A new community center Newtown plans to build with a $15 million gift from Fairfield-based General Electric will feature a two-pool aquatic center, space for senior activities and rooms for parties, classes and exhibitions.
Town leaders plan to spend March and April sharing plans about the proposed center and seeking input from the community, leading to an April 28 referendum.
If Newtown residents approve the project, the next step would be straightforward: Building work could begin on the 35,000-square-foot center on the town-owned Fairfield Hills campus.
Less certain is what happens if the project is defeated.
"I don't have a good answer to that question," First Selectman Pat Llodra said Tuesday. "The GE Foundation wanted us to have this gift to do something wonderful for the community. If we are unable to go forward, GE will respect the wishes of the community."
To encourage support for the project, the town has scheduled informational meetings -- the most recent of which was canceled Tuesday because of snow. Two information sessions are planned Saturday at the Newtown Senior Center.
"People are ready for a new center and we are excited about what we have heard so far," said John Boccuzzi, a member of the Newtown Commission on Aging. "The architect met with seniors and got a feel for what people's needs were, and there has been constant input coming from seniors through the Commission and the public meetings."
GE executives surprised Newtown one year after the 2012 Sandy Hook school shootings by donating $15 million for a community center where all ages could interact. About $10 million was earmarked for design and construction. The remainder of the grant was reserved to pay staff and operating costs.
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Harbor Point Developer asks to delay restaurant projects
Building and Land Technology is seeking to postpone the construction of two restaurants that had been planned as part of a 20-story waterfront residential complex known as Harbor Point Square. The apartment building, which is currently under construction, will have 240 units. It is slated for completion in the spring. That project had originally been intended as a hotel, but was changed to residential last summer.
As one of the conditions of its zoning approval, BLT was required to build two freestanding restaurants at the same time as the residential building. Throughout the planning of Harbor Point, zoning board members have expressed concerns about having enough retail to activate the redeveloping neighborhood.
BLT, however, has argued that Harbor Point now has plenty of restaurants. It has added at least 10 new restaurants over the last year. The developer has asked the Zoning Board for another three years to build the restaurants at Harbor Point Square.
Facing budget cuts UConn says Hartford campus remains priority
If the state legislature approves Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's proposed budget cuts, UConn would face a $40 million funding gap, likely forcing the school to reduce its workforce, implement unpaid furloughs, and cut programs, President Susan Herbst warned state legislators last week.
Does that mean the school's planned $115 million relocation of its West Hartford campus to downtown Hartford is at risk?
Probably not, spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said.
"While no final decisions have been made, establishing the downtown Hartford campus is such a major priority for UConn and the Greater Hartford region that we don't anticipate any change in direction there," Reitz said. Construction on UConn's downtown Hartford campus is slated to start this fall, and UConn plans to start classes in Hartford for the fall semester of 2017.
The campus will be located at the old Hartford Times building and accommodate 2,300 students and 250 faculty members.
– Matt Pilon
High school renovations are headed to the black
NAUGATUCK — Local officials promised taxpayers the Naugatuck High School renovation project would finish on time and under budget. So far, it appears they were right.
The NHS Renovation Committee announced during a meeting Monday that the project is expected to come in $4.1 million under the budgeted amount of $81 million, which taxpayers approved through a bond package three years ago. Now the committee is looking at upgrades that might be funded.
"I always said we are going to stay under the budget," said committee Chairman Bob Neth, a burgess. "There are a lot of negative vibes out there because every time you look at a project, it's always over budget. So far, with six to eight months to go, we're succeeding in our goals and granting 'wish-list' projects." On Monday, the committee announced it would allocate tens of thousands for more handicapped-accessible doorways and ramps on sidewalks; a final number is expected soon. And the board allocated $8,500 for the band to purchase computer software, plus about $19,000 to paint doors and windows in the pool area with a specialized paint product to control rust.
The committee has also decided to draw up plans for a roughly $300,000 outdoor storage facility for athletic equipment. Committee member Raymond M. Lennon Jr. said the goal is not to spend all of the leftover money, but to complete as many projects as possible while the committee has money and construction is ongoing. Several other "wish-list" items are being debated, including: $1.3 million to purchase four privately owned houses on Rubber Avenue in front of the high school to make a larger parking lot and increase visibility of the school.
About $850,000 for technology upgrades, including about 300 laptop computers for students.
About $90,000 for furniture. About $80,000 for tables in the cafeteria. About $80,000 for a 40-foot by 80-foot net between the softball field tennis courts; much of the cost will be put toward poles to hold the net. The committee may reconsider a roughly $40,000 allocation to place a monitor in the pool area so parents and spectators can watch swim meets on a large screen. Swim parents had previously said they wanted a scoreboard in the seating area rather than the monitor.
The swimming pool has been one of the few areas that have experienced problems during the renovation. Parents have complained about not being able to see some sections of the pool because of obstructed views. The committee has already spent about $120,000 to trim load-bearing beams that hold up the roof because parents said they obstructed the view. That added about 40 seats to the area, bringing the total to 299 seats. The committee also plans to purchase oscillating fans for the pool seating area to remove condensation that builds up on windows.
The board has also spent $400,000 to replace boilers that were only 14 years old because they were not working properly. And the committee installed air conditioning in the cafeteria that had been put off in previous cafeteria expansion projects at a cost of $450,000.
Malloy, Wyman to attend unveiling of Mohegan Sun hotel plan
By Brian Hallenbeck
Mohegan — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman will join Mohegan tribal officials Thursday morning at a press conference regarding plans for Mohegan Sun’s new hotel, the casino announced. Design details and a construction timeline for the 400-room hotel, Mohegan Sun’s second, will be disclosed. The Mohegan Tribe is financing the project through the sale of tribal economic development bonds.