When homebuilder Johnny Carrier broke ground in 2006 on Samuel's Crossing in Plainville, he expected to complete the home development in five, maybe six years at most.
A decade later, the subdivision of 116 single-family houses is just a little more than half complete.
"The story of 2008 is an old one now," Carrier says. "But it is a story that we are still dealing with."
The state's home building industry — hit hard by the last recession, particularly in 2008 — is still struggling to recover. New U.S. census data released by the state Department of Economic and Community Development this week shows some encouraging gains last year: The number of permits issued for single-family houses, condominiums and apartment units rose 14 percent in 2015, compared with the previous year. That's the highest level since 2007. But the 6,077 units granted permits is still far below the 9,000 or so that would indicate a healthy market. It's also below the most recent peak of 11,885 in 2005 and the record of 28,000 in the 1980s.
"The health of the housing market is tied to the health of the local labor market," Donald L. Klepper-Smith, an economist at DataCore Partners in New Haven, said. "When you are creating jobs in a mild fashion, that translates into mild housing growth."
Klepper-Smith said he expects it will take between three and five years to reach the healthy market level of 9,000 units being granted permits. That forecast bars another recession or an abrupt rise in interest rates, neither of which Klepper-Smith foresees. This year, he sees the permit number settling between 6,000 and 7,000.
The number of units approved for building permits does not mean the housing stock is increasing by that number. In 2015, 1,230 units were demolished, making for a net gain of 4,847 units. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Middletown Parks Upgrades Set To Begin Soon
MIDDLETOWN — Work will soon begin on the first of the projects included in the $33.45 million overhaul of parks and fields approved by voters last year.
Smaller projects may start this month with the common council's public works and facilities commission serving as the building committee the least-costly upgrades and renovations.
Public Works Director William Russo said the $45,000 demolition of Spear Park at the corner of Main and William streets will be started soon. The park has been the source of complaints about public drinking and loitering from local business owners in recent years. Spear Park's fountain will be removed and it will be turned into an all-grass park with walkways.
The installation of new docks at Harbor Park for the local rowing programs can also be done soon for a cost of about $80,000, Russo said."A lot of people are ready to get going on these," Russo said. "We've seen the planning and now it's time to get some shovels in the ground."
While smaller projects are being done, a separate building committee will begin planning for the extensive upgrades to the complex that includes the Woodrow Wilson Middle School track and stadium, its tennis courts and Pat Kidney Field.
That project is expected to cost more than $10 million for all its components. The funding for the tennis courts will come from a bond approved by the council in 2014 before the completion of the Milone and Macbroom parks study that was the basis for the referendum last year. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Workers stand in support of embattled New Haven agency head
NEW HAVEN >> Several dozen workers, who went through a construction training program connected to the Commission on Equal Opportunity, showed up at the final public hearing on the city’s budget this week to demonstrate support for the program and the agency.
Nichole Jefferson, the executive director of the CEO, who currently is going through an arbitration hearing over her firing by the city in August 2015, also spoke again Thursday, criticizing several city officials involved in her termination.
Jefferson was cleared of any wrongdoing connected to the CEO or the Construction Workforce Initiative 2 by the U.S. attorney’s office, which subpoenaed documents connected to both, as well as her personal finances.
Chris Cozzi, president of the New Haven Building Trades, praised the CEO office for monitoring contractors to make sure they are in compliance with city rules on hiring women and minorities from New Haven. He also said CWI 2 and the pre-apprenticeship training it does has provided candidates for the trades to hire on city jobs. CWI 2 has downsized and now runs classes in Meriden, recently graduating a small group after the city told agencies not to fund it. “It is not our desire to create a job for somebody. It is our desire, as the union construction industry here in the New Haven area, to create a career for somebody and the only way to do that is with the backing of the city and the monitoring of these projects,” Cozzi said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Kids get to be big-equipment operators at Torrington Touch A Truck
TORRINGTON — The rain was no match for the enthusiasm of hordes of children at the O&G maintenance facility on Saturday. Seth Duke, marketing director for O&G, said more than 1,000 kids and their families braved the soggy weather for the company's second annual Touch a Truck event. The sound of kids happily honking the horns of dozens of heavy-duty trucks, emergency vehicles and other equipment filled the outdoor facility for two solid hours.
Chase Lindgren, 3, sitting at the controls of a small bulldozer with his grandfather, Bob Lindgren of Harwinton, said his favorite piece of equipment was the fire engine. "This is fabulous that they do this for the kids," Bob Lindgren said. "He's having a ball."
Parents snapped photos of their kids grasping the bars on the windows in the back of a Torrington police cruiser, and police K-9 Titus also was on hand to greet the children. The Torrington Fire Department also brought engines and put on safety demonstrations.
KidsPlay Museum and Torrington PAL both had activity booths, and Supreme Industries also lent some of their heavy equipment. Jim Zambero, O&G vice president and equipment superintendent, spearheaded the event. He said he fell in love with working with heavy machinery from going to touch-a-truck events when he was young.
"How many opportunities for young people are there to get in something like this of this magnitude?" Zambero said, gesturing to a nearby bulldozer. "It's really for the kids, in order to get the kids to come down, and get close and personal with the equipment."
The event concludes Construction Safety Week, said Michael Ferry, O&G safety director. "We're trying to focus on worker appreciation and showing thanks for their safety work, as well as trying to refocus everyone's attention toward safety," Ferry said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE