Port Authority says State Pier work to be substantially completed by February
Greg Smith
New London ― Despite obstacles that have complicated
construction and driven up costs, work to transform State Pier in New London
into an offshore wind hub is about 75% complete and on schedule to achieve “substantial
completion” by February, Connecticut Port Authority Executive Director Ulysses
S. Hammond announced on Tuesday.
“We are either ahead or tracking on target in five of the
six key construction areas,” Hammond said.
Hammond, addressing the authority’s board of directors at
its regular meeting, said there remain challenges as workers make a final push
towards project completion in anticipation of the pier accommodating offshore
wind vessels in the spring that are associated with the construction of South
Fork Wind.
South Fork Wind is a 12-turbine offshore wind farm now under
construction off Long Island by Orsted and Eversource, the partners developing
and leasing State Pier to use for several of its offshore wind projects. South
Fork will supply power to East Hampton, N.Y.
Tuesday’s meeting did not include any updated costs
associated with the added work at the pier though Hammond said a final
“guaranteed maximum price” could come as early as the board’s next meeting in
January. The authority, which is managing the State Pier project, is involved
in a series of “complex negotiations regarding a fair and what I will call a
final path forward with the entire project team,” Hammond said.
The cost of the project, which has risen dramatically since
it was first proposed, now stands at $255.5 million. Costs are split between
the state, which has contributed $178 million, and offshore wind partners
Orsted and Eversource, who are jointly providing $77.5 million towards the
project.
In October, the authority shifted $7.5 million in available funds
to cover the unanticipated costs due to extra work and supply chain issues. To
cover some of the shortfall, the authority is using about $2.5 million in
contingency funds and $3.7 million is being removed from an escrow account that
contains money it had put aside to lease the New England Central Railroad
property next to the pier.
The added costs were in part associated with excavation work
as crews work to drive piles and install retaining walls around the expanded
pier.
Marlin Peterson, construction manager for AECOM, the
consulting firm overseeing the State Pier project, said crews had trouble
driving piles due to rock and encountered underwater timber and concrete
foundations which required additional demolition and excavation to get piles
driven to the proper depth for the heavy lift platforms on the pier.
In some locations, Peterson said additional work is being
done to provide stability. Some of the work will continue into the spring. It
is unclear if the new work will drive up the final price of the project.
Peterson said the load requirements of sections of the pier
are five times that of the typical container terminal.
There have been other hurdles in the project.
Last month, Peterson said the dredging contractor suffered
an equipment failure to one of its barges that resulted in the release of
dredge material into the main channel of the Thames River. Cashman Dredging
& Marine Contracting began dredging for the project in October.
Peterson said the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
were all informed and the material was subsequently removed. The dredging
equipment has since been inspected and certified and dredging continues, he
said.
Peterson said excavation work continues on the adjacent
railroad parcel being leased by the authority. A contractor working there had
to relocate an on-site water treatment plant, which handles existing
contaminated groundwater. That work will continue over the next several weeks
as below ground utilities are installed.
There was no mention, during the meeting, of a report by the
Connecticut Mirror of criticism about a potential for a conflict of interest with
construction manager Kiewit Construction hiring itself for some of the
subcontracts in the project.
“As we make the final push to project completion, while we
cannot control what Mother Nature might have in store for us this winter, we
have a few challenges as outlined,” Hammond said.
Major Greater Hartford, CT development projects get boost from new state funding
Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday announced $36.5 million in grants
for eight economic development projects, including $5.5 million to help build
57 apartments in Hartford and $5.3 million to help transform a blighted factory
in Torrington into a marketplace and offices.
This latest round of Connecticut Communities Challenge
grants will leverage approximately $143.5 million worth of investment from
other sources for projects that fit the state program’s goals of supporting
livability, vibrancy and equity. The $100 million program aims to create
approximately 3,000 jobs and is a pillar of Lamont’s statewide economic
development strategy.
The state aims to allocate about half of funding to projects
in distressed municipalities.
The first round of challenge grants, announced in April, saw
$45 million allocated to 12 projects.
This latest round includes:
$1.56 million toward Newport Realty Group’s $3.6 million
effort to build 10 mixed-income apartments in a building across from the train
station in Berlin.
Half of the units will be allocated as affordable, for
families making less than 80% of area median income.
Additional organizations, including the Meriden-New
Britain-Berlin YMCA, Kensington Volunteer Fire Department, Berlin Board of
Education, Cromwell Board of Education and Berlin Land Trust are working to
provide pedestrian access and open space walking trails nearby.
Newport Realty principals Mark Lovley and Anthony Valenti have already
completed a 16-unit apartment building with first-floor restaurant space as
part of the ongoing Steele Center development, which will contain 60 apartments
and more than 80,000 square feet of commercial space in several buildings.
A $5.5 million grant to help developer Carlos Mouta’s $16.72
million construction of a new 57-unit apartment building (30% of which would be
allocated to affordable rate tenants), with first-floor commercial space on a
vacant lot at 17-35 Bartholomew Ave., in the city’s Parkville
neighborhood.
The project is located near one of the state-run CTfastrak
bus stations.
A rendering of developer Carlos Mouta’s planned $16.72
million, 57-unit apartment building to be built on a vacant lot at 17-35
Bartholomew Ave., in Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood.
A $6 million grant toward a $17.3 million project providing
infrastructure and site improvements to an underutilized property along Rubber
Avenue in Naugatuck, just 500 feet from the borough’s downtown green and
adjacent to a planned train station.
The site is slated for development of 180 apartments and
7,320 square feet of commercial space under affordable housing developer
Pennrose LLC.
A $4 million grant toward developer Amit Lakhotia’s $17.53
million effort to transform a 52-year-old, 48,475-square foot brick office
building at 102 West Main St., in New Britain, into 79 apartments (20% of which
will be affordable), with restaurant space on the street level and rooftop. \
This project is within a quarter-mile of a CTfastrak
station. Lakhotia paid $1.6 million for the building and a nearby quarter-acre
paved lot in February.
$5.27 million toward a $32.24 million project transforming a
former factory along Water and Church streets in Torrington into a marketplace
and offices. The city plans the project, which includes brownfield cleanup, to
work in concert with extension of its greenway, improved bus access, repair of
a train platform and a new YMCA outdoor recreation facility.
Project partners include the city, private developers, YMCA,
Water Street Healthcare Group LLC and Naugatuck Railroad.
$2.7 million toward a $4.1-million project providing
infrastructure improvements to support a 247-unit housing development in
downtown Stamford. Twenty-three of the units will be affordable.
The improvements include stormwater relocation, pedestrian
safety improvements, along with park and public space upgrades.
$3 million to help Fairfield pay for a $10-million project
replacing a 2,800-foot section of sewer main that supports 60% of the town.
This is meant to enable development of at least 357 new housing units (20% of
which will be affordable), a 118-room hotel, 70,000 square feet of office space
and 40,000 square feet of retail.
$8.46 million to help cover the $81.36 million cost of
multiple developments along Groton’s riverfront yielding 256 apartments,
including 51 set aside at affordable rents.
Groton is partnering with its housing authority and Rogers
Development LLC in these projects, which will also deliver various
infrastructure improvements, including bikeways, a pedestrian bridge and new
public recreation space.
Real estate partnership plans 890-bed apartment development near UConn campus
A partnership between a national real estate firm and an
investment management company is proposing to build an 890-bed residential
building for University of Connecticut students on a 16-acre property.
Athens, Georgia-based Landmark Properties, a real estate
firm that develops and operates residential communities, has formed a
“build-to-core” joint venture with Manulife Investment Management, the companies
announced Monday.
They plan to construct The Standard at Four Corners at 1717
Storrs Road, in Mansfield, with completion set for August 2025. The property is
home to a former restaurant and is owned by KRCL LLC, which is controlled by
Robert Moskowitz of Storrs.
Landmark Properties purchased the property for $6.8 million
under the name The Standard at Four Corners LLC in a sale recorded Nov. 28.
The UConn development is the first effort by the joint
venture, which has identified other sites for potential development across the
United States.
The units would range in size from studios to three
bedrooms. The property offers pedestrian access to the UConn campus and
downtown Storrs, the partners said.
"We believe the student housing sector represents a
compelling investment opportunity underpinned by attractive supply/demand
dynamics and strong historical performance," said Edward Dunn, managing
director of Infrastructure Investments at Manulife Investment Management.
Each apartment will have a gourmet-style kitchen with
cabinet space, quartz countertops and stainless-steel appliances. Every
residence will be fully furnished.
There will be 24-hour study lounges, a fitness center and
computer lab, along with a gaming lounge, heated pool, hot tub and fire pits,
according to the developers. A deck will offer parking for an additional fee.
The development also features 14,500-square-feet of
ground-floor retail space.
STAMFORD — Two schools only a few yards away from each other
in Stamford are slated to be torn down and rebuilt for about $387 million — and
the state has agreed to put down roughly $292 million to get it done.
Both Westhill High School and Roxbury Elementary School,
separated only by Roxbury Road, were recently selected by the Connecticut
Department of Administrative Services as
two state projects to qualify for grant funding.
The Westhill construction is estimated to cost about $301
million, of which the state has agreed to pay $241 million. The price tag for
Roxbury is $86 million, with the state taking on $51.6 million.
Westhill had already been selected for reimbursement last
year, but at the time, the state had
only agreed to pay for 20 percent of the work, or about $51.6 million. That
previous submission estimated the full project cost to be $258 million, but
that number has since risen because of increased construction costs.
State funding for construction projects is
based on a formula tied to a municipality’s wealth. In essence, the
poorest municipalities in Connecticut get the highest reimbursement rates while
wealthier communities receive a smaller reimbursement percentage.
But
that all changed for Stamford earlier this year, when state officials
agreed to increase the city's refund rate to 60 percent for new construction
and pick up 80 percent of the cost to build a new Westhill.
The Westhill project would include a new school on the
32-acre site. The existing school will remain in operation during the
construction of the new building.
The Roxbury construction would transform the current K-5
school into a K-8 program. Once completed, Cloonan Middle School would be
shuttered.
“The input of many members of our school community guided
the development of the initial structural design," said Roxbury principal
Mark Bonasera in a press release from Stamford schools. "Being able
to remain on our campus during construction is a key advantage.”
According to a document from the state Office of
Administrative Services, Roxbury has the highest cost per square foot of
deferred maintenance among all the school buildings in Stamford.
"The district’s overall goal for this facility is to
have a state-of-the-art, welcoming and inspiring school to serve its diverse
population," the document reads. "Transitioning to a K-8 school on a
site directly across the street from Westhill High School allows for a K-12
one-campus experience for students and families."
The list of recommended projects, including Westhill and
Roxbury, will be voted on by the Connecticut General Assembly during the
upcoming legislative session.
"It’s been an honor to have worked with our colleagues
within the city grants department, (the Connecticut Office of Policy and
Management) and engineering departments, SPS facilities and the Roxbury school
community to move the project to the next step in the process," said
Associate Superintendent for Intervention and Student Support Michael
Fernandes in the press release. "A lot of hard work has gone into
this.”
Both projects are part of the school district's 20-year
Long-Term Facilities Plan, which is estimated to cost $1.5 billion with
the city paying $756 million over that time and the state covering the
rest.
“I am thrilled that Roxbury School has been included in the state legislature’s school construction priority list,” said Mayor Caroline Simmons in the press release. “Our schools have many capital needs and having state support allows us to be better positioned to fully fund and implement the improvements and vision of the Long-Term Facilities Plan. I look forward to continuing to work with Superintendent (Tamu) Lucero and her team and the state delegation to ensure we secure all funding opportunities available that will go toward enhancing the quality of our schools for Stamford students, teachers and administrators.”
Milford commission approves downsizing apartment plan
Saul Flores
MILFORD — Once proposed for nearly 350 units, the Beaver
Brook apartment complex earned approval from Milford's Inland Wetlands Agency
with an apartment count more than 150 units lower.
The city's agency, at its meeting on Dec. 7, approved the
modification proposal from developers Metro 553, LLC, to downsize the apartment
project from 342 to 189 units. City Planner David Sulkis said the next step for
the complex would be to go before the Planning and Zoning Board.
"We anticipate it is perhaps coming to the board in
February since it's still under review," he said.
The apartment project in 2016 was to have two 54-foot
buildings, two parking garages for 512 cars, a bridge crossing over Beaver
Brook, walking paths and wetland mitigation. About 27 acres of the 57-acre site
is wetlands, stated Inland Wetland Officer Maryrose Palumbo.
The new modification eliminates the wetland crossing with
associated parking, access drive, and grading work within 150 feet of the
Beaver Brook watershed, and reduces the building's average area from 173,150
square feet to 70,763 square feet.
The 189 proposed apartments are distributed within six
structures with a building height of 49.5 feet. Metro 553, LLC, is also
proposing to provide parking for 268 vehicles with a combination of outdoor and
indoor parking and 22 accessible spaces.
"This proposal eliminated 0.09 acres of wetland filling
and the access drive to the School House Road that the agency approved in
2016," said Palumbo.
The property will be accessed by a driveway running from
West Avenue, which attorney Chris Smith, representing Metro 553, LLC, said the
redesign eliminates School House Road Access.
"With regards to reductions and eliminations of many of
the regulated activities that were approved, we no longer need an Army Corps
permit," Smith said. "We are enhancing the visual impact of the
residential community relative to the beaver brook boardwalk and trail network."
Smith said they were staying within the scope of the
regulations approved in 2016 and are not proposing new regulated activities.
"The plan and the regulated actives along with it, not
surprisingly because there are less than what was approved, do not result in an
adverse impact on wetland or watercourse," he said.
Appeal of West Haven mixed-use 140-unit development dismissed
WEST HAVEN — A Superior Court judge dismissed an appeal of
the Planning and Zoning Commission's approval of a 140-unit, mixed-use housing
development on four downtown parcels on Campbell and Washington Avenues.
In September 2021, the planning
commission approved the development of two L-shaped buildings at 215, 291 and
313 Campbell Avenue and 288 Washington Avenue. The roughly 3.5-acre development
would include space for a market and cafe at ground level while adding 140
studio, one- and two-bedroom units in two five-story buildings. Developers
presented a site plan that would connect Washington and Campbell Avenues to
pedestrians and provide about 200 parking spaces. Included at that site is the
former American Buckle Company building, which operated for over 100 years
before closing in 1985; developers said they intend on preserving elements of
the building to incorporate into the new development.
302 Campbell Avenue LLC filed an appeal about a month after the development was approved, arguing that the Planning and Zoning Commission's decision was based upon a misunderstanding of an Inland Wetlands Intercourse Agency approval, that the approval was predetermined by the commission and that the application violated local regulations. Judge Matthew Budzik said in a Dec. 16 decision that he was unconvinced by all of the appeals arguments and dismissed that appeal.
In his decision, Budzik noted the facts that the proposed
development falls within two zones: a Central Business District zone and a
Village District Overlay zone. The former is intended to develop the city's
commercial base and the latter exists to preserve the character and landscape
of the district while encouraging a walkable, mixed-use area for residents.
Budzik noted that the commission held a public hearing in
which experts explained "in great detail" how the development adheres
to restrictions of both the CBD and VDO zones — including landscaping to retain
stormwater and setting back the highest parts of the development so they do not
impact sightlines along the street.
Regarding the fact that a decision made by the Inland
Wetlands Watercourse Agency was under appeal at the time of the commission's
approval — and remains under appeal today — Budzik said it is irrelevant, as
the commission has the authority to make its own decisions on the application
that is before it. He said he was "not convinced" by the evidence presented
by the plaintiff that the result was predetermined. He said the recording of
the public hearing reflects the commission subjected the application to a
"fair and reasonable" process, during which proponents and opponents
of the development were able to testify and representatives for the developer
were questioned.
Contrary to an argument made in the appeal, Budzik found
that the development would also protect adjoining property values, as it would
add retail and additional foot traffic to the city's downtown businesses,
whereas the parcels are currently vacant, financially unproductive and provide
no significant stormwater abatement.
Attorney Michael Leone, who represented the city in the
appeal, said he agreed with the decision.
“I think it was a well-reasoned decision. I think they took
a thorough look at the entirety of it,” he said.
James Perito, an attorney who represented applicant GLI
Holdings, LLC before the commission and in court during the appeal, said it was
"gratifying that the court saw both my client and the commission did the
work required under the regulations.”
Michael Lipsett, principal of 302 Campbell Avenue LLC, did
not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Councilwoman Bridgette Hoskie, D-1, expressed concerns about
the impact the development would have on traffic at the time it appeared before
the planning commission as an application. As the area's councilwoman, as well
as a neighbor to the property, she said she had concerns about adding more cars
to neighborhood streets that are already overstressed during drop-off and
dismissals at the nearby Washington School.
On Tuesday, Hoskie said she was "happy" to see the
project can continue to advance.
"I think other towns have seen great success with
revitalization of areas through this type of proposed housing," she said
in a text message.
Currently, there is still an appeal with an Inland Wetlands
Intercourse Agency decision related to the development. Hoskie said that, if
the project survives that appeal, she is "hopeful that it can be the start
of changing our downtown."
"Stores need foot traffic to survive. This could
hopefully assist with that," she said.
After hearing six hours of back and forth about the plan
last week, West Hartford’s town council is expected to decide Wednesday night
whether developers can put up a six-story condo building and mixed-used complex
in the town center.
The decision on The Arapahoe Group’s proposal is certain to
disappoint plenty of people regardless of which way the vote goes.
One one side, proponents see it as an opportunity to fill in
a large, under-used section of the town center with a project that will provide
housing and future tax revenue. Opponents argue that it’s far too large and out
of proportion, and fear it will worsen traffic on streets that are already
crowded.
The Arapahoe Group wants to build on 3.4 acres fronting
Arapahoe Road and LaSalle Road, part of the town’s successful center and a
block from Blue Back Square.
Developers consider the land some of the most under-used
real estate in town, largely because much of it is a simple parking lot. Arapahoe
would put up a six-story building with 58 condominiums along with a five-story
building of 25 apartments above a ground-floor restaurant or store.
“The infill development component of this will happen
primarily within the areas of the property that are currently unattractive
asphalt surface parking or paved alleyways,” Arapahoe said in its application.
The plans include a partly underground parking garage,
extensive landscaping and public areas.
Most of the residents who spoke against the plan at last
week’s hearing live nearby.
“We love the neighborhood feel the center has and the
quaintness of the area that comes from having smaller buildings. It is these
things that give it the quintessential New England feel,” said Woodrow Street
homeowner Kim Hudson.
“This proposal is out of scope for the area it serves. It
will considerably change the character of the center due to its size,” Hudson
told the council.
“Our road is already very busy with cars using it as a
high-speed cut-through to the town center,” said Todd Parker, an Arapahoe Road
resident.
“This proposed development funnels all traffic from 85
multifamily units and 3,500 square feet of retail onto Arapahoe Road,” Parker
said. “There’s no other example of a large development funneling all traffic
onto a residential road. For good reason.”
Amanda Driscoll of Arapahoe Road said she and her neighbors
are concerned that potentially years of construction could jeopardize children
walking to nearby schools.
“Please carefully consider how many years of disruption
there will be,” she said.
Opponents submitted petitions against the project, and town
staffers will determine before Wednesday’s council meeting whether they got
enough valid signatures to force a super-majority “yes” vote for approval. If
the petition drive fails, the council can pass the project with a simple
majority.
Numerous residents addressed the council or wrote letters of
support.
Resident Evan Berman of Brookline Drive, a Realtor, urged
the town to approve the zone changes that Arapahoe needs.
“There is a strong need for condominiums right here in West
Hartford center,” Berman said. “Without a doubt there’s a need for housing in
the center. We have very limited space for new home ownership here. The
features this development has to offer are fantastic. We need the housing to
allow our town to continue to grow and prosper.”
Jennifer LaForte of Montclair Drive also spoke in favor of
Arapahoe’s plan.
“The addition of the proposed condominiums and apartments
will be a plus for West Hartford center and the town overall. Additional living
spaces will enhance the center,” LaForte said.
“The renderings showcase a strong architectural aesthetic,
and the condos and apartments flow well visually with the rest of the center,”
LaForte said. “I also like the idea of building something on unused concrete
areas.”
The council will meet Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at town hall to
decide the matter.
Torrington seeking federal grant funds
TORRINGTON – In an effort to revitalize dense areas of town
where older houses line streets as well as to draw economic development to
vacant lots, the city is applying for $11.2 million in grants.
The grants are part of a second round of the Federal Community
Investment Fund, Economic Development Director Rista Malanca said. The city did
not apply during the first round.
At Monday’s City Council meeting, after a presentation by
Malanca, the council authorized Mayor Elinor C. Carbone to apply.
The larger of the two asks, $8.7 million, would allow the
city to provide funds to owners of older homes in need of updating or to clean
up potential environmental issues, such as lead paint, Malanca said.
The funds would also be distributed to neighborhoods looking
to complete beautification projects.
About 60% of the city’s existing housing stock was built
before 1970, which was before lead paint laws were enacted, meaning they have
potential environmental issues, Malanca said.
“So we have an aging housing stock,” she said. “What we’re
really aiming for is to improve our current housing stock.”
About 35% of households spend 30% or more of their income on
housing expenses, which diminishes homeowners ability to complete home
improvement projects, she said. The idea is to help get those projects going,
“regardless of the ability of homeowners to pay” for them.
The city would partner with a lending institution and offer
low interest loans that would not depend on the borrower’s income, credit
score, or ability to pay, Malanca told the council during the presentation.
Portions of the loans could be forgiven for borrowers who make on-time payments
or add private investments to the project.
While the loans would be available to all property owners,
the focus would be to improve housing conditions for medium Income residents
making 120% of the area median income and below, Malanca said.
Carbone said the funds would also allow the city to help
property owners to “activate” vacant houses.
“We wanted to look at this through the lens of how can we
enhance the housing stock?” she said. “Roughly 10% of our housing stock is
vacant.”
An initiative to make homes healthier, the funding would not
be for additions, swimming pools and the like, Malanca said.
The funds could also be spread through the community via
$2,500 grants to neighborhoods.
Participating neighborhoods would be able to use the funds
to spruce up their area, such as adding fresh paint to porches, planting
flowers and repairing walkways, Malanca said. There would also be grants for
neighborhoods to work together with contractors and community partners to
beautify public spaces or create public art.
The smaller of the two grant requests is for $2.5 million to
extend sewers down South Main Street, including to vacant parcels the city
would like to see developed, such as the former O&G Industries site on the
corner of South Main Street and Vista Drive.
The hope is that the infrastructure will make the sites more
desirable to potential developers, Malanca said. Developing the properties
would bring more business to the city, increase jobs and create a more vibrant
community.
The grant would also be used to identify vacant and unused
parcels that are ripe for development and determine why they are vacant.
“What are those barriers and how can we break them down?”
Malanca said.
Potential answers are that the sites lack infrastructure or
have environmental concerns, she said.
Valley towns get $11M in state grants
ANDREAS YILMA and SLOAN BREWSTER
Two Naugatuck Valley towns will receive more than $11
million in state grant money for revitalization projects.
Naugatuck and Torrington received almost a third of the $36
million grant money dispersed by the state through the Department of Economic
and Community Development’s Connecticut Communities Challenge Grant Program.
The two towns are looking to redevelop section into a mix of
commercial and residential with an eye toward transit.
Torrington was awarded $5.2 million in grant funding for its
$32.2 million revitalization project of Railroad Square neighborhood, which is
bordered by Water Street, John Street, Mason Street and Church Street.
The city is partnering with the YMCA, Naugatuck Railroad and
Water Street Healthcare Group LLC, a group of investors working with the owner
of 190 Water St., the former owner of the old Register Citizen building.
The biggest investment comes from the new owners of the
former Register Citizen building at 190 Water St. MV Motorsports purchased the
property in December 2020 and is committing $25 million
The former Register Citizen building on Water Street will be
part of a large revitalization project that includes Railroad Square.
Republican-American archives
The venture looks to upgrade several areas which include an
adaptive reuse of a former factory building to a large-scale marketplace and
offices later in the phase, increased access to public transportation with an
extension of a greenway, improved bus access and repair to the historic train
station platform.
These funds will help with the development of an adaptive
reuse plan to convert the first floor of 190 Water St., approximately
15,000-20,0000 square feet into a marketplace that supports boutique stores
such as prime meats, fresh seafood, cheese shop, organic produce, bakery, deli,
coffee and tea shop, boutique clothing store, artesian shops and more, the
Torrington press release states.
“I am committed to revitalizing the forgotten areas of
Torrington and breathing new life into the City through public private
partnerships” Mayor Elinor C. Carbone said. “These grant funds, along with
funding commitments and partnerships with Franklin Products, NW CT YMCA,
Naugatuck Railroad and Water Street Healthcare Group will be the catalyst for
transformational change, not only in Railroad Square, but the entire City.”
The project is currently in the design phase and
construction is anticipated to start in Fall of 2023, according to the
Torrington release.
The borough of Naugatuck has been awarded $6 million for its
$17.3 million Transit Orientated Development, mixed use residential and
commercial project for Parcel B, on the corner of Maple Street and Old
Firehouse Road.
Earlier this year, the Board of Mayor and Burgesses chose
Pennrose, a real estate development company and the Cloud Co., a Hartford-based
firm, to develop 7.75 acres of underutilized land of Parcel B.
The state Department of Transportation allotted funding for
the relocation of the Naugatuck train station from Water Street near The
Station Restaurant to Parcel B.
Pennrose and the borough plan to develop the parcel with 180
housing units where a certain percentage of which will be affordable at various
income levels as well as 7,320 square feet of commercial space according to the
press release
Naugatuck Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess said they’re very
happy at the borough to receive the funds which helps them finish off their
downtown project in a way that they envision.
“It enables us to finish the road network that the state is
building by extending Water Street from the new train station all the way to
Rubber Ave. across the (Naugatuck) Event Center,” Hess said. “It gives us money
to streetscapes and really improve Old Firehouse Road.”
Hess said all in all, it’s a great package that enhances
their project and allows borough officials to deliver a first class project to
downtown.