DERBY — Demolition to the interior of the former Walmart on Route 34 has begun, paving the way for a new Big Y grocery store to move in.That’s the word from Mayor Richard Dziekan’s office, who said “change is on the horizon” for the partly vacant plaza to soon get a new lease on life.
“The expected completion date of Big Y is summer 2019, with more phases of construction and development on the rest of the plaza expected to occur after that,” Dziekan said in a post on his Facebook page.
Carmen DiCenso, the city’s economic development liaison, said Wednesday that the property, located at 656 New Haven Ave. (Route 34), is owned by DLC Management Corp. of Elmsford, N.Y.
DiCenso said while “some parts of the plaza may be torn down,” the former Walmart is not being demolished, and will mostly be a remodel as it’s transformed into the new Big Y. Lucibello Electric is serving as the project’s contractor, DiCenso said.
Council continues to discuss fuel cell park proposal at old Stanley campus
NEW BRITAIN – The Common Council’s Committee on Administration, Finance and Law met Wednesday night to discuss a tax agreement with EIP Investment, LLC, for the company’s upcoming project at the old Stanley Works campus.
The much-discussed Energy Innovation Park project received approval from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in June and has received widespread support for stakeholders in the city and beyond. In short, the project will convert parts of the Stanley Works campus into a 20-megawatt fuel cell park utilizing clean energy and a data storage and processing center. In total, the multi-phase project is expected to provide more than $45 million for New Britain and $200 million in revenue for the state over its construction.
The council committee forwarded a resolution detailing a tax assessment deferral/modification agreement with EIP Investment, LLC, back to the full Common Council with a neutral recommendation.
As currently written, the resolution would authorize Mayor Erin Stewart to enter into a 27-year tax assessment deferral/modification agreement with EIP Investment, LLC. According to the draft of the agreement, EIP will make tax payments to the city starting with the October 1, 2019 grand list that will gradually increase over the next 27 years. By that date in 2021, EIP will be the second largest taxpayer in New Britain.
According to Mark Wick, a partner with EIP, the approach to the tax plan is to help levelize payments during construction of the first phase of the project.
Following Wednesday’s recommendation, the full Common Council will discuss the tax assessment deferral/modification agreement in its Aug. 8 meeting.
UConn to seek $79 million more from the state
MANSFIELD, Conn. (AP) — The University of Connecticut is asking for $79 million more from the state to cover labor expenses and capital improvements.
The Connecticut Post reported Wednesday the university Board of Trustees has approved a request from the chief financial officer for $234.3 million for the 2019-20 fiscal year, and $269.7 million in the 2020-21 fiscal year.
The request includes a $20.9 million increase in funding for the university's Next Generation initiative, which focuses on expanding programs in science, technology, engineering and math.
UConn Chief Financial Officer Scott Jordan says the university will be able to balance its budget for the upcoming fiscal years if the request is approved. Otherwise, the university may need to revisit its tuition plan. The governor's office will review the request while preparing a state budget.
The council committee forwarded a resolution detailing a tax assessment deferral/modification agreement with EIP Investment, LLC, back to the full Common Council with a neutral recommendation.
As currently written, the resolution would authorize Mayor Erin Stewart to enter into a 27-year tax assessment deferral/modification agreement with EIP Investment, LLC. According to the draft of the agreement, EIP will make tax payments to the city starting with the October 1, 2019 grand list that will gradually increase over the next 27 years. By that date in 2021, EIP will be the second largest taxpayer in New Britain.
According to Mark Wick, a partner with EIP, the approach to the tax plan is to help levelize payments during construction of the first phase of the project.
Following Wednesday’s recommendation, the full Common Council will discuss the tax assessment deferral/modification agreement in its Aug. 8 meeting.
UConn to seek $79 million more from the state
MANSFIELD, Conn. (AP) — The University of Connecticut is asking for $79 million more from the state to cover labor expenses and capital improvements.
The Connecticut Post reported Wednesday the university Board of Trustees has approved a request from the chief financial officer for $234.3 million for the 2019-20 fiscal year, and $269.7 million in the 2020-21 fiscal year.
The request includes a $20.9 million increase in funding for the university's Next Generation initiative, which focuses on expanding programs in science, technology, engineering and math.
UConn Chief Financial Officer Scott Jordan says the university will be able to balance its budget for the upcoming fiscal years if the request is approved. Otherwise, the university may need to revisit its tuition plan. The governor's office will review the request while preparing a state budget.
Preston — The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection this week approved a key remedial action plan for the final 12-month cleanup of the former Norwich Hospital property before turning the property over to Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment for a planned $200 million to $600 million development there.
The Preston Redevelopment Agency on Wednesday approved three segments of work using the $10 million state grant for the final cleanup phase, which entails removing ground contamination throughout the 393-acre site.
Early work will concentrate on the so-called plateau — the flat area where many former buildings stood — while town officials await state and federal permits for cleanup of areas along the river. Work in the 6 to 8 acres within the Coastal Area Management zone, within 1,000 feet of the tidal area of the Thames River, will need state DEEP, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits, First Selectman Robert Congdon said.
PRA Chairman Sean Nugent said the clock started ticking on the anticipated 12-month cleanup period in mid-July. Nugent hopes to be finished with the cleanup and have final approval of the work by DEEP in time to transfer the property by late summer 2019.
The development agreement between the tribe and town calls for construction of any new development to begin within three years of the transfer of property and be completed within six years.
Nugent said Wednesday officials involved in the project hope to cut as much as two to three months off the cleanup timeframe, if no major obstacles are encountered. One big question will be any archaeological artifacts found.
The cleanup entails digging up former roadways that snake through the property and depositing the material in pre-approved collection sites on the property.
The town has hired Archaeological and Historical Services Inc. of Mansfield for $36,000, paid through the state grant, to conduct an archaeological survey and flag potentially sensitive archaeological areas. The group will monitor the work as roadways are excavated, Nugent said.
Town officials hope to keep the cost of the final cleanup within the $10 million state grant. The town also obtained a $2 million contingency loan from the state if the cleanup encounters emergencies that could put it over budget, such as a significant archaeological site that needs excavation.
Nugent told the PRA on Wednesday that the cost estimate for the major work initially came in over budget at $6.1 million, but the PRA called a meeting of all project engineers, environmental planners and environmental officials from the Mohegan tribe for a “value engineering session.” The effort cut $180,000 off the total for that portion of the work, bringing it to $5.92 million, Nugent said.
The Preston Redevelopment Agency on Wednesday approved three segments of work using the $10 million state grant for the final cleanup phase, which entails removing ground contamination throughout the 393-acre site.
Early work will concentrate on the so-called plateau — the flat area where many former buildings stood — while town officials await state and federal permits for cleanup of areas along the river. Work in the 6 to 8 acres within the Coastal Area Management zone, within 1,000 feet of the tidal area of the Thames River, will need state DEEP, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits, First Selectman Robert Congdon said.
PRA Chairman Sean Nugent said the clock started ticking on the anticipated 12-month cleanup period in mid-July. Nugent hopes to be finished with the cleanup and have final approval of the work by DEEP in time to transfer the property by late summer 2019.
The development agreement between the tribe and town calls for construction of any new development to begin within three years of the transfer of property and be completed within six years.
Nugent said Wednesday officials involved in the project hope to cut as much as two to three months off the cleanup timeframe, if no major obstacles are encountered. One big question will be any archaeological artifacts found.
The cleanup entails digging up former roadways that snake through the property and depositing the material in pre-approved collection sites on the property.
The town has hired Archaeological and Historical Services Inc. of Mansfield for $36,000, paid through the state grant, to conduct an archaeological survey and flag potentially sensitive archaeological areas. The group will monitor the work as roadways are excavated, Nugent said.
Town officials hope to keep the cost of the final cleanup within the $10 million state grant. The town also obtained a $2 million contingency loan from the state if the cleanup encounters emergencies that could put it over budget, such as a significant archaeological site that needs excavation.
Nugent told the PRA on Wednesday that the cost estimate for the major work initially came in over budget at $6.1 million, but the PRA called a meeting of all project engineers, environmental planners and environmental officials from the Mohegan tribe for a “value engineering session.” The effort cut $180,000 off the total for that portion of the work, bringing it to $5.92 million, Nugent said.