CT Construction Digest Wednesday November 19, 2025

Climate activists protest gas expansion projects in Lamont’s office

Josie Reich and John Moritz

Around 30 activists in neon pink T-shirts gathered around Gov. Ned Lamont’s office on Monday afternoon, singing “This Little Light of Mine,” to protest his support for new methane gas construction in Connecticut.

The protest was organized by a new coalition calling themselves Don’t Destroy Our Future, a group organized for the sake of this protest by members of climate justice groups including Sunrise Movement Connecticut, Third Act and Interreligious Eco-Justice Network. 

Activists called for Lamont to deny permits for new projects expanding natural gas usage in Connecticut. They argued that these buildouts contradict the state’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a target Lamont signed into law earlier this year.

“Gov. Lamont has been clear that he wants to bring new energy resources into New England to increase our energy supply and lower costs for ratepayers,” said Rob Blanchard, a spokesperson for Lamont’s office. “We look forward to continuing the conversation with regional partners on how we can best achieve this goal, while protecting the state’s investment in renewable energy.”

Nine of the activists entered Lamont’s office and explained their demands to a Lamont staffer, who nodded and said he would pass their concerns along. In a planned political arrest, those nine activists then refused to leave the office and were peacefully escorted out by Capitol Police.

They were charged with obstruction of free passage, a misdemeanor, and released, according to Lt. Greg Wimble of the Capitol Police.

Claudia Allen, a 79 year-old Thompson resident, said she felt a generational responsibility to be arrested for the first time in her life, because she doesn’t have the same career considerations as young people.

“I really feel that my generation has to make the right decisions in order for [the younger] generation to have a livable future,” she said. “It’s really all about the young people for me.”

Most of the protesters were around her age. Two of the arrested protesters walked with canes, and one had been arrested protesting the Vietnam War.

Kate Donnelly, a former first selectman of Hampton, said she saw Lamont’s approval of natural gas projects as incompatible with his support for climate goals.

“When Gov. Lamont ran for office, he made a lot of promises about addressing climate, and he hasn’t kept them,” she said. “We’re here to say, Gov. Lamont, we need to secure our future for the planet and our children and future generations, and we want him to address these issues.”

Lamont, a Democrat, has long expressed an openness to natural gas as a means of keeping energy prices in check while reducing emissions from older, dirtier forms of power such as oil and coal.

In July, his administration gave tentative approval to a plan to expand the capacity of the existing Iroquois Pipeline by building a series of compressors capable of pumping an additional 125 million cubic feet of gas each day through the pipeline. The decision angered both environmental activists as well as local residents in Brookfield — the town where the compressors will be built — who have raised concerns about the pipeline’s proximity to a nearby middle school.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has yet to issue a final permit for the Iroquois project, which is scheduled for an informational public hearing in January.

A spokesperson for the Iroquois Pipeline did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

During his state of the state address in January, Lamont urged lawmakers not to “rule out natural gas” as a way of addressing the state’s spiking energy costs, despite concerns about methane and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Connecticut, like most of its New England counterparts, relies on natural gas to produce the majority of its electricity. In addition, more than a third of the state’s homes are heated with natural gas during the winter.

“We bring in very inexpensive natural gas from Pennsylvania, but that pipeline is at capacity,” he said. “And we bring in [liquid natural gas] by foreign ships, which is more polluting and more expensive.”

Critics of natural gas, however, argue that the commodity is subject to volatile price swings that could undermine promises of long-term savings.

“His embrace of more gas is really unfortunate,” said Peter Millman, the director of People’s Action for Clean Energy, an environmental group. “I think that he and his advisors are underestimating what the future cost of gas prices will be.”

Millman was not in attendance at Monday’s protest.

The Lamont administration has also drawn criticism over a plan to invest $42 million in a new gas heating system to power a network of pipes that deliver heating and cooling to more than a dozen buildings in downtown Hartford, known as the Capitol Area System.

Advocates had pushed for lower-emission — and costlier — alternatives that would replace the aging gas-powered system with either all-electric boilers or an underground geothermal system.

Electric Boat buys old Sears store, final piece of Crystal Mall site

Luther Turmelle

General Dynamics Electric Boat has acquired the former Sears store at Waterford's Crystal Mall, the final portion of the mall that it did not already own.

The purchase price for the property was not immediately available, either from Electric Boat officials or municipal real estate records. Over a period from June to the end of October, the submarine maker spent $31.42 million dollars to by two other parts of the mall from it's owner, Great Neck N.Y.-based Namdar Realty Group.

But the former Sears store was owned by a limited liability company, 350 Hartford Turnpike LLC. that is affiliated New York City-based ACHS Management Corp. The limited company paid $2.78 million at an auction in the fall of 2023 for the10.62 acre property and 150,632 building that made up the former Sears property.

Mark Rayha, Electric Boat's president said owning the entire mall property "will facilitate Electric Boat’s ability to accelerate submarine production." The mall is located on Hartford Turnpike and is adjacent to Interstate 95.

“This is our third and final acquisition of property at this location, which will address the increasing demand signal for submarines by our nation," Rayha said.

Construction of the new corporate campus is expected to start sometime time next summer, allowing Electric Boat  maximize manufacturing space at the company's shipyard, located near the mouth of the Thames River in nearby Groton. Employees will start working at the site sometime in mid-2027.

The mall site is located about five miles  \from the manufacturing facility.

The acquisition of the Sears space comes a little more than three weeks after the defense contractor acquired virtually all of the mall it didn't own already. And that $25 million purchase was preceded by Electric Boat's acquisition of another vacant retail space, the former Macy's store at the mall in late June.

Electric Boat employs more than 24,000 people. Company officials said last month that between 4,000 and 5,000 people will work at the Waterford facility when process of converting the mall to officer space is complete.

Construction to begin on 57-unit apartment complex in Montville.

Sofia Acosta Silva

Montville — Construction is set to begin this week on Horizon View, a 57-unit, mixed-income apartment development on Route 32, after developers closed on financing and received their permits.

The developers of the $24 million project, Honeycomb Real Estate Partners, said work will begin immediately following Tuesday's closing. The building is expected to be finished in February 2027, with leasing beginning about three months prior.

"We've given our contractor the notice to proceed," said Lewis Brown, managing principal of Honeycomb. "We have our building permit in hand, and after tomorrow, you'll start seeing construction."

The four-story building will include 25 one-bedroom units and 32 two-bedroom apartments ranging in size from 690 to 960 square feet.

Developers said 80% of the units will be affordable to households earning 60% of the area median income or below. The remaining 20% will rent at market rate.

Brown said the apartments will remain affordable for 50 years, and utilities will be included in the rent.

The project is financed with a total of $10.1 million in loans through the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority and the state Department of Housing and a $11.6 million tax credit equity from the National Equity Fund, a nonprofit syndicator. Liberty Bank will serve as the construction lender. A nonprofit organization, New Neighborhoods Inc. of Stamford, will also be a partner in the project. Brown said the developer's contribution is $900,000.

Amenities include a community center with computers available for residents at no cost, a fitness room, conference room, mail and package area, a bike room, and free parking. The building will be fully electric and equipped with Energy Star appliances.

Units will feature granite countertops and other modern designs mirroring Honeycomb's recent developments in West Hartford and New Haven.

Brown said the company chose Montville because of strong support from local and state officials and the clear need for more housing near major job centers, including the nearby casinos.

"Montville has been underdeveloped with housing for so long," he said. "So I think this will benefit a lot of people, folks who work in town, but also at the casino."

He added that based on recent projects, he expects Horizon View to fill quickly, noting that their West Hartford and New Haven developments rented all units in 30 days and both now have waiting lists.

During Planning and Zoning Commission meetings, Brown said the project drew no opposition.

The 3.4-acre property at 2268-2284 Route 32 was previously occupied by older residential buildings that have since been demolished. Previous plans for commercial projects on the site including fast food restaurants never occurred.

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It

Lucy Perry

This summer, OSHA proposed revising or removing existing safety standards that have a direct impact on transportation construction contractors.

Three such rules affecting road and bridge construction are among several the agency is presenting in efforts to either revise obsolete measures or scale back or withdraw certain long-standing obligations for businesses.

Offered the opportunity the construction industry responded with a resounding "don't fix it."

In fact, on July 1, OSHA published 25 proposed rules in the Federal Register, reported the Institute of WorkComp Professionals (IWCP).

A general duty clause, construction illumination standard and rules dictating medical evaluations for certain respirators would affect the construction industry.

Industry stakeholders, associations and employers had until Sept. 2, 2025, to submit feedback to OSHA. ARTBA believes that while safety is a top priority, "clear and practical rules are essential for effective compliance and consistent enforcement."

"ARTBA and the AGC [on] Oct. 31 expressed overall support while recommending refinement to ensure clarity," said the road builders association.

Citations at Heart of General Duties Clause

The General Duties clause cites employers where no current standard exists, said Kevin Ring, IWCP lead workers' compensation analyst.

The clause is "often used for heat-related, ergonomic and workplace violence citations," said Ring, who termed it one of the most notable proposals.

"This change would limit OSHA's ability to cite employers … for known hazards ‘inherent and inseparable from the core nature of a profession activity or performance.'"

ARTBA maintains this policy allows OSHA to cite employers for unsafe conditions even when no specific safety standard applies.

"The industry urges OSHA to extend proposed limits on this clause to roadway construction sites where workers can be exposed to hazards," said ARTBA.

The association gave as an example situations where reckless drivers are outside an employer's control. AGC's stand echoed ARTBA's.

"When there are no specific requirements at play, OSHA regulates clear and obvious hazards under the general duty clause," said AGC.

The association said the proposal seeks "to exclude known hazards that are inherent to the core nature of a profession under the general duty clause."

The proposal came out of a 2014 D.C. Circuit Court decision where OSHA relied on the clause to regulate SeaWorld practices. SeaWorld was exposing its trainers to the recognized hazard of close contact with orca whales.

It was argued that the clause does not authorize OSHA to regulate hazards from normal activities intrinsic to professional, athletic or entertainment occupations.

"There are many situations, highway work chief among them, in which construction employers are unable to eliminate all known hazards," said the AGC. "Our comment asked OSHA to include highway, bridge and street construction as an industry that would be impacted by the proposed rule."

Keep Job Sites Bright All Night

OSHA proposes rescinding the Construction Illumination Standards that require minimum lighting levels in construction areas. Those areas include corridors, ramps, shops and tunnels. AGC and the industry recommends keeping the standard as is.

Maintaining the rule's wording would ensure adequate visibility and safety during nighttime operations, said the association.

These requirements set the base level of light required for different areas around job sites, said AGC.

"OSHA reasoned that because citations for improper illumination were rare, they should be able to rescind this regulation without any impact to the industry."

In response, AGC partnered with ARTBA, asphalt paving and roofing associations to submit a comment in opposition to the proposed rescission.

"The key argument made on behalf of the industry is that proper lighting is foundational to safety and the prevention of slips, trips and falls, among other hazards," said AGC. "A rescission would create uncertainty that could make job sites less safe, an unacceptable result."

Easing Employers' Obligations On Respirators

The third proposal that would hit the transportation construction industry directly concerns medical evaluations for certain respirators.

To industry's concern, OSHA proposes eliminating medical evaluation requirements for workers using filtering facepieces or loose-fitting respirators.

"The industry supports greater flexibility but urges OSHA to retain the guidance as a non-mandatory best practice," said ARTBA.

AGC said currently respirator-wearing employees would need to complete a follow-up evaluation to determine whether the respirator could be worn safely.

"The proposed rule identifies two specific kinds of respirators for which such precautions may not be necessary," said the association.

Going further for the cause, AGC said it assembled a small coalition of trade associations to comment. While the groups agree with the removal of medical evaluations in certain circumstances, they also believe that such an evaluation remains a best practice.

"We ultimately recommend that such practices be noted deliberately in both the preamble of the final rule and in a new non-mandatory appendix."

Addressing David Keeling, OSHA assistant secretary of labor, the coalition wrote a letter asking that the respirator requirements be amended.

"The AGC, ARTBA, MCAA, NAPA and NRCA welcome the opportunity to submit comments in response to the OSHA notice of proposed rulemaking."

The coalition wrote "in measured support" of the proposal, saying while safety is a top priority, not every best practice needs to be required by regulation. While they do consider questionnaires and evaluations a best practice, based on member feedback, they maintain the best practice can be included in the appendix.

"This strategy would provide our members with guidance on whether a medical evaluation might be beneficial," said the groups.

At the same time, they added, it would provide flexibility in situations where the process may be unnecessary.

"In some instances, the use of respiratory protection may cause a physiological burden on the employee," they said.

The questionnaire and evaluation are best practices to identify underlying medical conditions that could result in adverse effects while wearing certain types of respiratory protection. They said this may include filtering facepiece respirators (FFR) and loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR).

The coalition suggested OSHA create and adopt a nonmandatory appendix, a guidance on OSHA medical evaluation for FF and PAP respirators.

In their response to OSHA, they also offered their suggested wording for the appendix.

"Respirator medical evaluations are designed to ensure employees required to wear respirators to protect against airborne contaminants are able to do so safely. The results of the respirator medical evaluation also help employers make informed decisions about which employees can use respirators under specific environmental conditions and physical demands.

"Some medical conditions may make it difficult for an employee to wear a

respirator at work. A respirator medical evaluation can help detect if wearing a respirator will aggravate or exacerbate any of these conditions. Employers who choose to administer respirator medical evaluations and facilitate consultation with a healthcare professional, may continue to follow the Appendix C to § 1910.134: OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire (Mandatory)."

In closing its letter, the coalition said each association takes the safety of its members very seriously.

"As such, we evaluate any deregulatory proposal from OSHA with caution," it said. "In this instance, we support the proposed rule as it gives employers flexibility in cases where a medical evaluation is clearly not necessary."

However, the coalition said, it asks that OSHA designate evaluations as a best practice both in the preamble of the Final Rule, and in the appendix.

King of IWCP said that the rule exempts employers who are required to have workers use either FFRs or PAPRs from medical evaluation requirements. These proposals, King said, address duplicative regulations or aim to better align with the general respiratory protection standard.

"Generally, they remove prescriptive requirements, offer employers more flexibility, [and] permit the use of different respirator types," he said.

These proposals "remove or limit specific training obligations but increase the responsibility to ensure that appropriate respiratory protection is utilized."

The specific hazards addressed include 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane, 1,3-butadiene, carcinogens (4-nitrobiphenyl, etc.), acrylonitrile, asbestos and benzene.

Cadmium, coke oven emissions, cotton dust, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, inorganic arsenic, lead, methylene chloride, methylenedianiline and vinyl chloride also are included.

OSHA Eyes Other Deregulatory Initiatives

OSHA is proposing other initiatives that address recording musculoskeletal disorders and occupational exposure to COVID in healthcare settings.

King said the musculoskeletal disorder recording proposal withdrew a previous proposal to add a column to the OSHA 300 log for recording disorders.

"However, withdrawal does not change any aspect of an employer's reporting obligations," he said. "The obligations to complete, retain or use the same criteria and definitions for occupational injury and illness records remains."

The COVID exposure proposal would remove the COVID emergency temporary standard and its associated recordkeeping and reporting provisions.

OSHA proposed a rule to remove its Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards standards.

"These codes have historically helped ensure consistent visual warnings across industrial settings," said King. "But OSHA notes the hazards are addressed in the Specifications for Accident Prevention Signs and Tags standard."

OSHA published a final rule removing the requirement for its administrator to consult with the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health. This rule no longer requires the consultation before OSHA issues or modifies construction standards.

"If finalized, the rules could alter the compliance landscape and trigger more regulations in states with robust occupational safety enforcement," said King. CEG

CT Construction Digest Monday November 17, 2025

Enfield Square Mall redevelopment plan could begin site work in the spring after major win

Joseph Villanova

ENFIELD — Site work on the planned $250 million overhaul of Enfield Square Mall could begin in the spring, after the developer secured a major town approval Thursday.

Nebraska-based Woodsonia Acquisitions hopes to bring "Enfield Marketplace" to the struggling mall property, proposing a combination of commercial space and 465 residential units with the potential to accommodate a hotel as well. 

Under current plans, the company would serve as a master developer of the project, seeking other developers for the various lots that will make up the project site but expecting to build and own the residential component itself.

The town's Planning and Zoning Commission approved unanimously Thursday night a zone change to help the project move forward, though Woodsonia and its eventual partners will need additional approvals to get a shovel in the ground.

Enfield Director of Planning Laurie Whitten said at a meeting Thursday night that Woodsonia has "a lot of steps to go," but the zone change is the first. Once the developer completes its planned subdivision of the property, site plans for individual users will come in "piecemeal," she said.

Mitch Hohlen, partner and Director of Development at Woodsonia, said Thursday night that the developer's infrastructure site work could being in March, and negotiations with existing mall tenants and new businesses are currently underway.

"A lot of these smaller users especially, they kind of need to see it before they're going to commit, but I would anticipate we have 12 to 18 months of site work where we have to demolish it, get utilities in, get access drives in," Hohlen said. "As soon as we're able to pull a new building permit with water going in, you'll see new users going vertical."

Plans to redevelop the Enfield Square Mall back to at least 2023, when the town was in contact with two prospective buyers for the property. Namdar Realty Group purchased the mall for $11.4 million in 2019, at a time where the departure of anchor stores caused foot traffic to decline.

Issues persisted at the mall, including one incident where Enfield threatened to close the mall over a faulty fire alarm and sprinkler system. Woodsonia was identified as the prospective buyer of the property in 2024, after which the company began to seek financing and regulatory approvals for its redevelopment plan.

Members of the PZC were previously displeased with Woodsonia's plans for the site during the zone change application process in part due to a mention of a maximum of 703 housing units, though the developer later clarified it had "no intention" of building that many.

The commission debated some points of the plan Thursday night but largely spoke in favor of the revisions, including clarifying which uses could go where and leaving the project open to potential hotels, offices, and mixed-use buildings.

PZC chairwoman Linda DeGray said Thursday that she found it valuable to see Woodsonia's previous developments at similar properties across the country.

"I think that will be helpful to the residents of Enfield, give them some assurance that this isn't going to be a big blank space," DeGray said.

The company gave a presentation Thursday night on some of its 20-plus "community-oriented" developments, including redevelopment of other malls formerly owned by Namdar. Those include Mall of the Bluffs in Council Bluffs, Indiana, which Hohlen described as Woodsonia's "first introduction to Namdar."

Hohlen said the $150 million project took a mall that was around 50% occupancy and "past its useful life" and turned it into a shopping center with major anchors that he felt was "a really successful development for the community."

Hohlen said Conestoga Marketplace, another Woodsonia redevelopment of a former Namdar mall in Grand Island, Nebraska, was "virtually identical to Enfield" in terms of vacancy, overall site layout, and community importance. The $250 million project includes a new-to-market Target, a major entertainment destination, a 150-room hotel, and 275 housing units that will begin construction in the spring.

"If I were trying to build the most credibility for Enfield, this is the project I'd point to," Hohlen said.

The PZC also debated whether to remove gas stations as a potential use but chose to leave it in after discussing how they fit into the business models for some grocery stores and clubs, like the Costco located just across the street from the project site.

Connecticut regulators pass on revisiting UI power line upgrades in Fairfield and Bridgeport

Brian Lockhart

The Connecticut Siting Council Thursday briefly weighed tackling United Illuminating's request to reconsider the regulatory body's October denial of the company's overhead power line upgrade through Fairfield and Bridgeport.

But after some confusing back and forth and consultation with their executive director and attorney, Melanie Bachman, members instead adjourned the teleconference, leaving action on UI's Nov. 3 appeal in doubt. It was the group's last regular meeting within the 25 day window it has to act. The deadline is Nov. 28.

In a statement Friday, UI spokesperson Sarah Wall Fliotsos called on the regulatory agency to now convene a special meeting before the deadline. She also pounced on what she saw as a general lack of organization on the council's part.

"Yesterday's botched discussion ... was symptomatic of the same dysfunction in this process since September," Fliotsos said.

September was the month the council, having in June signaled it would turn UI's transmission wire upgrade down during an informal vote, reversed course in a second unofficial vote and backed the proposed overhaul.

But then the group, in response to outcry from officials in Fairfield and Bridgeport who want the transmission wires buried, and at the urging of Gov. Ned Lamont, postponed a final September vote to Oct. 16 for the sides to try to seek a compromise.

Then, during that October meeting, the regulatory body changed its opinion again and rejected UI's project in a final vote.

The utility can try to challenge that decision in state superior court, but first filed the Nov. 3 request with the Siting Council for reconsideration. One of UI's main arguments is council members erred in not outlining their rationale for rejecting the line upgrade. Fliotsos reiterated that stance Friday.

"Because of the Siting Council's failure to explain their decision, UI has no clear path forward for rebuilding aged transmission infrastructure in Fairfield and Bridgeport, which the Siting Council itself acknowledges creates a clear reliability and safety threat to the state and region," she said. "This benefits no one. Not UI’s customers in Fairfield and Bridgeport, not the state or New England as a whole, and certainly not Connecticut policymakers."

On Thursday, one council member, Brian Golembiewski, appeared to try to address that criticism. At the very end of the meeting he made a motion to add the UI transmission line project to the day's agenda to allow "the council to look and correct its decision documents."

"I want to make it clear," Golembiewski continued, "that this is not, I guess, not a motion to add the UI reconsideration. This is to just bring ... the (UI transmission project) docket back on the agenda for our own council, I guess, discussions (for) whatever the council itself can get to as a vehicle for us to align our opinion with our vote."

"And not for the UI's motion for reconsideration," emphasized Vice Chair John Morisette, who ran Thursday's teleconference.

Golembiewski's request was seconded by Hall.

Bachman advised that the group cannot simply "resurrect" the UI transmission upgrade. If that docket were to be added to the agenda, then it is "incumbent" upon the Siting Council at that time to take up UI's request for reconsideration, she said.

"I guess, Attorney Bachman, you're saying the council can't at this point add our own council reconsideration of our decision?" Golembiewski responded.

"What I'm saying is we have a pending petition for reconsideration with a 25 day deadline for the council to take it up," Bachman explained. So, she continued, to reopen UI's Fairfield/Bridgeport power line upgrade request "necessarily includes taking up a petition for reconsideration that is pending under that docket."

"If we don't act within 25 days it's ... deemed denied," she specified. "It's on the table for disposition if this motion passes."

Golembiewski reiterated he did not want to bring forth the UI reconsideration appeal.

Hall asked if UI's request would be before she and her colleagues "in the near future."

"As Attorney Bachman stated, if it is not acted upon for 25 days it is deemed denied. Besides today, we do not have another scheduled meeting within the 25 days," said Morissette.

"Got it," said Hall, who then withdrew her second to the motion. Golembiewski withdrew his motion, and the meeting adjourned.

UI first submitted its plan to the Siting Council in 2023. The company has maintained that installing the wires on tall poles routed along the southern side of the Metro-North Railroad train tracks is the best and least-costly-to-ratepayers option for upgrading the aged equipment. The Bridgeport/Fairfield section is the last eight miles of a 25-mile-long project, the rest of which has been completed or is under construction.

But critics, including several elected leaders of those two municipalities, have opposed the plans, arguing that the lines should instead be buried to avoid what they claim will be adverse impacts on economic development, the environment, and historic and religious properties.

Seymour to move sewer pipes, helping Kinneytown Dam be removed

Christian Metzger

SEYMOUR — Two sewer siphons are likely to move so that the Kinneytown Dam can be removed.

It's the next step in a multi-decades long effort to remove the Kinneytown Dam, which has blocked 30 miles of critical fish habitat for 181 years. The dam was built in 1844 to power Anson Phelps' mills and Ansonia Copper & Brass, but has been unused since it was shut down in 2013.

The $11 million project will relocate two sewer siphons that cross under the Naugatuck River in the sediment layer. 

The siphons run along the west side of the river along Route 8 to connect with the Seymour Wastewater Treatment Facility, which is located next to the Kinneytown Dam. The siphons will be re-routed under South Main Street before connecting with the facility further up the river past the dam.

Three options to rolocate the siphons will be presented at 6 p.m. on Nov. 17 at Seymour town hall so the public can give feedback before the option is selected in early December.

The current plan put forward by Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments would create 18 new bore holes that would stretch from the Southwood Apartments up along South Main Street before moving up along the length of the train track. It's expected to affect traffic, but the preliminary plans don't say for how long.

The project is entirely funded by the NVCOG with grant funding from state and federal sources, coming at no cost to the town. 

Hartford-based engineering consultants CDM Smith will design and install the new siphons. The removal of the existing siphons, which carry wastewater through the reservoir behind the dam, is considered a critical step before the dam itself can be removed. 

The dam is more than 400 feet long and 30 feet tall, serving as a consistent reminder of the region’s industrial past as one of nine dams that once blocked the river. The Naugatuck River Revival Group has advocated for years to remove the dam, which is seen as barring habitats for shad, eels and salmon in the region.

Current plans have the dam's removal process beginning in 2027, according to NVCOG. This will open the Naugatuck River back up and nearly become free-flowing back to the ocean. 

NVCOG anticipates this will have a positive impact on the fish coming upstream, but also will improve the environment around the river and reduce flood risk by allowing the river to return to its natural course. 

18-hole Bristol golf course hits market for $5M, pitched as housing development site

Michael Puffer

The Chippanee Country Club in Bristol is being offered for sale as a potential housing development site.

The 18-hole club property is owned by a limited liability company headed by prominent businessman Frederick W. “Fritz” Blasius Jr., owner of Waterbury-headquartered car dealership Loehmann-Balsius Chevrolet.

City records show the Blasius-affiliated LLC bought the three abutting properties — totaling roughly 140 acres between Marsh Road and Hill Street — for $1.27 million in 2015.

A 133-acre portion of the properties went on the market this week with a $5 million asking price. The seller is represented by Middlebury-based Drubner Commercial Real Estate Services.

David Theroux, principal of Drubner Commercial, said his firm hired engineering consultant SLR to conduct studies and “initial groundwork” indicating the entire site could support up to 140 housing units in various configurations. The zoning allows one unit per acre, but those units can be clustered and may include multifamily options, he said.

“It’s a relatively easy site to develop for residential housing,” Theroux said.

For now, 133 acres, including the golf course and service buildings, are for sale.

A 14,021-square-foot dining and function hall and seven acres are to be sold separately, Theroux said. The 1923-vintage building is sided with clapboard and features a gabled roof.

Although this portion of the property is not currently being marketed, a buyer of the larger parcel could acquire it as well for an additional $1.5 million, Theroux said.

Residents question plan to reconfigure lanes of busy Route 32 intersection

Sofia Acosta Silva

Waterford — State transportation officials presented plans last week to reconfigure lanes at the busy intersection of Route 32, Old Norwich Road and Route 693, and residents are expressing mixed feelings about it.

The state Department of Transportation hosted the public informational meeting Nov. 6 at Town Hall, outlining plans to add a dedicated right-turn lane from Route 32 northbound to Route 693 to help reduce congestion and crashes. The project is projected to cost $11 million, and 80% will be funded by the federal government and 20% by the state.

The project is tentatively set to begin construction in fall 2027, pending permits and funding.

The presentation, according to residents who attended, did not include a question-and-answer period. On social media, Waterford resident Tina DuBosque criticized the format and urged officials to consider a roundabout rather than adding lanes.

“Consider instead a large traffic circle, accommodating and slowing down traffic coming from everywhere, rather than spending $11 million on sort-of solving only one Route 32 problem,” DuBosque wrote.

DuBosque also pointed out potential access challenges for residents along the east side of Route 32 and Hempstead Drive, who may need to take alternate routes once construction begins.

“Folks ... will need to get more creative about accessing Route 32 north- or southbound,” she wrote.

The Department of Transportation says the right-of-way impacts are limited to reconstructing and grading residential driveways within the project area. Project plans and visuals are available on the state’s website at portal.ct.gov/DOTWATERFORD0152-0163.

Residents can submit feedback until Nov. 20 by referencing State Project No. 0152-0163 and emailing dotproject152-163@ct.gov.

Questions may also be directed to project manager Nicholas Ivanoff at nicholas.ivanoff@ct.gov or 860-594-2597.

CT Construction Digest Tuesday November 11, 2025

Construction of National Coast Guard Museum reaches milestone

Greg Smith

New London — Construction of the National Coast Guard Museum reached another milestone this week with completion of the six-story building’s steel frame.

Stakeholders in the $150 million project gathered at the perimeter of the museum’s construction site at City Pier on Monday to watch a crane hoist a beam topped with a small tree and an American flag to the roof of the structure. It was part of a traditional topping off ceremony that National Coast Guard Museum Association President Wes Pulver said was another step forward for a project that was first pitched as an idea more than 25 years ago.

“This marks a significant moment in this historic project that’s going to honor the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the Coast Guard,” Pulver said. “It really is a pivotal moment of where we are with the project. This is a moment of pride, accomplishment and a reminder that we still have an incredible amount of work to do."

Construction of the museum is years behind schedule and still short of funding by about $48 million, but Pulver said the schedule for opening to the public sometime in 2027 remains an achievable goal.

Pulver said fundraising continues, but the board is considering a construction loan and a future long-term lease agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard to cover the funding shortfall. The initial plan was to gift the museum to the Coast Guard. The museum is funded with $50 million in federal funding and $52 million in donations.

Pulver said he does not expect any delays in construction due to funding issues.

U.S. Rep Joe Courtney, among others to join the group of dignitaries at Monday’s ceremony, said the museum “represents the best that the Coast Guard has to offer and will ensure that the Coast Guard’s history and critical contributions to the safety of our coasts and rivers will be on display for all to see.”

The museum, whose location in New London was secured in 2004, is expected to attract more than 300,000 visitors a year and, according to New London Mayor Michael Passero, help to solidify the city as a tourist destination.

The next phase of construction for the museum will be the walls and roof, but not before a display helicopter is inserted into the building. Pulver said that a crane system will be installed to aid in the construction process.

Construction of a walking bridge spanning Water Street from the city's parking garage is expected to follow soon after the museum. Pulver said he continues to work with Manafort Brothers Inc., the lone bidder for the project, on options for the project before presenting cost estimates to the state. The bid, not yet released to the public, was higher than expected and with a longer-than-anticipated building timeline. The state has pledged $20 million toward construction of the bridge, which is not part of the $150 million construction project.

The discussion with state officials about the pedestrian bridge funding, Pulver said, is likely to take place before the end of this month. 

Long-closed, decaying Meriden-Wallingford Hospital targeted for elementary school

Steven Goode

MERIDEN—The collection of decaying, boarded up and graffiti-covered buildings at1 King Place that was once a medical center may finally have a new purpose.

The Meriden-Wallingford Hospital closed to make way for Mid-State Medical in 1998. Since then the the hospital campus on a 5.6-acres dating back to the 1800s has fallen into severe disrepair as a series of attempts to redevelop it for mixed use failed. The city took ownership of the building through foreclosure in 2014

A key factor in those failed attempts have been the city of Meriden's unsuccessful efforts to secure $6 million in state funding to demolish the buildings. That losing streak continued into 2025.

That factor may be moot now that the city's board of education has come up with a plan to redevelop the site for a new Casmir Pulaski Elementary School.

The school board is proposing the construction of a 97,000 square-foot campus for about 700 pre-kindergarten to 5th grade students. The project would cost about $122 million, but with state reimbursements, district officials estimate that the cost to taxpayers will be about $14.8 million. Officials estimate that the district's reimbursement rate from the state would be about 88%

If approved by the Meriden City Council, possibly in November or December, there would be a 16-18 month design phase, with bids expected in early 2028. 

Construction would begin in the second quarter of 2028 with a planned opening in the second quarter of 2030.

The legislature would also need to enact legislation to simultaneously approve the project to get it into  the pipeline for consideration now, said Meriden Assistant Superintendent of Schools Michael Grove.

Grove said the school board has been working on the proposal for about a year and that they had been considering a project at the current Pulaski School site but felt the property did not have room for the expansion that was needed..

"This could be good for us and the city," Grove said. "We definitely need the space."

Meriden Mayor Kevin Scarpati did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Redevelopment of former factory into 150 apartments in New Haven's Hill section begins

Mark Zaretsky

NEW HAVEN — In a city that currently has new housing rising all over, much of it classified as "affordable" to various degrees, the new 150-unit, $73 million apartment complex going up at 10 Liberty St. where Liberty meets Spring Street and Union Avenue stands out.

It brings brand new, much-needed housing to The Hill section — one of the New Haven neighborhoods with the oldest housing stock and the least investment over the years — and it's bringing housing to what had been a long-closed factory.

The project, on the former Electrix Illumination factory site, also is about a quarter-mile from Union Station, the city's transportation hub, making it a perfect example of "transit-oriented development," officials said Monday.

Of those 150 units, 149 are affordable or deeply affordable housing, ranging from 30% to 80% of the Area Median Income, or AMI, averaging out to 60% of AMI, officials said. 

And the project, designed to be green, will make use of both geothermal hearing and cooling and solar energy for electricity to lessen impact on the environment and help keep utilities affordable for residents, officials said. 

The developer received City Plan Commission approval in 2022 to build a five-story apartment building at 10 Liberty St.

All of that adds up to a reason to celebrate, and that's just what about 50 people, including the developers, lenders and city and state officials, did Monday as they broke ground for the project, which had been in the works since the world and New Haven were in the midst of the COVID pandemic.

"The process of groundbreaking today is a wonderful opportunity to pause (and) acknowledge all of the collective effort that has gone into this," said Jonathan Cortell, president of Cortell Development Group, which is leading the effort — but has plenty of partners.

"We can't say we would be here today without all of those who are involved," Cortell said, adding that he is looking forward to a ribbon-cutting to open the complex "as soon as the construction folks will allow."

Cortell, onetime vice president and director of development at the New York State Housing Finance Agency, offered praise to New Haven and Mayor Justin Elicker for the way they have welcomed more affordable housing in the city.

"I don't know that communities across the country are embracing the opportunity and potential of  affordable housing as this city has," Cortell said. "We can't wait for what is next."

Both Cortell and Elicker talked about how close the project is to Union Station, as well as to downtown New Haven.

Elicker offered "huge thanks to the state" for "the incredible amount of resources" it invested to help make the project happen, and said there will be additional opportunities around the city in the future.

The state was represented at the ground-breaking by Seila Mosquera-Bruno, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Housing; Matthew Pugliese, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, and Nandini Natarajan, CEO of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, or CHFA among others.

Resources to clean up the site and build the apartments included $37 from the CHFA and $16.5 million from the state Department of Housing, along with private financing from the Bank of America.

"Thank you, Jon, for investing in our city," Elicker said. "We love putting shovels in the ground and getting these projects going." New Haven has "set an ambitious goal of building 10,000 new housing units in the next 10 years," with a goal of having at least 30 percent of those be affordable, he said.

"We're committed to not only affordability, but walkability," Elicker said.

Alder Carmen Rodriguez, D-6, whose sprawling ward includes parts of The Hill, City Point, Long Wharf and downtown, welcomed the 10 Liberty St. development to her ward.

"This is important. We're in The Hill," Rodriguez said. "...This is a community that is thriving," and "this is going to enhance it even more," she said.

"We want to make sure that this is done right," Rodriguez said.

The CHFA's Natarajan said it was a long road to get to this point, "but that's no problem for us." She thanked the mayor and the Board of Alders for their support. 

"Housing is where jobs go to sleep at night," Natarajan said, highlighting the importance of this type of housing, which allows people to live close to one another and to jobs.

"We're proud to support this new development with almost $37 million in new financing," Natarajan said.

Pugliese of DECD said that "housing is economic development, and DECD is proud to be here, which provided millions of dollars in brownfields funds to help clean the site up and prepare it for development.

"The contamination makes reusing these sites a challenge," Pugliese said, but "for every dollar that DECD invests, we get almost $20 in private investment."

Erin Galligan, senior vice president of Bank of America, who grew up in North Haven and now lives in Fairfield, said the bank invested $75 million in debt and equity in the project.

"We're very grateful and proud to be part of 10 Liberty," she said.

Housing Commissioner Mosquera-Bruno, who lived in The Hill years ago — her first home when she first arrived as an immigrant from Ecuador and worked in a factory in Branford — also was happy to be part of the project, to which her department contributed $16.5 million.

"My first home in New Haven was on Kimberly Avenue and the Boulevard," she said. She used to walk 10 blocks in the winter past the site with her daughter, she said.

John Bainlardi, vice president of WBP Development, one of the partners in the project, said he was "so excited to be involved with the State of Connecticut" and the city.

The project, "steps away from Union Station ... will transform the long-vacant and contaminated industrial site into a new five-story development of deed-restricted housing with nearly all affordable, below-market rate rental units for households between 30% and 80% of the area median income," the city said in a release.

"The project will also include the development of adjacent streets and sidewalks, 136 on-site residential parking spaces and outside storage for 45 bikes on the 1.73-acre site," it said. "The new complex will ​utilize geothermal-powered heating and cooling and a solar array for electricity to leverage renewable energy sources and enhance energy efficiency among its residents."

"In total, the project represents a $73 million investment — funded and financed with support from the Connecticut Department of Housing, Connecticut Department of Community and Economic Development, Connecticut Housing Finance Authority and Bank of America — and is expected to be completed in approximately two years," the release said.

The shuttered Electrix Illumination factory went out of business in December 2020.

After Electric Boat's Crystal Mall purchase, apartments could follow

Alexander Soule

Save for the quartet of older men guffawing in a corner, it was a quiet Monday morning otherwise in late October at Panera Bread in the Waterford Commons shopping center, just off Interstate 95 on the Hartford Turnpike across from the Crystal Mall.

Things could be bustling in few year's time, when thousands of General Dynamics Electric Boat employees will be arriving each day at a new corporate office in the soon-to-be mothballed mall.

With Electric Boat's purchase of the nearly empty Crystal Mall, Waterford is set up for a major economic boost and the possibility of ample new housing. Residential developers have several apartment projects in the works in Groton where Electric Boat has been hiring at its main submarine shipyard, amid an ongoing housing shortage in the region.

Waterford's housing stock increased 2.8% between 2010 and 2020, with about 254 housing units per square mile that year according to the Connecticut Housing Data Hub maintained that includes data from multiple state agencies. Dating back to 1996, developers have filed for permits to build more than 100 units of housing in just two calendar years according to Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development records, in 2018 and 2021.

Groton had more than twice that residential density as of 2020, with the Naval Submarine Base New London also a major driver of housing demand in town in addition to Electric Boat. In 2023, developers put in permits for roughly 440 apartments and houses.

A spokesperson in the administration of Gov. Ned Lamont did not rule out the state making available a nearly 125-acre, wooded tract for development that the Connecticut Department of Transportation owns just west of the mall in Waterford.

"With General Dynamics purchasing the adjacent mall property, the state is working with GD and the town to determine the best use of the property," said Chris Collibee, in an email response to a CT Insider query. "No decisions have been made at this time."

Towns west of the Crystal Mall as far as the Connecticut River valley could get a look from new hires looking to rent or buy, given the 10 minutes or more that the Crystal Mall office location shaves off eastbound I-95 commute times compared to Electric Boat's Groton campus. 

"You build a mall in a location where you can attract a lot of people from a lot of areas," said Mark Rayha, president of Electric Boat, speaking last week at a news conference to announce the Crystal Mall purchase. "So doing this here, for us, is a great opportunity."

Electric Boat has nearly 25,000 employees today, Rayha said, with plans to hire between 300 and 500 more workers this year and roughly 2,000 people next year. While many of those new hires are replacing workers hitting retirement, Rayha said the goal is to add 1,000 employees next year to Electric Boat's Connecticut workforce.

Anywhere from 4,000 to 5,000 employees will be located in Waterford, according to Electric Boat. An Electric Boat spokesperson did not provide any estimate of the farthest distances Electric Boat workers travel to work each day from homes in Connecticut and Rhode Island. 

Rob Brule, Waterford's first selectman, could not be reached for questions on whether he expects any wave of development where land is available for new apartments or houses.

Nearly 140 acres have been on the market for six years adjacent at the former Waterford Airport site on the opposite side of Interstate 95, not including about 190 more acres zoned currently for industrial use.

Construction is nearing completion on a third phase of the Waterford Woods development that will total more than 430 apartments. That represents an easy commute for any Electric Boat workers who end up at the Crystal Mall, which is about 10 minutes north of the complex.

Neighboring East Lyme is already home to a number of Electric Boat employees, according to Traci Pazzaglia, a broker in the Niantic office of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties. That includes at the new Edgewater apartments at 94 N. Bridebrook Road, which was developed by her spouse Jason Pazzaglia with 84 units. 

More new developments would help, Pazzaglia said, whether multifamily or single-family homes like a $1.3 million listing she has on Rocco Drive less than 15 minutes from the Crystal Mall. Through the first 10 months of the year, East Lyme ranked second for new listings of homes available for purchase within the immediate commuting orbit of Electric Boat, after Groton and slightly ahead of Stonington and Ledyard.

"I'm hoping that when they do start bringing more people in for Electric Boat, that it helps us out even more," Pazzaglia said. "There's always some land somewhere that somebody can find."

To U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd, Electric Boat's Crystal Mall purchase brings to mind another milestone real estate decision by Electric Boat decades before — the purchase of the emptying Pfizer office complex in New London across the Thames River from the main shipyard.

Electric Boat uses that office for engineering teams today, including those at work designing a future attack submarine for the Navy that would phase out today's Virginia-class attack subs.

New London has seen multiple apartment developments since near the New London office campus, Courtney noted during the Electric Boat press conference in October. Those include The Beam completed in 2023 with just over 200 units, and The Docks that opened two years beforehand. with close to 140.

"Now it's a beehive of activity — and really good economic activity for the city of New London," Courtney said.