Groton — The Groton Town Council has decided to move forward with the proposed school construction referendum to build one new middle school and modernize two existing middle schools and convert them into elementary schools.
The plan would cost $184 million, of which Groton taxpayers would pay $84 million. That translates into about $136 in additional taxes for every $100,000 of assessed property value.
Groton had earlier sought to obtain additional state money but was unsuccessful.
Councilors, who voted unanimously on Wednesday to proceed, said they were compelled by at least two realities: The schools need significant attention — S.B. Butler Elementary School was built in 1953 — and Groton is losing students to surrounding districts that are investing in their schools.
“I’m really concerned about the consequences of doing nothing, because I think we’re going to really pay for it in the long run,” Councilor Karen Morton said.
She voted against the last two school referendums, but believed the schools were being maintained.
Now she realizes they weren’t to the extent needed.
Groton put off projects for years thinking the latest school referendum would pass, but when it didn’t, nothing got done.
Morton and her husband built their house in Mystic nine years ago, and can’t sell it for what it cost to build it, she said.
In the case of Butler Elementary, the heating system needs to be replaced, the building has air quality issues, the portable classrooms need more security, the electrical system is maxed out and the roof is leaking. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Yard Goats confirm stadium won't open before June 16
The Hartford Yard Goats have once again postponed their home opener. It ws announced this afternoon that its first home game will not come until after Thursday, June 16.
Originally scheduled to open their season on April 7, opening day was pushed back until May 31 because of massive construction delays at Dunkin' Donuts Park in downtown Hartford. When developers didn't have the stadium substantially completed by May 17, the team and its league needed to extend the AA team's home game schedule at Dodd Stadium in Norwich.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said Wednesday afternoon that it's "quite likely" the city will pursue financial penalties against the developer of Downtown North's minor league baseball stadium once the key construction deadline passed.
"The developer has not met today's deadline for substantial completion, and it's clear that they will not be done by the 24th, which was the grace period built in," Bronin said. "We will be working with all of the parties involved and assessing our options. We want to get the stadium open as quickly as possible, but we also need to hold our partners accountable and protect the city's interests." CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Preston Voters Approve Sale Of Norwich Hospital Property To Mohegan Tribe
PRESTON — Preston residents Thursday night overwhelmingly backed the town's proposal to press ahead with negotiations with the Mohegan Tribe for the development of the former Norwich State Hospital property on the Thames River.
After an hourlong presentation, hundreds of residents at the town meeting in Preston Veterans Memorial School took only a few minutes to approve hammering out a final purchase and sales agreement with the tribe over the next six months.
Mohegan Tribal Chairman Kevin Brown said he was surprised by the swiftness of the vote.
"Clearly the town of Preston recognizes it's time," Brown said after the vote. "This is a win all the way around. It helps the state, this helps the town of Preston, this helps us continue our development."Brown said the tribe will now look for a master developer for the 393-acre site just across the river from Mohegan Sun casino. The tribe is in discussions with development partners, but he declined to identify them.
First Selectman Robert Congdon said there were close to 350 residents at the meeting and the votes in support, cast by people standing up, was a clear directive to move forward. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Planners reject Yale science lab proposal
NEW HAVEN >> The City Plan Commission Thursday denied without prejudice Yale University’s proposed construction of upgraded science facilities until the Board of Alders approves the institution’s overall parking plan. The issue is another contentious one between the city and the university; the legislative session in Hartford this year saw clashes over attempts to upgrade taxation of the institution.
Lauren Zucker, Yale’s associate vice president for New Haven affairs and university properties, said there was no reason not to just table the proposed six-story science research lab until next month’s meeting. After the vote, which was 3 to 1 with one member abstaining over a conflict of interest, Zucker called the action “outrageous.”
“They are costing construction jobs. There are 280 jobs that are now going to be delayed, if done at all,” she said. “The board never set a process. It has been four months, there has been nothing done,” Zucker said, referring to any rules on how the board’s new ordinance passed in December on approving the overall parking plan would play out. “There was no communication as to what the process was supposed to be — at all,” she said. City Plan Director Karyn Gilvarg, at the April meeting, when the Science Hill expansion was first presented, said in her opinion it did not have to go to the alders as the plan did not require any additional spaces. “This project has no impact on parking whatsoever,” she said.
“It’s a real shame for New Haven, frankly,” Zucker said. She said they asked multiple times from the alders on the committee hearing date “and got no response.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
$4B Tappan Zee Replacement Still on Budget
The New NY Bridge project continues to move forward (and upward) in the process of creating a modern, twin span replacement for the 3.1-mi. (5 km) Tappan Zee Bridge across the Hudson River. Work is reportedly on track for the 2018 opening, and remains within the $3.98 billion budget.
Since construction operations began in late 2013, prime contractor Tappan Zee Constructors LLC (TZC) has utilized more than 620 New York companies to help build the new twin-span bridge between Westchester and Rockland counties. Over 5,000 people have worked on the project so far.
Most of the substructure work, including piles and pier columns, is now complete. Progress continues to place steel-blue girders, road deck panels and segments of the iconic 419-ft. (128 m) main span towers.
According to the project website, the existing Gov. Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge opened to traffic in 1955 and is a vital artery for residents, commuters, travelers and commercial traffic.
“Bridge traffic has grown to about 138,000 vehicles per day, far more than the Tappan Zee was designed to support,” the website noted. “Heavy traffic, narrow lanes and the lack of emergency shoulders can create unsafe driving conditions. As a result, the bridge has twice the average accident rate per mile as the rest of the 574-mi. [924 km] Thruway system. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to maintain the structure in recent years. The cost of maintaining the current bridge for the foreseeable future rivals the cost of a new bridge, with no improvements to current traffic conditions.”
The new bridge will include eight general traffic lanes, breakdown/emergency lanes, and a modern traffic monitoring system. The new crossing also will be mass-transit ready, with space for Bus Rapid Transit as well as a design that can accommodate a future light rail or commuter rail. The bridge also will feature a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Sound and safe
WATERBURY — A bridge wingwall that supports Route 8 southbound is starting to collapse, forcing the state Department of Transportation to perform emergency repairs. The wingwall and adjacent retaining wall hold back the soil underneath Route 8. The wingwall is slanted toward the road, and a fracture between the structures has caused soil to spill onto the sidewalk. Although the wingwall is part of the bridge, it doesn't provide structural support for it. The bridge is structurally sound and safe, the DOT says. "It's not what we want to see out there from a perception standpoint," said Kevin Nursick, a DOT spokesman. "But yes, it's safe." DOT crews noticed the slanted wingwall about a week ago. Since then, crews have installed steel ties at the top to keep the breach from growing larger. This week or next, crews will install steel struts that will hold the wingwall in place from the ground. "It's secured and we're taking every step necessary to make sure it doesn't move," Nursick said. The DOT believes the wingwall is failing largely because of its age. The bridge was built in 1964. "Part of that wear and tear is likely the result of subsurface water conditions," Nursick said. "That increases pressure on the retaining system and promotes soil movement and erosion." If the breach grew bigger, it could undermine the structural integrity of Route 8, causing the soil underneath the highway to slide onto Huntingdon Avenue. "If some material was to spill onto Huntingdon Avenue we'd work with the DOT to get it cleaned up," said City Engineer Paul Bellagamba. "But it's their responsibility to do any repair work necessary to retain that side slope."
The DOT intends not to let that happen. The DOT will monitor the wingwall and retaining system to make sure the problem isn't getting worse, Nursick said. The retaining wall, which is riddled with rust, will be completely replaced next spring. The new system is being designed now. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE