By Ken Borsuk
GREENWICH — A two-month detour on Anderson Road is expected to start June 20 so contractors can switch over a new water pump station to replace one 32 years old.
The detour will start from the driveway at 3 Anderson Road to the intersection of Anderson Road and Mallard Drive. Work includes excavation that will cross over more than one lane of traffic.
The station is part of Aquarion’s infrastructure in Greenwich, moving water from the Mianus area to the Putnam area and pumping close to two million gallons a day.
The current station, which is rusting and has some materials deterioration, had “reached the end of its useful life,” according to Aquarion’s Director of Public Relations Peter Fazekas.
Construction of the new station started in May 2016. Fazekas said the company expects the switch from the old to the new station will take place at the end of June. He said the new one will have more capacity and was designed to pump water in both directions Wanda McGarry from Kovacs Construction Corporation, which is building the new water pump station for Aquarion, said temporary piping put in place while the project was being set up has to be removed.
The detour is expected to last until some time in September at the latest.
“We have to run approximately 500 feet of new sidewalk,” McGarry said. “We have to dig out curb to curb and do a connection to 3 Anderson Road.”
The work is being done privately by Aquarion; no town money is being used.
“It’s basically ready to run right now other than some final connections,” McGarry said The work has attracted a lot of attention since it uses property on Julian Curtiss School. The new pump station will be in the lower corner of Julian Curtiss’s property adjacent to Anderson Road and almost directly behind the existing station.
Because of the proximity to the school, McGarry said the company was waiting until the school year ends on June 20 to start the work and hoped to have it complete by the time school reopens for the new year on Sept. 1.
“We hope to have it done sooner, but we also have to do some test pits further down toward East Elm in order to find out if there are restraints on the piping going towards East Elm,” McGarry said. “We’re hoping to be done quickly, but we’re looking at eight weeks.”
Signage will be placed on the Post Road as well as on Anderson Road itself and other connecting streets.
Stamford developer eyeing Wall Street Place
By Robert Koch
NORWALK — A Stamford-based real estate developer is taking a serious look at taking over the stalled Norwalk redevelopment project known as Wall Street Place.
An inspection crew recently at the development site off Isaac and Wall streets confirmed JHM Group’s interest in the project.
“I work with the (prospective) developer, which is JHM, and we’re looking at this and we’re just talking to the designers,” said Anthony T. Rowan, an engineer with ATR Construction Services, when asked about the inspection. “We’re just walking through with the designers to establish a baseline.”
John McClutchy, a Darien millionaire, developer and president of Stamford-based JHM Group, could not be reached for comment.
JHM Group works in the areas of renewable energy and real estate with the latter work focused on affordable housing and distressed real estate markets, according to the company’s website.
Citibank key player
Any entity looking to take over Wall Street Place would have to work with Citibank, the major lender for the project.
JHM Group has worked with Citibank before. McClutchy secured state and federal investment and private support, including from Citibank, for Crescent Crossing, an affordable housing development on the former site of Father Panik Village on Bridgeport's East Side.
McClutchy was a project partner in the 106-unit affordable housing development known as “The Heights at Darien” where Citibank also contributed financing.
Citibank on Thursday declined to say which if any developers have been brought into Wall Street Place in Norwalk. A bank representative said too many unknowns remain to discuss the project. The bank hopes to give a progress report soon, he added.
In September 2005, the council approved POKO-IWSR Developers of Port Chester, N.Y., as the city’s preferred developer for the Isaac Street portion of the Wall Street Redevelopment Plan. POKO broke ground on phase one —— 101 housing units and an automated parking garage in the area of the former Isaac Street Parking Lot — in June 2015. Thirty percent of the housing units are to priced as affordable. Construction halted last summer amid financing issues between POKO and Citibank.
The city’s Building Department worked with Citibank to shore up the half-completed building for winter. In March, the council and Norwalk Redevelopment Agency granted Citibank’s request to waive a 90-day notice requirement and allow the bank to immediately acquire the property.
As of Friday morning, the property had not yet transferred to the bank, according to the Norwalk Town Clerk’s Office.
Approvals needed
Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Timothy T. Sheehan said Citibank has processed all necessary documents to take control of the development site. He said various developers have asked about the project and that the agency has had a conversation with one “entity that CitiBank has been looking at as their recommendation as a new development entity.” Sheehan said he could not disclose the entity’s identity.
Wall Street Place is subject to a Land Disposition Agreement between the city, Redevelopment Agency and POKO. Any changes to the LDA would require agency and council approval. Transfer of the development rights would require agency approval.
Sheehan anticipates Citibank — not a new developer — would bring any such changes before the agency and council for consideration.
“I think that will give you the first sign that the project’s advancing forward and the bank is engaged to bring a new developer into the deal,” Sheehan said.
Groundbreaking ceremony held for Meriden Commons in city’s downtown
MERIDEN — City and state officials gathered on the Meriden Green Monday for a groundbreaking ceremony as construction crews worked on the housing and commercial complex just a few hundred feet away.
“It’s a ground breaking ceremony, but as you can see ground has already been broken,” said Charlie Adams, regional vice president for Pennrose Properties, the project developer.
Work on the $14.5 million complex at 177 State St. known as Meriden Commons I began last month. Pennrose is partnering with the city to build 76 apartments with 5,000 square feet of commercial space. Eighty percent of the units are considered Section 8 or affordable, with 15 apartments to be rented at market rate. Apartments will be a mix of one, two and three bedrooms. Construction is expected to take about a year.The project is financed through private investment, low-income housing tax credits and $5.7 million from the state Department of Housing.
Several dozen people gathered under the amphitheater at the Meriden Green in the blistering sun for the ceremony.
Mayor Kevin Scarpati said the occasion marks “another milestone in Meriden’s history.”
“For over 20 years we talked about the problems we’ve seen at the Mills projects and fortunately today marks day one of the redevelopment of that site,” Scarpati said. “Thank you for believing in Meriden because it truly is inspiring to see all that Meriden has to offer and what will be coming in the year ahead.”
The Mills public housing complex is located right next to the new development.
State Rep. Hilda Santiago, D-Meriden, shared statistics with the crowd from a recent report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
“A full time worker in the U.S. must earn $21.21 per hour to afford a modest two bedroom apartment and $17.14 to afford a one bedroom apartment,” Santiago said. “In my district, people don’t make that kind of money so affordable housing is what we can afford.”
Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne Klein talked about the work downtown since Meriden Commons was first discussed.
“I remember when we met four years ago with the then mayor and talked about all the plans and all the possibilities ...it’s great to see that they are underway,” Klein said. “When we look at a development like this here at Meriden Commons I’m reminded about how important the work we do in the department is.”
Other speakers included Connecticut Housing Finance CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
The roads being repaved are Vermont Drive, Indiana Street, Arrowhead Drive, Anthony Drive, Hefbern Road, Cedar Street (from Leominister Road to Oakland Street), Muzzy Street, Barns Street, Tulip Street (from Jacob Street to Park Street), Talmadge Street, Union Street, Russ Lane, East Road (from Hull Street to South Street), Pine Street (from Route 72 to town line), Forrest Street and Gina Street
Crews will remove the eroded pavement and then put down a new surface. The public works department assures homeowners that it will repair damaged driveways after the work is completed.
Roads will remain open for mail delivery, emergency vehicles and local traffic, but delays are expected and parking may be prohibited at times.
Torrington to Thomaston section of Naugatuck River Greenway moves ahead
TORRINGTON >> A portion of the Naugatuck River Greenway between Torrington and Thomaston is set to be planned in the coming year, as efforts to construct the trail continue.
Representatives of the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments recently briefed local elected officials on this latest step.The aim of the planning effort, according to Senior Regional Planner Aaron Budris and Planning Director Mark Nielsen, is to find a consensus path for the trail to connect the two municipalities. Over the next 12 to 18 months, they said, planners will speak with elected officials and members of the public to get their input as the process proceeds, as each community has ultimate control of the portion of the trail that passes through their town. The most difficult spot to plan will likely be in Harwinton and Litchfield, they said. The potential path is bound by Route 8, the river, and the railway line that runs through the area.
The future of the Naugatuck River Greenway has been a long-running point of consideration for elected officials. The plan has been a priority for more than a decade, according to council Executive Director Rick Lynn.The aim of having the route planned, NVCOG officials wrote in a February request for qualifications, is to enable local cities and towns to more easily get funding to bring the trail to reality. “It has become clear that in order to compete for state, federal and private grants for trail construction, municipalities need to have a clearly defined plan for trail development. This includes a firm route that has been publically vetted, buy in from stakeholders, and a good understanding of trail construction costs,” wrote officials in the RFQ. “This project is aimed at providing the information necessary for municipalities along the Torrington through Thomaston NRG route corridor to compete for future construction funding, and to help close gaps in the NRG.”Eventually, the trail is expected to span an area of 44 miles between Torrington and Derby — the portion between Torrington and Thomaston is expected to run for approximately 10.9 miles, according to the RFQPortions of the trail that have been built include a stretch running between the John Toro Sports Complex and Supreme Industries in Torrington.The Torrington City Council awarded a contract for the survey and development of design plans for the piece of the greenway between Franklin Street and Bogue Road in March, and Anchor Engineering Services, Inc., of Glastonbury, was allocated $58,800 for the work.The project could eventually spur millions of dollars worth of economic activity and health benefits in the region, according to a study released by the Naugatuck Valley council in March.Three scenarios — baseline, moderate, and accelerated growth — were included in the study. The numbers included below, are drawn from the baseline scenario, based on the current level of visitation to the portions of the greenway that have been completed.“Currently, total annual visits to open sections, only about 4.1 miles in four communities, is estimated at about 195,500,” representatives of the NVCOG said in a previous statement. “These visitors spend about $2.9 million each year on various items such as snacks, beverages, food, gear and travel. By 2031, annual visitations are projected at 2.6 million and annual spending would reach about $42.6 million under the baseline scenario.”
The 2031 estimation, Nielsen said, was based on a review of time lines for existing trail projects. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE The estimated number of bicyclists using the trail, Nielsen said, is likely low at this point, as more will be interested in using it as it lengthens, making for better rides. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE