BROOKFIELD — The state Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports sending a compliance officer to the scene of a construction accident in which a worker was injured Monday about 3:30 p.m.. No further details were available.
The site is at 388-414 Federal Road in Brookfield. That is the site of construction of incentive housing by BRT Development, according to Brookfield Zoning Commission minutes.
Middletown's Centerplan purchases Earth Technologies
By Special to the Press
MIDDLETOWN >> Robert A. Landino, chairman of Centerplan Construction Company, announces the asset purchase of Earth Technologies, a site construction company at 250 Sackett Point Road in North Haven. This acquisition includes all construction equipment, vehicles and real estate, and includes the formation of a new entity, Center Earth, which will offer site and concrete construction services throughout southern New England, and expands the family of services offered by Centerplan Construction Co., according to a press release. Michael J. Lombardi will be its chief executive officer and Daniel Rossi will serve as president, responsible for daily operations.
“We are excited to substantially expand our existing capacity to self-perform in the areas of site and concrete services,” Landino said. “This strategic acquisition makes Center Earth LLC one of the largest site construction companies in the region,” added Lombardi, “and gives us the platform to grow this sector of our business to be one of New England’s leaders in the coming years.”
Michael Freda, the First Selectman of North Haven, supports the purchase: “We are excited that Centerplan continues to make a commitment to the town of North Haven.
“Combined with its recent acquisition of the proposed 149-unit Indian Ridge residential community, Centerplan will contribute to the growth of our local economy for years to come.”
Landino says the town’s economic development led to the decision. “First Selectman Freda fosters an environment which welcomes and supports business, and his support of our organization has reinforced our interest in this investment.”
Center Earth begins operations this month.
Wallingford McDonalds to be demolished and rebuilt
By Eric Vo Record-Journal staff
WALLINGFORD — McDonald’s is planning to demolish its existing North Colony Road restaurant to construct a smaller building with a two-lane drive-through.
McDonald’s USA, based in Westwood, Massachusetts, wants to construct a 5,088-square-foot building at 680 N. Colony Road (Route 5), according to its application for a special permit submitted to the town’s Planning and Zoning Department on Nov. 4.
The current McDonald’s restaurant is 5,475 square feet and includes a drive-through and play area. Town Engineer John Thompson said the new building will be smaller because it will no longer include a play area.
Town Planner Kacie Costello couldn’t be reached for comment Monday. In a Dec. 30 memo, Costello wrote that the Planning and Zoning Department doesn’t have any objections to the application and that it “appears to improve the existing site design significantly.”
There have been a number of restaurant renovations in the area, according to Charlene Durham, “specifically in Connecticut and western Massachusetts.” Durham is an account supervisor with Glastonbury-based Cronin and Co., which represents the Connecticut and Western Massachusetts Owner/Operator Association.
It is not known when the demolition will occur, Durham said.
“I don’t have the specifics of the plan,” Durham said. “I know there’s not a timeline set for the project.”
According to a traffic study conducted by BL Cos., however, construction of the new building is expected to be completed in 2015. The traffic study also notes that “no additional traffic is anticipated” and that “the new configuration will prevent cars from backing up into the parking lot or onto Route 5.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
But the problem could be cleared up soon, now that Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio has executed the certificate, which signifies that the 1975 project was completed as planned. The sale is expected to be complete by the end of January, according to Todd O'Donnell, managing partner of Union Station. O'Donnell told The Day Dec. 11 that "a party affiliated with the CG Museum has executed an agreement to buy Union Station at the end of the year subject to standard closing conditions." The station is adjacent to the future waterfront location of the National Coast Guard Museum.
O'Donnell confirmed Monday that James Coleman Jr., the chairman of the board of directors of the museum association, is the third-party investor executing the agreement.
"Jimmy Coleman's attorney requested a 30-day extension, which we granted them, to address some items in the 1975 HUD Urban Renewal Plan," O'Donnell said. "Hopefully it will be cleared up in the next week or two." Coleman did not respond to requests for comment Monday. In a phone interview Monday, Ned Hammond, economic development coordinator for the city, said it appears that a certificate of completion for the station was never issued. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
O'Donnell confirmed Monday that James Coleman Jr., the chairman of the board of directors of the museum association, is the third-party investor executing the agreement.
"Jimmy Coleman's attorney requested a 30-day extension, which we granted them, to address some items in the 1975 HUD Urban Renewal Plan," O'Donnell said. "Hopefully it will be cleared up in the next week or two." Coleman did not respond to requests for comment Monday. In a phone interview Monday, Ned Hammond, economic development coordinator for the city, said it appears that a certificate of completion for the station was never issued. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
By Adam Benson
United Community and Family Services is expected to receive nearly $2 million from the state Bond Commission on Monday for the construction of a 10,000-square-foot facility in Griswold. The $1.99 million allocation is part of a larger $14 million disbursement to the state Department of Health for several projects. Officials plan to build the center at the former Triangle Plastic & Cable plant at 226 E. Main St. The money would fund the purchase of the land and pay for hardware, software and x-ray equipment. The relocated and expanded Griswold site would incorporate dental care into the primary care and behavioral health mix, UCFS Vice President of Marketing and Facilities Pam Kinder said in November. Visits to the Jewett City facility increased by 157.9 percent and the list of clients grew by 87.3 percent from 2009 to 2013. The center opened its doors in February 2008.
Under a plan unveiled Friday by Mayor Pedro E. Segarra and other officials that the city council will review and send to committee Monday evening, the city would create the Hartford Stadium Authority to finance the construction of the $60 million park through revenue bonds, and ultimately own it.
That's a change from the current plan, which was to have development group DoNo Hartford LLC pay for the park, and then lease it to the city for nearly $4.3 million, with several 5 percent increases in later years. The city would in turn sublease the park to the New Britain Rock Cats.
The proposal does not appear to alter the retail, housing and restaurant elements of the Downtown North project, which has a total estimated price tag of $350 million.
The proposed arrangement, if approved, would shave between $10 million and $15 million off the project's price tag, because an authority could borrow at lower interest rates than DoNo Hartford could, Segarra said in a statement. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Hartford ballpark developer buys contractor
Centerplan Construction Co. in Middletown bought the assets of Earth Technology Inc. at 250 Sackett Point Road for undisclosed terms.
In 2011, a federal jury cleared Earth Technology and its former owner, Frank Ruocco Jr., of charges that he and an associate illegally drove up the cost of a soil excavation job at a New York shopping mall, according to the Hartford Courant.
A 2012 civil lawsuit against Ruocco in New York filed by the developer that built the mall, located in Queens, remains open, according to court records.
Centerplan Chairman Robert A. Landino said Monday that Centerplan was aware of Earth Technology's legal issues, adding the acquisition covered only the company assets.
The deal makes Centerplan one of this state's largest contractors, he said. The purchase covers all construction equipment, vehicles and real estate, and includes the formation of a new entity, Center Earth LLC.
Center Earth LLC will offer site and concrete construction services throughout southern New England, and significantly expands the family of services currently offered by Centerplan Construction Company.
Engineer Michael J. Lombardi is Center Earth's CEO, with Centerplan executive Daniel Rossi serving as president and responsible for daily operations.
Landino and Centerplan are behind an ambitious development proposal to convert acreage on downtown Hartford's northern edge into a $350 million mixed-use development of housing, offices, retail and a new stadium to house the New Britain Rock Cats minor-league ballclub.
Building a solid foundation
TORRINGTON -- Construction of the new Litchfield Judicial District Courthouse on Field Street has officially begun and is on schedule, according to the state's building department. Ground was broken over the summer. KBE Building Corp., which won the state contract to design and build the 180,000-square-foot courthouse, has worked since then to finish designs and relocate sewer lines. More recently the former Torrington Co. parking lot has been closed off to the public and excavating for a foundation has begun. The courthouse will combine court services that are now spread among four locations in Litchfield, Bantam and Torrington. The entire project will cost about $81 million. In the final weeks of 2014 a chain-link fence with blue tarp walls went up around the property, shrouding it from public view. Since then, a mountain of soil has grown higher than the fencing. Jeffrey Beckham, a spokesman for the state Department of Construction Services, which is overseeing the project for the Judicial Branch, said KBE is mapping the site for rocks and ledge and has begun excavating.
Beckham said after the site is excavated support pilings will be installed allowing a foundation to be laid. Beckham said water and sewer lines have been relocated. Clark Street, which was decommissioned by the city, has been closed to traffic. He said with an 18-month building cycle that spans two winters, the department is hoping for good progress. "It all looks good so far," he said. "We are going to be pushing and everything is on track at the moment." The courthouse has been in the works for four decades, but it wasn't until earlier this year that it was funded by the State Bond Commission. City officials are optimistic the courthouse will draw businesses to the section of the city that has been stagnant since the Torrington Co. moved out years ago.