D'Amato Construction Refaces Shepaug Dam in Waterbury
Resurfacing a dam that is 450 ft. long with 100 ft. of main spillway might be a daunting task to some. But D'Amato Construction is up to the challenge.
Shepaug Dam, which is owned by the city of Waterbury, Conn., was constructed in the 1930s. D'Amato Construction is on the site to reface the entire dam, removing 6 in. of surface and replacing it with new rebar and concrete, which, according to D'Amato, should make this dam good for another 100 years. The project was started in June 2018 and is scheduled to take two years for completion, with a total value of $2.8 million.
D'Amato Construction, was founded in 1961 by Edward D'Amato Sr. and his wife, Patricia, and his brother, Anthony (Tut) D'Amato. Today, along with their father Edward Sr., Edward Jr., Thomas and Sue operate the daily functions of the enterprise and are welcoming the third generation. D'Amato Construction currently has 35 employees. The company has a truck and equipment inventory of more than 100 pieces, which includes a fleet of 20 excavators that range in size from 10,000 to 100,000 lbs., all of which are Volvo machines that were purchased from Tyler Equipment.
And every one of those pieces of equipment, from pickup trucks to excavators, has a unique paint job.
"That is something that my father insisted on early on in the growth of our company," said Thomas D'Amato, vice president. "We call it ‘D'Amato Blue or Quality Blue.' Every one of our pickup trucks, service trucks, excavators, dozers and loaders all have been painted to reflect our company's Quality Blue color."
The latest addition to the D'Amato excavator fleet is a Volvo 380E HR 120,000-lb. tracked excavator that is equipped with a 76-ft. high reach boom.
The excavator was purchased specifically for this project.
The high reach boom has a unique Volvo design that allows the boom to be changed out to a digging boom in a very easy process that involves the release of four pins and the quick disconnect of some hydraulic hoses while the entire high reach is positioned in an elevated cradle specifically designed for this purpose. The Volvo, which is specifically designed for high reach demolition work, also features a tilting cab to improve the operator's visibility, allowing operators to keep their eyes on the business end of the stick and maintain a comfortable position and access to controls.
"When we bid this project, we anticipated that we would need to build scaffolding, use boom lifts, and a crew of about 20 people with handheld chippers to execute the task at hand," D'Amato said. "However, working with our sales rep Tim McDermott, from our local Volvo dealer Tyler Equipment, we were able to develop a plan to mechanize the entire process using the new Volvo excavator,"With today's environmental rules, placing an excavator in a fishing stream at the base of a dam will not be permitted under any circumstances; plus, in this instance, the face of the dam is contoured. Even if the excavator could be placed in the water, it would need to be constantly moved to adjust for the various angles and contours of the dam wall, D'Amato explained.
"The key was putting a Steelwrist tiltrotator at the business end of our stick, which has a RockWheel hydraulic rotary cutter," he said. "The critical piece of this equation was the Steelwrist tiltrotator. A tiltrotator allows the attachment at the end of the stick to have 360-degrees of rotation and up to 45-degrees of tilt.
"What this essentially means is if we can get that attachment to the face of the dam from virtually any angle, we can have the grinder meet the wall perfectly square and accomplish the task at hand without the danger and the cost of putting twenty people on the face of the dam and get the project done significantly faster."
A significant advantage to the new Volvo excavator with its demo RockWheel front is the built-in dust suppression system. This system virtually eliminates the dust created by the demolition process. This system creates a safer workplace for the operator and crews on site.
The RockWheel that is grinding all day long at the face of this dam is working remarkably well, according to D'Amato.
"As would be expected we have to replace three or four teeth a day, but the RockWheel is designed in a way that teeth can be changed out in a matter of seconds," he said. "Of course, it is critical that the unit be lubricated three or four times a day."
A Relationship Years in the Making
D'Amato Construction has been a loyal customer of Tyler Equipment for decades.
"Our first purchase from them was a VME loader [Volvo Michigan Euclid] followed by the purchase of an Ackerman excavator," he said. "Over the years, these product lines evolved into what is known today as Volvo, a brand that we recognize for its durability, speed and power. Along with the great Volvo products has come excellent employees like Tim McDermott, our sales rep, and the excellent staff of parts and service representatives. Tim is like a part of our family. His knowledge is invaluable to us."
About D'Amato Construction Co. Inc.
When Edward, Patricia and Anthony D'Amato founded the company, their work included new home construction and additions to existing homes. In 1970, the company started building up its fleet of heavy equipment and moved its focus to larger projects. As the company grew, much of the focus was on municipal and governmental projects such as water treatment plants and pump stations.Today D'Amato Construction is a full-service firm, specializing in commercial, industrial, institutional and luxury residential construction. The company also works in athletic and recreation; banking and financial facilities; childcare facilities; educational facilities; environmental management; food service; healthcare facilities; historical; municipality and government facilities; parking management; petroleum construction; and treatment facilities.
D'Amato also tackles road and street construction, resurfacing and bridge work, as well as the sitework required on all of its projects.
"We are equipped to handle all aspects except for electrical," Thomas D'Amato said. "Besides heavy equipment operators and skilled laborers, we have our own staff of engineers, estimators, carpenters, interior tradesmen and plumbers. Beyond governmental work, we also have a lot of private customers. We are currently involved in multiple projects for Connecticut Water Company as well as the renovation of multiple facilities for Key Bank in two states."
D'Amato has specialized in working with concrete for more than 50 years and is known throughout New England for quality, detail, finish, level and plumb, according to its website: "Concrete comes in many shapes, sizes and colors. At D'Amato, concrete is not just a task but a skilled art that we have mastered. It is our highly skilled and trained staff that make concrete our pride and joy. From our secret methods to our patented tools of the trade, we stand ready for any concrete project regardless of size and/or scope."
A downsized XL Center renovation plan focuses on targeted improvements
Kenneth R. Gosselin he Capital Region Development Authority will take to the road with a new, downsized renovation proposal for Hartford’s XL Center to build support with a newly elected legislature and governor.
The quasi-state agency that oversees the 43-year-old arena estimates the new proposal would cost $100 million. The vision is far more modest than the $250 million transformation that failed to gain traction in recent years among lawmakers beleaguered by a spiraling budget deficit despite strong support from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
The downsized proposal most notably eliminates the costliest item — a second concourse — and focuses the change on the lower half of the 16,000-seat arena.
Investments would be more sharply targeted at improvements that would boost revenue and cut operating expenses, all with the goal of making a venue that now loses $1 million to $2 million a year run in the black. Renovations also would help keep the venue more competitive, CRDA says.he Capital Region Development Authority will take to the road with a new, downsized renovation proposal for Hartford’s XL Center to build support with a newly elected legislature and governor.The quasi-state agency that oversees the 43-year-old arena estimates the new proposal would cost $100 million. The vision is far more modest than the $250 million transformation that failed to gain traction in recent years among lawmakers beleaguered by a spiraling budget deficit despite strong support from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
The downsized proposal most notably eliminates the costliest item — a second concourse — and focuses the change on the lower half of the 16,000-seat arena.
Investments would be more sharply targeted at improvements that would boost revenue and cut operating expenses, all with the goal of making a venue that now loses $1 million to $2 million a year run in the black. Renovations also would help keep the venue more competitive, CRDA says.CRDA hopes to bolster its argument for the new proposal by launching a study that will assess the economic benefits of both the arena and what the arena does for local restaurants, hotels and parking venues in the city. The study is due in early February.
“When people build these buildings in other parts of the country, they capture all that,” Freimuth said. “And we should put a rope around those dollars and justify the investment in this public building. We don’t do that here. We divorce it.”
If there is support at the state Capitol, a public hearing would be held on the downsized proposal and CRDA’s board would have to adopt the proposal for it to move forward. CRDA’s board, which was briefed on the new proposal Thursday night, has strongly backed the push for renovations.
In a shift from the once-popular skyboxes when the XL was built, a growing number of patrons now want to be closer to the action and in spaces that don’t restrict them to a single seat, Freimuth said.
The advantage for the XL, Freimuth said, is that those patrons are willing to pay more and are more likely to buy food and drink that come with that seating.
As with the $250 million makeover, this more modest proposal still rests on CRDA acquiring the atrium and now mostly vacant storefront space along the entrance from Trumbull Street. CRDA has been negotiating with Northland Investment Corp., the owner of the space, for months, but the two sides have been unable to reach an agreement on price.
In the summer, CRDA backed off from a push to take the space by eminent domain after a nasty public spat with Northland. But CRDA has not removed the alternative as an option in the future.
The atrium would provide much-needed space to ease congestion in the existing concourse, CRDA says. The area would also include additional restrooms and concessions. The box office would be relocated to the street; and knocking down the wall between the atrium and the arena would give an unobstructed view from the entry off Trumbull Street to the arena.
Freimuth said the new version calls for a less grand entrance than the $250 million plan.
Crucial to the $100 million alternative is pursuing some major upgrades to building heating, cooling and plumbing systems. Right now, those systems break down and push up the tab for repair costs.
For instance, a recent renovation upgraded restrooms but not the 40-year-old plumbing that services them.
Robert Saint, chief of CRDA’s construction services, said the new proposal will serve the 12,000 visitors that typically attend the more popular events at the XL Center.
The new proposal also comes as CRDA evaluates a potential sale of the venue to a private operator. One bidder emerged, Oak Street Real Estate Capital, a Chicago private equity firm, and negotiations are ongoing.
The legislature ordered a sale be explored in 2017, as concerns mounted about the cost to the state for renovations, the amount of money the arena was losing and the state subsidy needed to balance the books.
Spending on big-ticket improvements for the arena has ramped up in recent years. In 2014, the legislature approved $35 million to spruce up a drab interior, adding new seating, upgrading fire systems so interior doors could be removed and creating a bar facing the arena.
The idea was to extend the life of the arena until a long-term plan was developed. Meanwhile, another $3.5 million was spent on ice-making system for the arena’s rink and other improvements.
In 2017, the legislature backed another $40 million to purchase the atrium and surrounding space from Northland and make improvements that would make the arena attractive to a purchaser.
Developer plans sweeping renovation in Hartford's Frog Hollow neighborhood
Jenna Carlesso
A Hartford-based firm known for its expansive affordable housing developments is preparing to add another project to its portfolio: a sweeping renovation of 14 buildings along Park Terrace and Hillside Avenue in the city’s Frog Hollow neighborhood.
The Mutual Housing Association of Greater Hartford recently secured a $2.7 million loan from the state Department of Housing and has lined up low-income housing tax credits and state and federal historic tax credits for the $14.2 million rehabilitation. Work is expected to begin next fall.
The centerpiece of the ambitious effort is an overhaul of 316 Park Terrace, a building that officials at Mutual Housing acknowledged was “a little scary looking.” The group acquired the property in 2016 with the aim of transforming it to better fit the character of the neighborhood.Other structures that line Park Terrace feature ornate woodwork, colorful brick and soaring archways over porches.
“It’s been problematic for a long time,” said Catherine MacKinnon, executive director of Mutual Housing, of 316 Park Terrace. “The previous owners had trouble keeping it leased and it was forever being raided for drug activity. We really wanted to take control of it so we could improve the block as a whole and protect the investment that we’ve already made.”Mutual Housing owns several other properties along Park Terrace. Collectively, the 14 buildings slated for renovation will be known as the 316 on the Park and Park Terrace II project. It encompasses 264-308 Park Terrace, 316 Park Terrace, 2-10 Hillside Ave. and 459 Summit St.
The aging building at 316 Park Terrace, the largest of the parcels, will get additional lighting, new landscaping, metal ornamental fencing, brick repointing and new walkways. The inside will be reconfigured to convert 30 small units into 21 larger apartments.
Unlike the other properties, which are expected to receive modest renovations, 316 Park Terrace is a “gut rehab,” MacKinnon said. Fewer tenants have remained there in recent years, and some apartments are uninhabitable.
Mutual Housing will move its renters from 316 and the other properties into temporary housing when the project gets underway. The occupancy rate of the buildings was not available, though MacKinnon estimated that a dozen or so units might need to be leased when work is complete. Construction is expected to take 18 months.
Altogether, 89 units will be upgraded as part of the renovation. The smaller-scale improvements include new boilers, flooring, windows and insulation — features designed to make the apartments more energy efficient. Granite countertops and LED lighting are also planned.The units will range in size from one bedroom to four bedrooms, and rents will run from $485 to $1,067 a month. To qualify, tenants must earn between $19,400 and $72,060 annually.
Alca Construction Company, Crosskey Architects and TO Design LLC are part of the team behind the project.
Melvyn Colon, head of the Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance, praised the work that Mutual Housing has done in the community. The developer has tackled several affordable housing projects in Hartford, including a handful in Frog Hollow. Most recently, it announced plans for 36 apartments in a new, row house-style build along Park Street and the upgrading of nine units on York Street.
“We’re looking for different ways of attracting investment and it’s important that those key areas along the park that have high quality housing stock … be renovated with great care,” Colon said. “Mutual housing has done a very good job of respecting the neighborhood.”
Eversource to make repairs downtown next week; start on substation in January
Ken Borsuk
GREENWICH — The Board of Selectmen on Thursday approved road closures to facilitate two projects by Eversource Energy — repairs to prevent widespread blackouts like those experienced in September; and the start of construction of a controversial new substation on Railroad Avenue.
The repair work will cause traffic problems in downtown Greenwich on Monday and Tuesday. Parts of Mason Street and Bruce Park Avenue will be blocked as crews work above and below ground to install new cable and other equipment to forestall significant power outages like those that hit the town over two days of a heat wave in September.
The outages were the result of two underground circuits failing within 30 minutes of each other, according to the power company, which affected the utility’s Prospect Street substation and the customers it serves. The work will involve balancing circuits on Greenwich Avenue so too much strain is not placed on one.
“We’re looking to do the majority of the work at night to have the minimal amount of impact,” said Tracey Alston, Eversource’s community relations specialist.
First Selectman Peter Tesei questioned why the work was being done now when the downtown area is so busy for the holiday season. Alston said Eversource’s preference was to do it now before usage spikes later in the winter as people heat their homes.
Alston said the repair work likely will be done in three phases, future dates to be determined.
“Our engineers and (people in) distribution have gone through and assessed the area of that full feed to really look at if there were areas we could improve, upgrade or change out,” Alston said. “These will be phased approaches because this will be a long time and we’re trying to have the least impact to the residents and businesses in that area.”
Traffic next week will be detoured from the intersection of Bruce Park Avenue and Mason Street.
As part of the work, Eversource will also have to have crews out between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday morning at other downtown locations, including Havemeyer Place, Lewis Street and the YMCA. However work there will not require road closures.
Substation
The selectmen also gave unanimous approval to a series of closures and detours that will be needed for work to commence in January on the substation project. Under the current plan, the new substation will be built at 290 Railroad Avenue and then connected via underground transmission lines to the existing substation in Cos Cob.
The Connecticut Siting Council gave its approval to the substation over the town’s objection in 2017, prompting local officials to file an appeal last December. Settlement negotiations are ongoing; Tesei said he hopes a resolution comes before the selectmen soon.
“It’s in process and I think there are negotiations that have been ongoing with Public Works and town administration,” Tesei said.
On Thursday the Board of Selectmen approved a series of 11 road closures and detours that will be needed in the area, affecting Sound Shore Drive, Indian Field Road, Bruce Park Drive, Wood Road, Davis Avenue, Museum Drive, Steamboat Road and Railroad Avenue.
Closures will not take place all at once but will be scattered throughout the construction process, which is expected to last through 2019.
“We will be sharing the detours as they come up on the calendar,” Alston said.
The selectmen said it is important that as much information as possible be shared with the public.
“This is an area where we cannot overcommunicate,” Selectman Sandy Litvack said.
“Overcommunicating is really the mantra here, especially this time of year,” Tesei said. “You need to make all the stakeholders aware.” Tesei said residents should get daily updates on the work whenever possible, and added it could be posted on the town’s website as well.
Improvements to Old Lyme’s Halls Road discussed in public forum
Mary Biekert
Old Lyme — Members of the Halls Road Improvements Committee and the Yale Urban Design Workshop met with the public Thursday evening to discuss the creation of a master development plan envisioning future improvements to Halls Road, the town’s main commercial district.
The committee, after holding a similar public discussion earlier this year, has been working over the last few months with the Yale Urban Design Workshop, a community design center affiliated with the Yale School of Architecture, to create those plans.
Plans for the project, as outlined in a packed Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School cafeteria, showcased visual concepts of what the road could look like: mixed-use buildings alongside a pedestrian-friendly street, ample sidewalk and bike paths, added crosswalks and public outdoor spaces, among other features.
“The idea is that these changes would slowly take shape over a period of 15 or 20 years,” said Alan Plattus, director of the Yale Urban Design Workshop, who gave the presentation. “Our part here is to help the future development of the Halls Road area so that it, too, becomes not just a practical asset where you pick up groceries, but an integral part of your community going forward — a place that you will value in the same way you value your historical areas in town.”
First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder said the focus on improvements comes as many people feel Halls Road needs a facelift. She said it's important to look for ways to enhance the area, not only to provide access to pedestrians but to ensure businesses remain in the area.
Residents attending the meeting, however, immediately expressed apprehensions regarding the improvement ideas following the presentation. Some questioned whether the improvements are necessary, while others focused on more nuanced zoning and planning regulations.
In particular, residents expressed fears about how the town would finance such improvements and how it may cause a burden to taxpayers.
Reemsnyder responded, saying the topic had been thoroughly discussed with the improvements committee. She said that there are ways to finance the project without significantly raising taxes.
Of the ideas she and the committee have discussed, Reemsnyder said a tax increment financing district, or a TIF, could help alleviate costs. A TIF would allow tax revenues generated by businesses on that road to be used to help finance future improvements in the area.
She also said attracting developers to the road by making changes in zoning laws would help place costs on them, rather than taxpayers, while incentives offered to pre-existing businesses could encourage desired improvements.
Additionally, Reemsnyder explained that the town could apply for several streetscape and open-space grants through the state. But first, she said, the town would need to agree on a plan for the Halls Road improvements.
“We had a conceptual plan for Hartford Avenue, so when we applied for a grant to pay for 80 percent of the improvements there, we got it because we had that plan in hand,” Reemsnyder said, while also explaining the town recently received another $400,000 Department of Transportation grant to continue those improvements.
“I can tell you that I’ve applied for grants for Halls Road. I applied for a $2 million grant that was not successful. One of the main reasons is because we did not have this plan,” she said.
“When we can say we’ve gone through this planning process as a town, our chances of getting potential grants are much better,” she said.
“We don’t want to be East Lyme. We don’t want to be Old Saybrook. We don’t want a mega metropolis right off the highway,” Reemsnyder said. “But we do want vibrancy, aesthetics, and a village atmosphere. This is about trying to get a vision of what we want, through some planning.”