February 3, 2015

CT Construction Digest February 3, 2015

East Hampton, state officials discuss highschool project snag

EAST HAMPTON >> Caught in a bureaucratic snafu with millions of dollars in state funding at stake, the School Building Committee has set itself an ambitious task.
Even as it works with a state agency to ensure continued funding for the high school renovation project, the committee is also working with two state legislators on wholly different approach to the problem. The all-volunteer committee is also pressing both the construction management company and the project architects to explain and defend their actions in supplying needed documentations to the state — and why they did not alert the committee to the possibility of lost funding. And finally, although it is been largely lost in a welter of charge, countercharge, and an avalanche of criticism that led to an effort to “fire” them, the committee is also overseeing the continuing the reconstruction project itself.
The committee last month was stunned to learn the state Department of Administrative Services has recategorized the $51 million school renovation project to a different classification which could cost the town $7 million in state reimbursement. This came even as the project, which began in November, continues apace. On Thursday, during their regular weekly meeting, the committee sought to untangle the spaghetti-like strands of confusion over the classification, its likely impact, lost documents, documents submitted late, who was at fault, and how to come out of this matter without costing the town any more money. The DAS has said it will no longer classify the project as “renovate-as-new,” which was eligible for the previously agreed upon 50-percent reimbursement from the state.
To begin untangling the confusion, committee vice chairwoman Michelle Barber, Superintendent of School Diane Dugas and Town Manager Michael Maniscalo met Thursday with DAS commissioner Melody A. Currey and several DAS and Office of School Facilities staff and officials. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

Two developers show interest in Southington sports complex

SOUTHINGTON — Two potential developers have sent conceptual plans to town officials who are helping private landowners market a West Queen Street parcel for a sports complex.
Perillo said the designs he received are just initial drawings of what the two groups, which he did not identify, considering possible on the former farmland owned by the Sepko family. In November, the town awarded a Cheshire engineering firm a $48,000 contract to determine if the property is suitable for a sports complex. The town will get that money back, through a developer who takes the project, if a sports complex is built there.
"I'm pleased there is some interest in this. Our town is a very sports oriented community," Perillo said. "We feel the economy is bouncing back and we'll be starting to see developers interested in coming here." The engineering firm is assessing the land's development potential, and will details its soil, rock ledge and water components. It would then issue a report that would give any interested buyer enough information to quickly determine the cost and challenges of developing the property.
The soil evaluation is done and a traffic study and geo-technical survey should be completed soon, Perillo said.
"We're committed to explore best uses for this parcel," he said. "I was assigned a task by the town council to help market this parcel." CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

$39M approved for NVCC

HARTFORD -- The State Bond Commission unanimously approved $39 million for financing renovations to Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury.
The long-planned construction project involves converting NVCC's Founders Hall into into a new Allied Health and Nursing Center. The project includes improvements to classrooms and laboratories, including satellite space for nursing programs of Western Connecticut State University and University of Connecticut. It is expected to create or retain approximately 560 construction-related jobs. The $39 million request is based on bids for construction contract that were received on Dec. 12. The Morganti Group Inc. of Danbury has been hired as construction manager for the project.
The bond commission previously approved nearly $4.5 million for the NVCC project, bringing the state's total investment to $43.5 million if the construction financing is approved as expected Friday

Forum on future of downtown Waterbury projects slated

WATERBURY — An urban design firm creating a master plan for the city's downtown will hold a forum Thursday to update residents about the status of major downtown projects.
Sasaki Associates was hired last fall to create a master plan for a downtown that is suddenly bustling with different projects, and develop concrete steps for the city to take to make it happen.
The Watertown, Mass., company believes that is what is needed to attract private investment in downtown to complement almost $27 million in state and federal funds already earmarked for downtown.
Those projects range from the federally-funded Freight Street road project to a state-funded train station overhaul to the city-funded Library Park renovation to joint efforts like the Rectory Building project.
The forum, which will be hosted by Mayor Neil M. O'Leary, includes a presentation by Sasaki to update the audience on local projects and their developing strategies to create a downtown vision.
After that presentation, the audience can ask questions, or provide commentary, that will be used to guide Sasaki's planning process, said Chief Mayoral Aide Kevin M. DelGobbo.
Sasaki's $200,000 consulting fee was paid by the Naugatuck Valley Development Corp., not the city. NVDC hired the firm for the city to knit all the downtown projects together.
NVDC used to be the city development arm. It managed the Brass Mill project, renovation of the Palace Theater and the construction of a city courthouse and state office building.
Since ceding the role, the NVDC has continued its civic mission in the background. For example, it supported Loyola Development Corp., a South End nonprofit, in its recent affordable housing project.