MERIDEN — A 16-year energy performance contract could hold up a land swap between the Meriden Housing Authority and the city, a necessary step to move forward on Meriden Commons Phase I.
In November 2015, the City Council approved the transfer of two city-owned properties — 177 State St. and 62 Cedar St. — to the Meriden Housing Authority to build Meriden Commons Phase I and II, a multi-income commercial-residential development project.
In return, the housing authority will transfer its property at 144 Pratt/Mill Street to allow the city to finish the Meriden Green flood control project. There is a lien on the Mills property related to an energy performance contract loan that needs to be addressed prior to closing,” said City Economic Development Director Juliet Burdelski. “If the property transfers deviate from this (the approved land swap) we will need further Council approvals.”In 2010, at the same time the Mills Memorial Apartments were being discussed for redevelopment, the Meriden Housing Authority entered into a $1.4 million, 16-year energy performance contract, through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and CTI Energy Services, to improve energy efficiency and performance at the 140-unit complex.
The project promised to maintain an 85 percent savings that would help pay for the equipment. The plan called for new water heaters, furnaces, shower heads, faucets and toilets that use less water, as well as energy-efficient exterior lighting that was being updated for the first time since the 1950s.
The water heaters were purchased specifically for the future redevelopment plans, MHA Executive Director Robert Cappelletti said at the time. But without subsidies coming from the soon-to-be demolished buildings, the HUD lender now wants to know the deal will be repaid.
Currently, two low-rise buildings stand at 144 Pratt St., part of the Mills Memorial Apartments. But the land swap came with some contingencies, including financing. In April, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority announced that Phase I would receive a portion of $7.1 million in federal tax credits. Two months ago, the State Bond Commission awarded the project $5.7 million and it has received private investment funding from developer Pennrose Partners. No awards have been approved for Phase II, although an application for low-income tax credits was submitted earlier this month.
The other conditions of the land swap state that the MHA must receive HUD approval for the disposition and demolition of the Mills buildings; Pennrose and the MHA have to finalize their agreement; the MHA and Pennrose must provide evidence of the financing needed to carry out the proposed development; and funding for the demolition of the remaining Mills buildings must be secured. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
The field, located behind the former Edgerton School on Cedar Grove Avenue, has not been open to the general public since 2003, when elevated levels of arsenic and lead were found in the soil during routine testing associated with a school construction project. It was the remnants of a coal ash landfill.
After a state-funded $1.7 million cleanup, the field hosted portable classrooms while the city constructed new elementary schools. The portable classrooms were removed in 2013.
Kent + Frost Landscape Architecture of Mystic was enlisted to draw up the plans for the future park.
Those plans call for a baseball field with a backstop and dugouts and an all-purpose field that overlaps the outfield of the baseball field. A new stone-dust walking track around the property, chain link fence and composting restrooms and movable bleachers also are included in the plans. A small parking lot is anticipated, if funds allow.
The final costs will be determined by the bids but the city had intended to spend about $1 million, which includes $130,500 to Kent + Frost to develop the plans and construction bid documents. The plans are expected to go to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a formal review. Construction is likely to start sometime next year.
New London recreation Director Tommie Major said he anticipated immediate use by one group or another, considering the limited number of playing fields in the city. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Killingly to decide whether to bond $11.5 million for municipal improvements
KILLINGLY – Early next year Killingly residents will decide whether to bond $11.5 million for school, municipal and bridge improvements, though the total cost of the projects will likely be cut nearly in half if anticipated state reimbursements are approved.
The projects are divided into three categories: School roofs and windows; bridge and culvert replacements; and town hall and community center work. The bonding questions are expected to be discussed at a January public hearing and town meeting before being sent to a referendum.
“There’s also the removal of three underground storage tanks on the school side,” she said. “There will be a separate referendum question to do with bridges on Valley Road that the state inspected earlier this year.”
The $2.25 million bridge work would pay to fix the Bear Hill Road culvert and replace two bridges on Valley Road.
The town also plans to bond $3.2 million for several projects at the community center, including exterior brick re-pointing, bathroom and locker room renovations and window work. A portion of that money – about $1 million - would be set aside to replace the nearly 100-year-old pipes running through Town Hall, Town Engineer Dave Capacchione said.
“The pipes are original to Town Hall and are deteriorating,” he said. “We’re addressing the leaks as they happen. The tricky part will be timing, since you won’t have heat or air-conditioning while the replacement work is happening.”
It's possible the town could pass off the cost of the community center work, but only if the state approves a permit for a new power plant in town. As part of ongoing discussions concerning the construction of a 550-megawatt power plant on Lake Road in Dayville, developers have said they were prepared to give the town $2 million in cash - though that figure is not final. Town Manager Sean Hendricks said that money could be used to upgrade the Broad Street facility. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Suggestions for Killingly power plant money include dam maintenance
KILLINGLY – After months of discussing the potential pitfalls of having a new power plant located in town, Killingly residents on Wednesday began examining what benefits the town might reap from such a project.
About 20 people met inside the Killingly library’s community room to start hashing out the specifics of an Environmental Benefits Agreement, a set of conditions worked out between a municipality and a developer that lays out what a town would gain if the state approves power generation projects that carry potentially adverse environmental effects.
Town Manager Sean Hendricks, who re-iterated that neither he nor the Town Council have taken a formal stance on the project, said its crucial to get the benefits agreement in place early and was seeking guidance on what residents wanted added.
Hendricks noted that other towns with incoming power plants put in stipulations protecting homeowners’ property values, as well as money for recreational enhancements. Most agreements include cash payments to a hosting municipality.
“Even though it’s called an environmental agreement, some of the connections to the environment are dental floss-thin,” he said. “There is no real template for this.”
NTE previously said it would provide a $2 million cash payment to the town, which Hendricks said could be used to renovate the town’s community center, or refurbish the playscape area at Owen Bell Park in Dayville.
Several residents suggested setting aside money for additional noise baffling, while Conservation Commission Chairwoman Donna Bronwell recommended feeding the town’s Open Space Land Acquisition Fund. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Siting Council soon to examine Killingly power plant plan
KILLINGLY — The decision-making process on whether to locate a new power plant in Dayville in entering the home stretch and will soon be entirely in the hands of nine people.
The Connecticut Siting Council is expected to decide by the spring whether to approve a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need submitted by Florida-based NTE for the construction, maintenance and operation of a 550-megawatt electric generating facility on Lake Road.
The town, in the form of its Planning and Zoning and Inland, Wetlands and Watercourses commissions, recently drew up letters laying out their concerns with the project. Most recently, those individuals and groups designated as intervenors met in New Britain before the Siting Council to begin the evidentiary portion of the process.
“The Council’s role is to decide, based on the evidence presented, whether there’s a need for such a facility,” Town Manager Sean Hendricks said. “And the reasons presented to the Council against such a project needs to be regulatory – not emotional. Probably 99 percent of the projects the Council handles are opposed by the locating towns.”
The chairmen of the town boards could not be reached for comment Monday.
In rendering its decision, the Council, which also reviews applications for cell towers and power lines, will weigh several factors, including the state’s current and future electricity needs.
The Council is composed of five governor-appointed members and four designated by the state Legislature, the commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the chairman of state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.
Unlike a municipal hearing, Siting Council proceedings are governed by state statute and typically follows the same script as a court case, with witnesses and cross-examinations.
Hendricks said the applicant, in this case NTE, has the burden of proving the proposed facility would have a public benefit and construction will not result in a significant adverse environmental impact.
“For instance, the town’s two regulatory boards raised issues they think the proposed plant might affect, like noise, traffic and water run-off,” he said. “NTE has agreed to address 80 percent of those concerns and at the next hearing, I’ll question the company’s representative about the other 20 percent.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Trader Joe's Considering Bloomfield For $78.5 Million Distribution Facility, Looks For Tax Break
he town is a finalist for a proposed $78.5 million, 690,000-square-foot Trader Joe's distribution facility.
In a letter to Bloomfield Town Planner Jose Giner dated Tuesday, George Tobjy, managing director for KPMG, said the grocery store chain is evaluating locations in Connecticut and New York for the facility, which would include 90,000 square feet of frozen food storage and light manufacturing, including cheese cutting and produce packaging.
The facility, Tobjy said, would create about 675 new jobs, including approximately 150 new transportation positions.
Trader Joe's is considering a property on the Blue Hills Avenue extension near the Amazon fullfilment center just over the border in Windsor, according to town officials.
The company is expected to make a presentation to the Bloomfield Town Council at its Dec. 12 meeting.
Tobjy said the company would be seeking a 100 percent property tax abatement for seven years and a full building permit and Metropolitan District water and sewer fee waiver.Town Manager Philip Schenck said Wednesday that the interest by Trader Joe's reflects Bloomfield's positive business climate, which includes a cooperative working atmosphere between the town and business.
However, Mayor Joan Gamble said that although she understands the company's request for a 100 percent tax abatement, the proposal would "go over like a lead balloon" with her colleagues on the council and the public.
"We would be amenable to negotiations, but after the Niagara debacle, we're a little gun-shy at this point," Gamble said.
The town council approved a sliding-scale, seven-year abatement to California-based Niagara Bottling in December 2015 to build a $73 million plant. After entering into the agreement with the company, residents opposed to plastic bottles and supplying MDC water to be shipped out of state turned out at numerous meetings asking the council to rescind its agreement with Niagara. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUEArch: Dunkin’ Donuts Park On Track For April 13 Yard Goats Home Opener
The crack of the bat and the snap of a baseball meeting a leather glove are still more than five months away at Dunkin' Donuts Park, but on Tuesday there were other sights and sounds to warm a baseball fan's heart as work continued to finish the stadium in time for opening day April 13.
A generator roared near the home plate entrance at Main and Pleasant streets, while on the sidewalk a beeping noise signaled a piece of construction equipment backing into place.
Inside, construction workers came and went from the future CTfastrak Guest Services Suite, currently the field office for Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. A back wall displayed a Hartford Yard Goats pennant and blueprints of the ballpark.
After more than 100 days of inactivity — which began when the city terminated the contract with the stadium's developers — work resumed in mid-October and has been progressing steadily since.
"We are making significant progress, and we're still on track for baseball in April 2017," said Patrick Nails, a senior vice president with Arch Insurance, which is guaranteeing the completion of Dunkin' Donuts Park in time for the season opener.
Nails said that there are usually 70 to 80 contractors on site daily, six days a week.
The ballpark has been winterized to keep pipes from bursting once the weather turns. The heating and electrical systems are nearing completion, as is work on the guardrails in the stands.
One elevator is fully operational; a second is almost there. The home team locker room has been completed and awaits a finish coat of paint, as do several luxury suites. Many areas of the ballpark have already received a fresh coat of paint. Much of the construction debris that was left behind in June is gone.
The team's offices are also almost ready. On Tuesday, contractors were in the YG Club discussing how the sprinkler system will be moved so that it isn't below lighting fixtures.
Plans are also in the works to cast in place the last piece of concrete needed to complete the 360-degree concourse around the 6,000-seat ballparkThe roof, which had not been buttoned up before contractors were ordered off the job, causing damage from leaks during the work stoppage, is now 90 percent complete. That work is being completed by the original subcontractor, as is the case with almost all the trades, Nails said.
Two key elements give Nails confidence that the ballpark will reach the level of completion that allows the team to get inside in time to prepare for the year-delayed home opener.
One is bringing back almost every one of the subcontractors working on the park when the gates were locked in June. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE