The final project budget for UConn's downtown Hartford campus has been set at $140 million, nearly $25 million more than was originally projected as bids and work to preserve the former Hartford Times building came in higher-than-expected, school officials say.
The UConn Board of Trustees signed off on the budget in a meeting Wednesday. University spokesperson Stephanie Rietz said in an email, "It was necessary to adjust the earlier estimates once we learned that the work to preserve the Hartford Times façade would be much more expensive and extensive than expected, particularly since it needed more stabilization than anticipated.
"We also received higher-than-expected bids from contractors interested in working on the project, despite sending it out for bid twice; and need to remove PCBs that were found in interior plaster."
When originally designed, the project had a $115 million construction price tag. UConn trustees were told in a memo from Scott A. Jordan, UConn CFO and executive vice president for administration, that the costs had to be adjusted 10 percent for each of the next two years because of rising Connecticut construction market costs. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Wethersfield Housing Development Gets Initial Approval
WEHTERSFIELD — The Inland Wetlands Commission on Wednesday approved a 20-lot subdivision near the border with Rocky Hill, the town's biggest proposed housing development in about two decades.
The commission gave the green light for the project after the developer eliminated two lots and made other adjustments to address the group's concerns.
"We're making every accommodation to get to what the town would like to see," said James W. Dutton, the project's engineer.
Developer Frank DiBacco, owner of CCC Construction, called the approval "a step forward.""I'm excited about the development," DiBacco said. "The town has been really supportive. I look forward to a good relationship with them."
The project now goes to the planning and zoning commission for additional approvals.
The development is slated for 16 undeveloped acres off Two Rod Highway and bordering the 1860 Reservoir. The homes will be 2,700 to 3,200 square feet, comparable to the houses in the area, DiBacco has said.
The land is among the few undeveloped parcels in Wethersfield still in private hands.
About 2,300 square feet of wetlands will be filled in for a road, Dutton said. DiBacco will donate just over a quarter of the land to the town for open space, slightly more than required by regulation, he said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
First Phase Of Filley Park Renovation Nears Completion In Bloomfield
BLOOMFIELD — Phase one of the multiyear renovation of Filley Park is expected to be completed by the first week of December.
Town Manager Phil Schenck said that most of the concrete work for extending and widening sidewalks from the center to the north parking lot has been completed and the stonework continues on the new mezzanine-style entrance. Shade trees and other plantings included in the nearly $600,000 first phase of the project may not be planted until the spring, Schenck said.
Work on phase two, which is expected to cost between $1.5 million and $1.7 million, is scheduled to begin in July. That phase will include dredging the pond, removing the dam and constructing a fish ladder. The work is expected to be completed by the end of construction season.
As part of the dredging project, the town expects to eradicate an infestation of European water chestnut that was discovered in July. The town has had the invasive plant sprayed with chemicals to kill it and will spray again in the spring.
Schenck said that the town may have to spray annually to keep the plant from making a resurgence.
Schenck said the town has about $1.1 million for the project and expects the town council to approve additional funding. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
West Haven’s Zoning Board of Appeals approves expanded plan for The Atwood
WEST HAVEN >> The Zoning Board of Appeals has given its approval to the new, expanded plan for The Atwood apartments and retail on the site of the recently demolished Carroll Cut-Rate Furniture store.
That leaves the Planning and Zoning Commission, which previously approved the original rehab plan, still to go. The plan was to have been on Tuesday night’s PZC agenda but has been put off until a future meeting, Assistant City Planner Rob Librandi said.
The ZBA approved the plan to build 67 units and ground-floor retail at 222 Boston Post Road between Atwood Place and Taft Wednesday night by a 4-1 margin.
Member Sal Russo voted against it, saying he thought the developers, Forest Manor LLC headed by former Starter Co. CEO David Beckerman, “overbuilt” the site and that they wouldn’t have to come to the ZBA if they got rid of the fourth story.
But other members, including Chairman John Clifford and member Ed Wise, praised the plan and said it could be the catalyst the city — and especially the Allingtown section, which it would be in the heart of — need.
“It could make Allingtown a shining light for West Haven,” said Clifford
“I really believe this development’s going to start the ball rolling in Allingtown,” said Assistant City Planner Rob Librandi.
Forest Manor lawyer Mark Sklarz said the developers “are really excited” to present a plan for a development that would be a “gateway” to West Haven, using “smart growth” techniques to help create “a walkable district” just down the hill from the University of New Haven. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
OSHA Fines Could Increase Over 80% Next Year
Congress recently passed the budget agreement which contained a provision which permits OSHA to raise fines significantly starting in August 2016. The law permits a one-time “catch up” increase up to 82 percent, since fines have not been raised since 1990. This “catch-up” amount is tied to the inflation rate from 1990 to 2015. After that, the maximum penalties would increase with the inflation rate every year.
This would have the following effect:
Citations
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Current Max.
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With “Catch-Up” Increase
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Other than Serious
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Up to $7,000
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Up to $12,740
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Serious
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$7,000
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$12,740
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Repeat
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$5,000-$70,000
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$9,100 – $127,400
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Willful
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$5,000-$70,000
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$9,100 – $127,400
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Failure to Abate
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$7,000/day
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$12,740/day
|
While OSHA has the option of implementing an adjustment less than the maximum amount, Assistant Secretary David Michaels has pushed for years to increase maximum penalties so it seems unlikely that they would not take full advantage of this increase. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE