Christine Stuart CT News Junkie
HARTFORD, CT — U.S. Rep. John B. Larson doesn’t have much time to convince Governor-elect Ned Lamont and his yet-to-be-named Transportation Commissioner that tunneling through Hartford is the best path forward.
With a divided Congress in Washington where Democrats control the House and Republicans control the Senate, infrastructure spending is one of the only areas where the two parties might be able to agree. And Larson is situated as a member of the Ways and Means Committee to make sure Connecticut gets the funding for his big idea.
It’s an idea that comes with a big price tag, but Larson believes it would be political malpractice not to ask for what the region needs when Connecticut gets back less money than it gives to the federal government.Larson told about two dozen residents in the north end Tuesday that his proposal amounts to a sketch on the back of a napkin, but it’s “a concept worthy of pursuit because of the economic development it provides and the ease of transportation.”
“The question is are we going to make the same mistake we made 50 years ago?” Larson said. “Or are we going to focus on the kind of economic change and vitality that will save the levees, recapture the riverfront, and reunite north Hartford, and create economic development?”
He said tunneling through Hartford would allow traffic that doesn’t plan on stopping in Hartford to flow from Roberts Street in East Hartford to Flatbush Avenue in West Hartford on I-84 and from the North Meadows to the South Meadows on I-91.
One of the plans proposed by the Connecticut Department of Transportation under outgoing Gov. Dannel P. Malloy calls for rerouting I-84 through north Hartford and East Hartford. That new route is through a big portion of Hartford and East Hartford’s tax base. The route essentially cuts through the car dealerships in both cities.
State Rep. Joshua Hall, D-Hartford, said that’s concerning.
State Sen. Doug McCrory, D-Hartford, asked what Larson needs to do in order to secure the funding for the tunnel. First, Congress needs to pass an infrastructure bill and fund it.
McCrory said he’s concerned about Larson putting forward the tunnel proposal and the governor putting forward a different, competing proposal.
Larson said there’s nothing to squabble over until there’s an infrastructure bill.
However, Larson said he believes Lamont will be supportive of the tunnel idea. Lamont has not directly addressed the issue, but in accepting Larson’s endorsement during the Democratic primary in July, he agreed that pulling highways out of downtown and the Connecticut Riverfront is a good idea, saying it’s time to stop “bifurcating our cities.”
McCrory asked Larson what he can do to help move the tunnel idea forward.
Larson said he believes Lamont, and whoever he appoints as Transportation Commissioner, will support the tunnel concept.The Connecticut Department of Transportation has been planning for the replacement of the elevated portion of I-84 for years, but Larson said they need to think bigger.
He said tunneling through Hartford would not disrupt as much of the flow of traffic through the city as shutting down I-84 for two to five years as they tear down the viaduct, which is the elevated portion of the highway near Aetna. Larson said people don’t think about that when they are considering the various proposals.
Larson said tunneling is a “turn-key operation,” which would allow business to continue as a tunnel boring machine cuts a path.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is focused on the 2.5 miles of highway that needs to be rebuilt or torn down because it is beyond its 50-year lifespan. Transportation Department engineers believe it would be best to lower the interstate, but a final decision isn’t expected until 2020.
The cost of lowering I-84 has been estimated at about $2 billion.
But Larson said there’s other considerations, too.
He said focusing solely on the so-called Aetna viaduct doesn’t help find federal money to replace the levees and reconnect the city with the Connecticut River. Larson said Connecticut is too far down on a list for levee replacement, but including it as part of an infrastructure package makes sense.
“Governor-elect Lamont is grateful to Congressman Larson for his leadership, applauds his big thinking, and supports Larson’s efforts to bring federal infrastructure dollars back to Connecticut,” Lacey Rose, Lamont’s communications director, said. “While the Congressman works to secure federal funding, Lamont will be focused on making critical changes to alleviate traffic, improve our roads and rails, and attract new businesses throughout Connecticut.”
Lamont indicated in one of his last debates that he would replace Transportation Commissioner James Redeker.
New Haven planners approve conversion of office space to apartments
Mary E. O’Leary
NEW HAVEN — Yet more housing is coming downtown, whether it fills empty lots or is converted from office space.
Approvals for those projects took place this week at the same time the state came through with major housing loans for developments already in the pipeline. buildings on a vacant site for 45 residential units: 36 affordable and nine market-rate. Separately, the City Plan Commission this week approved conversion of three floors of office space to 29 apartments at 742-750 and 754 Chapel St. at the corner of State Street by East River Partners.
East River Partners is a New York real estate investor; Joseph Cohen, a New Haven native, is a co-founder.
The project includes a 24,137-square-foot, four-story building and a 5,633-square-foot, 31/2-story building.The first floors of the buildings are occupied by commercial uses, while the second through fourth floors now have vacant office space. A total of 20,443 square feet of office space will be converted into the apartments.
East River Partners previously had received approval for a six-story, 60-unit apartment building at 294 State St., which for decades has been a parking lot. The new building is around the corner from the 742-750 and 754 Chapel St. buildings bought by the developer.
The new construction will consist of 15 studio apartments; 20 one-bedroom units; 15 two-bedroom; and 10 three-bedroom units.
The City Plan Commission also approved construction of 15 new apartments in a BD zone at 67 Whitney Ave. The proposal is to construct three additional stories to the one-story building currently housing Great Wall restaurant.
The new apartments will consist of efficiency and one-bedroom units.
The state loans are part of $22 million in awards announced Tuesday by the state Department of Housing for affordable housing in Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury. Those funds will create, rehab and preserve 702 units of housing.
In New Haven, this is the latest phase in the replacement of Farnam Courts public housing, where new units have already been constructed at the original site fronting on Grand Avenue, as well as in Fair Haven and Fair Haven Heights. These additional units will be located at the rear of the original site.
Glendower also got a loan of $3.7 million to help with the rehabilitation of three buildings with 201 affordable units for Ruoppolo Manor and Fairmont Heights. It is 100 percent affordable and will serve senior and disabled resident households.
The Hill-to-Downtown development, long planned by Serena Neal-Sanjurjo of the Liveable City Initiative and the Economic Development Administration, got $2.75 million for the development project at 49 Prince St. planned by RMS Downtown South-Hill North Development Co. LLC.The long-shuttered former Welch Annex School will be converted into 30 affordable units that will serve households with incomes at 25 percent, 50 percent and 60 percent of the area-median income. They will include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.
Hill-to-Downtown includes other developments planned for the area around Union Station and the replacement of Church Street South.
Since 2011, the department and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority have created, rehabilitated or committed funding for nearly 25,000 units of housing — approximately 22,000 of which are affordable to low- and moderate-income individuals and families.
It is part of a state investment of nearly $1.5 billion, which has been matched by $2.5 billion from other financial sources, including the private sector, the department said.
Contract for repairs to Kensington Dam is approved
Charles Paullin
BERLIN - The Town Council has approved the contract for repairs to the Kensington Dam.
The contract was awarded to the low bidder, D’Amato Construction Co. Inc., of Bristol, at last week’s meeting. D’Amato’s total cost is not to exceed $1.7 million, even if change orders are necessary.
The town is already approved for bonding for the project and the job is accounted for in the budget, Board of Finance Chairman Sam Lomaglio said.
State-mandated repairs were ordered after an inspection in 2017 found deficiencies. Estimates put the cost of repairs at no more than $1.3 million. Removal of the dam came in at about $100,000 less.
Because of the dam’s historical significance to the town, as well as the potential $10,000 decrease in values of homes near the dam, the council decided to make the repairs, Mayor Mark Kaczynski said before the meeting.
Residents living near the dam, as well as the Berlin Historical Society, also expressed interest in keeping the structure, Kaczynksi added. If the dam was removed, soil around it might need to be removed, too, according to previous council meeting minutes.
In March 2017, when the project was discussed, Town Manager Jack Healy said repairs would take about a year. The last repairs were made 35 years ago, he added. A fish ladder and eel passage will be added, at the urging of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Public Works Director Mike Ahern said. The repairs are expected to take about a year, Finance Director Kevin Delaney said.
Other contracts and purchases approved at the meeting were:
nA contract with Earth Contractors, of Kensington, at rates of $200 and $175 per hour, respectively, for a large plow struck and a spare vehicle, with Staxx Construction Services, of Berlin, at $145 per hour for one vehicle, and with Rogan Enterprises, of Berlin, at $160 per hour, for additional vehicles and a loader. The vehicles to be leased contracts help the town plow narrow streets and cul-de-sacs with smaller vehicles the town doesn’t have in its fleet. The operators of the vehicles will be provided by the contractors.
nThe purchase of two new police K-9 vehicles and equipment installation to replace the town’s current ones, for a price not to exceed $35,080.86. The vehicles are expected to be delivered in December, and will use as much equipment from the old ones as possible, Deputy Chief Chris Ciuci said. The town also is working to get a cruiser replaced through the insurance of a person who crashed into a lieutenant’s cruiser while the lieutenant was in it.
nA new fence at the community garden on Orchard Road with Ideal Fence Co., of New Britain, for an amount not to exceed $10,662. Funds will come from Berlin Land Trust grant money received from Eversource and PepsiCo, and the community garden and payment in lieu of open space accounts. Town Councilor Karen Pagliaro said the new chain-link fence has been needed with reports of crops being stolen from the garden and planters not feeling safe with the current, cut up fence. The cost went up about $1,000 from an original bid, Healy said, probably, because of tariffs.
nA contract for the town’s GIS system with New England Geo-System, of Middletown, for $30,000. The system provides efficient and detailed access to the towns GIS maps for town staff and the public, according to Public Works Director Mike Ahern, which saves the town time.
Hundreds help Manafort Brothers turn 100
Karla Santos
NEW BRITAIN - Manafort Brothers Inc. displayed several old and new trucks to kick off its 100th anniversary celebration, which attracted nearly 800 guests Friday at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.
The town is already approved for bonding for the project and the job is accounted for in the budget, Board of Finance Chairman Sam Lomaglio said.
State-mandated repairs were ordered after an inspection in 2017 found deficiencies. Estimates put the cost of repairs at no more than $1.3 million. Removal of the dam came in at about $100,000 less.
Because of the dam’s historical significance to the town, as well as the potential $10,000 decrease in values of homes near the dam, the council decided to make the repairs, Mayor Mark Kaczynski said before the meeting.
Residents living near the dam, as well as the Berlin Historical Society, also expressed interest in keeping the structure, Kaczynksi added. If the dam was removed, soil around it might need to be removed, too, according to previous council meeting minutes.
In March 2017, when the project was discussed, Town Manager Jack Healy said repairs would take about a year. The last repairs were made 35 years ago, he added. A fish ladder and eel passage will be added, at the urging of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Public Works Director Mike Ahern said. The repairs are expected to take about a year, Finance Director Kevin Delaney said.
Other contracts and purchases approved at the meeting were:
nA contract with Earth Contractors, of Kensington, at rates of $200 and $175 per hour, respectively, for a large plow struck and a spare vehicle, with Staxx Construction Services, of Berlin, at $145 per hour for one vehicle, and with Rogan Enterprises, of Berlin, at $160 per hour, for additional vehicles and a loader. The vehicles to be leased contracts help the town plow narrow streets and cul-de-sacs with smaller vehicles the town doesn’t have in its fleet. The operators of the vehicles will be provided by the contractors.
nThe purchase of two new police K-9 vehicles and equipment installation to replace the town’s current ones, for a price not to exceed $35,080.86. The vehicles are expected to be delivered in December, and will use as much equipment from the old ones as possible, Deputy Chief Chris Ciuci said. The town also is working to get a cruiser replaced through the insurance of a person who crashed into a lieutenant’s cruiser while the lieutenant was in it.
nA new fence at the community garden on Orchard Road with Ideal Fence Co., of New Britain, for an amount not to exceed $10,662. Funds will come from Berlin Land Trust grant money received from Eversource and PepsiCo, and the community garden and payment in lieu of open space accounts. Town Councilor Karen Pagliaro said the new chain-link fence has been needed with reports of crops being stolen from the garden and planters not feeling safe with the current, cut up fence. The cost went up about $1,000 from an original bid, Healy said, probably, because of tariffs.
nA contract for the town’s GIS system with New England Geo-System, of Middletown, for $30,000. The system provides efficient and detailed access to the towns GIS maps for town staff and the public, according to Public Works Director Mike Ahern, which saves the town time.
Hundreds help Manafort Brothers turn 100
Karla Santos
NEW BRITAIN - Manafort Brothers Inc. displayed several old and new trucks to kick off its 100th anniversary celebration, which attracted nearly 800 guests Friday at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.
“It’s a very exciting day,” Jim Manafort Jr., president of the company, said. “One hundred years of our family business is a pretty great milestone. Four generations through the process, and another fifth generation is now working in the company also. Today is a day to celebrate a lot of good things that have happened over the past 100 years and we celebrate our employees, our different business relationships that have helped us through the years, our family and friends. We certainly didn’t achieve this milestone on our own. It has been a lot of help along the way, especially through our very dedicated employees.”
On display were some of the company’s original trucks and the modern equipment now used on job sites.
The trucks were there “to get the construction feel to the celebration,” Manafort said.
Among the vehicles on display were a Mack truck tractor from the 1960s, a 2018 Kenworth tractor a Kenworth dump truck, and a high-reach excavator.
Speakers included Gerry Giulietti, who has handled the insurance and bonding aspects of the company for the past 38 years; Lou Pepe, the company and family attorney who has been helping with legal challenges and business transactions; and Marty Tubb, a 41-year employee.
Giulietti praised the business, calling Manafort Brothers one of the best construction companies in America. He added that the management team has a great heart and a great culture, which contributes to the continuous success of the work performed by the team at the construction company.
Manafort said that, since 1919, the company has experienced constant growth through diversification, technology and specialty equipment.
However, the team has had to adapt to changes in the industry and the processes of completing projects throughout the years.
“The economy has a lot to do with how busy we are at times,” Manafort said. “When the economy is slow, there’s less building going on, less municipal work, and those are the things that we depend on. There’s booming times as redevelopment occurs. Over the years we’ve been part of the redevelopment of local towns.”
Manafort also mentioned his gratitude to the New Britain and Plainville communities.
“New Britain and Plainville have been our local backbone,” Manafort added.
Employees, retirees, clients, support groups, family and friends were on hand for Friday’s celebration.
The event included dinner, a band, dancing and a video to “show a path for the next 100 years,” Manafort said.
To learn more about Manafort Brothers, visit its website at www.manafort.com .
Orange wetlands commission approves application for Stew Leonard property
ORANGE — After a public hearing that spanned three meetings and included hours of talking by an attorney, engineers, a soil scientist and one resident in opposition, the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission Tuesday night approved an application for the developer of a business-to-business distribution center to build on property owned by Stew Leonard.
The unanimous vote clears the way for the Town Plan and Zoning Commission to vote on an a temporary special use earth materials removal and filling application at the site by Stew Leonards Orange LLC, for the proposed construction of a 47,178-square-foot distribution facility and a 9,680-square-foot maintenance building.
They also submitted an application for sediment control measures.
The inland wetlands commission hearing was continued for a second time last month because of a bevy of questions raised by town engineer Robert H. Brinton Jr., who finally signed off on the project.
The 41-acre property at 161 Marsh Hill Road captivates residents because supermarket mogul Leonard tried to build a store there for years, stirring fierce debate, and since giving up has tried to sell the property for years to no avail.
The public hearing began Sept. 11.
Nearby Indian River Road resident George Finley, an engineer, has been the lone dissenter, claiming the many trucks at the center would put toxins into the environment.
“Who and what are going to protect the wetlands and the watercourses?” Finley asked.
In addition to the distribution center the proposed complex would include a fueling facility, maintenance shop and offices, for a total 63,000 square feet.
Both Attorney John Knuff and his client, Scannell Properties LLC, have declined to comment on what company will settle there, but they said it’s a nationally known firm located in a nearby town.
The property contains five wetlands totaling 6,780 square feet, two of which are manmade and would be eliminated under the plan. Also living on the property are Eastern box turtles and smooth green snakes, both of which are listed as being of “special concern” in the state and “offered protection” by the Connecticut Endangered Species Act, according to a narrative of the plan filed at Town Hall. They are located in an isolated area of the property.
At the requirement of DEEP, the developers have a plan for those species — a species protection during construction, according to the plan’s narrative. That will include avoiding the area where they are located and educating contractors and subcontractors and monitoring of construction activity by an expert.
Experts representing the developer have said they have a “robust” stormwater treatment plan.
A soil scientist on the team told the commission the plan would not significantly affect the wetlands on the other end of the property.
The property is in a Light Industrial 2 zone. The property price is not listed for the public to see, but at one point Leonard was seeking $14.5 million. He paid $2.2 million for the land in 1996.
On display were some of the company’s original trucks and the modern equipment now used on job sites.
The trucks were there “to get the construction feel to the celebration,” Manafort said.
Among the vehicles on display were a Mack truck tractor from the 1960s, a 2018 Kenworth tractor a Kenworth dump truck, and a high-reach excavator.
Speakers included Gerry Giulietti, who has handled the insurance and bonding aspects of the company for the past 38 years; Lou Pepe, the company and family attorney who has been helping with legal challenges and business transactions; and Marty Tubb, a 41-year employee.
Giulietti praised the business, calling Manafort Brothers one of the best construction companies in America. He added that the management team has a great heart and a great culture, which contributes to the continuous success of the work performed by the team at the construction company.
Manafort said that, since 1919, the company has experienced constant growth through diversification, technology and specialty equipment.
However, the team has had to adapt to changes in the industry and the processes of completing projects throughout the years.
“The economy has a lot to do with how busy we are at times,” Manafort said. “When the economy is slow, there’s less building going on, less municipal work, and those are the things that we depend on. There’s booming times as redevelopment occurs. Over the years we’ve been part of the redevelopment of local towns.”
Manafort also mentioned his gratitude to the New Britain and Plainville communities.
“New Britain and Plainville have been our local backbone,” Manafort added.
Employees, retirees, clients, support groups, family and friends were on hand for Friday’s celebration.
The event included dinner, a band, dancing and a video to “show a path for the next 100 years,” Manafort said.
To learn more about Manafort Brothers, visit its website at www.manafort.com .
Orange wetlands commission approves application for Stew Leonard property
ORANGE — After a public hearing that spanned three meetings and included hours of talking by an attorney, engineers, a soil scientist and one resident in opposition, the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission Tuesday night approved an application for the developer of a business-to-business distribution center to build on property owned by Stew Leonard.
The unanimous vote clears the way for the Town Plan and Zoning Commission to vote on an a temporary special use earth materials removal and filling application at the site by Stew Leonards Orange LLC, for the proposed construction of a 47,178-square-foot distribution facility and a 9,680-square-foot maintenance building.
They also submitted an application for sediment control measures.
The inland wetlands commission hearing was continued for a second time last month because of a bevy of questions raised by town engineer Robert H. Brinton Jr., who finally signed off on the project.
The 41-acre property at 161 Marsh Hill Road captivates residents because supermarket mogul Leonard tried to build a store there for years, stirring fierce debate, and since giving up has tried to sell the property for years to no avail.
Nearby Indian River Road resident George Finley, an engineer, has been the lone dissenter, claiming the many trucks at the center would put toxins into the environment.
“Who and what are going to protect the wetlands and the watercourses?” Finley asked.
In addition to the distribution center the proposed complex would include a fueling facility, maintenance shop and offices, for a total 63,000 square feet.
Both Attorney John Knuff and his client, Scannell Properties LLC, have declined to comment on what company will settle there, but they said it’s a nationally known firm located in a nearby town.
The property contains five wetlands totaling 6,780 square feet, two of which are manmade and would be eliminated under the plan. Also living on the property are Eastern box turtles and smooth green snakes, both of which are listed as being of “special concern” in the state and “offered protection” by the Connecticut Endangered Species Act, according to a narrative of the plan filed at Town Hall. They are located in an isolated area of the property.
At the requirement of DEEP, the developers have a plan for those species — a species protection during construction, according to the plan’s narrative. That will include avoiding the area where they are located and educating contractors and subcontractors and monitoring of construction activity by an expert.
A soil scientist on the team told the commission the plan would not significantly affect the wetlands on the other end of the property.
The property is in a Light Industrial 2 zone. The property price is not listed for the public to see, but at one point Leonard was seeking $14.5 million. He paid $2.2 million for the land in 1996.