECD had available this fiscal year. Demand was so high, the agency wound up awarding $28.1 million to 31 of those applicants, said Tim Sullivan, state director of brownfield, waterfront and transit-oriented development at DECD.
"It's the seed money that's so desperately needed to put these properties on a competitive redevelopment pathway,'' said Halloran & Sage environmental-land use-utilities attorney Ann Catino, co-chair of the state's Brownfields Working Group, appointed by state lawmakers to guide them in shaping policies and funding for brownfield remediation. Recent funding initiatives included a $2 million loan to start site remediation of the former Capewell Horsenail Factory in Hartford's South End, idle since the 1980s, for conversion to affordable apartments and townhomes. The city of New Britain got $2.7 million to remove harmful asbestos from the former police station so it can be razed to pave way for potential development next to a stop on the CTFastrak commuter line. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Another downtown demo project begins in Meriden
Demolition of the former YMCA and Stone Insurance building at 88 State St. in Meriden began Monday to make room for a parking lot for a new train station on the New Haven- Hartford-Springfield rail line. Work in surrounding towns in preparation for new train stations is also underway. Demolition of the State Street building follows the award of a $58.8 million station construction contract to New York-based Judlau Construction, announced by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy last week. John Bernick, assistant rail administrator at the state Department of Transportation, said Monday that the state received six bids for the work and accepted the lowest bid, per state regulations. He added that the DOT follows explicit regulations to go with the lowest bidder in selecting contractors and does not have the leeway to select contractors based on location or other factors. The contract includes building stations and platforms in Meriden, Wallingford and Berlin, in addition to site work and the demolition of the Meriden building. The demolition will clear space for a 79-space lot on State Street. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Agreement give MHA power to control downtown project
MERIDEN — An operating agreement approved unanimously by the Meriden Housing Authority board Monday night will let the authority take control of a proposed development on Colony Street, if it is financially capable. The housing authority, Westmount Management, the state Department of Transportation and the city are developing a 63-unit residential building with office space and a parking garage at 24 Colony St. To help fund the estimated $30 million to $40 million project, the housing authority and city have been working with the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority to apply for the use of tax credits. Robert Cappelletti, housing authority director, said Monday that CHFA requires an operating agreement for the partnership in managing the housing at 24 Colony St. The housing authority and Westmount Management will jointly manage the project when completed. Cappelletti said the housing authority has a 51 percent stake in the agreement.
“We are a true partner in this,” he said. As part of the agreement, the housing authority can “take over the development to run it and manage it ourselves” once it can do it, Cappelletti said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE