EAST HAMPTON >> Members of the School Building Committee are hoping the town’s two state legislators can help push back against an apparent effort to reduce the level of state funding for the high school renovation project. In coordination with Town Manager Michael Maniscalco, the committee has engaged the services of an attorney to assist them. But speaking of state Rep. Melissa Ziobron and state Sen. Art Linares, Building Committee vice chairwoman Michelle Barber said, “I’d love to have them attend our next meeting,” which is scheduled for this Thursday.
The committee was told last week the state Department of Administrative Services intends to reject a longstanding formula for renovating the high school. Instead, the DAS has shifted to a different formula that could reduce the town’s reimbursement by as much as $7 million — even though the building project has been under construction since November. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
With Coast Guard museum on the horizon, investors make commitment to New London
New London - Yehuda Amar sees a bright future for New London, and he's investing in it.
The Israeli-trained architect, who has business ventures in Manhattan, Long Island, Florida, Israel, Africa and elsewhere, has gutted and is rebuilding two Bank Street properties and is considering the purchase and renovation of the long-empty Lighthouse Inn. "New London has so much," said Amar, on a walk-through of 153 Bank St., the former home of Modern Electric, that he and partners are converting to three street-level retail spaces and six upper-floor apartments. They are also rehabilitating the next door property - 147 Bank St. - to one first-floor retail space and three additional upstairs apartments. With plans for construction of the National Coast Guard Museum in downtown New London starting to gain momentum, Amar, who has also invested in a home here and four condominium rental properties, sees opportunities for developers willing to make a commitment.
"There's so much here - the water, the history and the Coast Guard Museum, hopefully, will come," he said. Amar's wife, Ilene, has relatives in the area, and that is how Yehuda Amar, whose home base is in Long Island, discovered New London. Ilene Amar's mother's father was a Solomon, related to the family that operated J. Solomon Inc. on Bank Street, for years.
Now Amar and his partners have hauled massive amounts of rubble and debris from the three- and four-story buildings and have carpenters, plumbers, electricians and other tradesmen and laborers working to have the properties ready for rental later this year.
Amar has also visited the Lighthouse Inn property several times and is talking to potential investors and partners about the possibility of doing something there. His vision is to restore the inn and dining room to luxury accommodations and dining. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
New Haven planning for last section of Farmington Canal Greenway
Mark your calendars for the spring of 2017.
That is the estimated completion date for the last section of the Farmington Canal Heritage Greenway down to the city’s harbor, a milestone that has been delayed for years. To be sure they are on firm legal ground, the Board of Alders will be asked at its February meeting to amend the original resolution to accept federal funds for the project to specifically include the ability to enter into temporary and permanent easements and land acquisition. It goes before the Municipal Services Committee on Wednesday. City Plan Director Karyn Gilvarg said the city attorney recommended the agreement be tweaked so there is no misunderstanding on the issue of easements. The state Department of Transportation won’t give its final approval until this is resolved. For the past year, the city has been working out the details of construction and permanent easements along the portion of the trail near Hillhouse Avenue where it is owned by Yale University and then as it goes through a tunnel under Temple Street. Other easements being negotiated are along the canal where it abuts property owned by the Creative Arts Workshop, the Arts Council of Greater New Haven and the Neighborhood Music School off Whitney Avenue at Audubon Street. The other properties are the Grove Street Garage and the Foundry Condominiums, for a total of seven easements. The master plan for the Farmington Canal Greenway in New Haven was completed in 1999 and it has taken up to now to get the design finished for the final portion from Hillhouse Avenue to the New Haven Harbor off Canal Dock Road. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE