Tweed New Haven Regional Airport expansion project gets construction manager with CT office
NEW HAVEN — The company that operates Tweed New Haven
Regional Airport, Avports
LLC, has chosen STV
Inc. to manage Tweed's
$250 million expansion project, Avports announced.
STV, a multinational professional services company with an
office in Hartford, is based in New York City and owned by The Pritzker
Organization — which also owns Hyatt
Hotels. It specializes in architecture, engineering, program and
construction management, among other activities.
STV plans, designs and manages infrastructure projects
across North America.
The Tweed expansion project, currently in the permitting
phase, includes a new,
84,000-square-foot "East Terminal" on the East Haven side of the
airport, a runway extension that would lengthen
Tweed's runway from 5,600 feet to 6,575 feet and parking for up to
4,000 vehicles, as well as a new access road from Proto Drive in East
Haven.
The East Terminal design has reached 70 percent completion
and Tweed currently has applications pending with both the state Department of
Energy and Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The project also includes restoring 28.5 acres of tidal
wetlands and creating more than three acres of new tidal salt marsh as
mitigation measures to compensate for the nine acres of wetlands that would be
affected by the project.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with completion
anticipated by 2028, Avports said in a release.
“Tweed New Haven Airport is a gateway for growth, and we’re proud to help
unlock its potential,” said Mark DuPre, STV's vice president and project
executive of its program management and construction management operating
group.
“By modernizing this vital transportation hub, we’re
improving mobility, boosting economic opportunity and advancing infrastructure
that truly reflects the needs of the fastest-growing city in Connecticut.”
DuPre said in the release.
“This partnership with STV demonstrates our commitment to
bringing home a newer, better airport for Southern Connecticut,” said Michael
Jones, CEO of The New HVN, the subsidiary of Goldman Sachs-owned Avports that
manages Tweed.
“STV understands that we are ready to turn this vision
into reality. Their Connecticut team was recently recognized as Construction
Management Firm of the Year, a reflection of their long track record delivering
technically complex, community-focused projects across the state," Jones
said.
"With the right team now in place, we’re positioned to
move as soon as our municipal partners finalize the path forward," he
said. "This ensures the project reflects the region’s growth and delivers
a passenger experience that matches the energy of the communities we
serve.”
Robert
Reed, chairman of the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority, called the hiring
of STV as construction manager "an exciting step forward for The New
HVN."
The selection of STV "marks real, tangible progress
toward delivering an airport that meets the growing demand for convenient air
travel," Reed said. "We are encouraged by the momentum behind this
project and believe now is the time for local and regional stakeholders to
align with this progress," he said in the release.
"We look forward to watching this next chapter take
shape with the support and collaboration of our neighbors,” Reed said.
DEEP, which must approve the project, found a number of
deficiencies in the application submitted by Avports. The DEEP outlined them in
comments that it recently sent to the airport and other interested parties.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a "finding
of no significant impact," or FONSI, approving the plan in December 2023.
Both East Haven and Save the Sound appealed it in February 2024.
The expansion proposal, which Tweed
initially announced in 2021 at a cost then estimated at $100 million,
comes at a time
of growth for both Tweed and
New Haven.
Since the arrival
of low-fare start-up Avelo Airlines in 2021, followed by the arrival of
low-fare Breeze Airways a year ago, passenger traffic at Tweed has grown from
fewer than 30,000 passenger to more than 700,000 in the past year, Tweed said
earlier this week in a release.
New Haven, meanwhile, is expected to grow to 150,000
residents by 2034, which would make it the largest city in Connecticut.
STV has worked on aviation infrastructure programs at some
of the nation’s busiest airports, including program management for Delta Air
Lines' Terminal C and construction management for Terminal B redevelopment at
LaGuardia Airport, as well as engineering and design for the new Terminal A at
Neward Liberty International Airport.
It has advised a number of other airport and airline
clients, including Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern
Kentucky International Airport and the Delta Sky Way modernization at Los
Angeles International Airport.
STV has been active in Connecticut for 70 years.
Projects have included rehabilitation of the Arrigoni Bridge
between Middletown and Portland, reconstruction of Interstate 95 Exit 33 in
Stratford and replacement of the Amtrak bridge over the Connecticut River
Bridge between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme.
It also has done project management for the new Sandy Hook
School, Rhode Island's Eleanor Slater Health System and the Connecticut
Institute for Communities Greater Danbury Community Health Center.
WATERBURY—It's been a long time coming, but city officials
say that a fair portion of the much-needed work to improve and modernize South and North Main
streets has been, or is close to being, accomplished.
Officials shared some of that progress and what's still to
come last week with a presentation at city hall. The area of improvements being
made includes South Main Street to Scovill Street and North Main Street to
Phoenix Avenue.
The work, according to James Nardozzi, executive director of
the Waterbury
Development Corporation, has been in the planning stages since 2019.
The conditions when work started on South Main Street,
included: cracked and missing curbing; sediment deposits along the roadside;
non-compliant signage, no handicapped warning surfaces at sidewalk ramps; and
out-of-date and damaged drainage inlets.
On North Main the problems were different, but still
significant according to the presentation, including: sidewalks that were
nearly flush with the roadway; minimal pavement markings and signage; and a
lack of defined on street parking and crossing locations.
The objectives for the the project include; replacing and
repairing aging surfaces and utility infrastructure and planning for
future technology and expansion and development; improving visual cues for
motorists through new signage and paving materials; improving pedestrian
safety and reducing possible conflicts with motor vehicles while improving
pedestrian connectivity, mobility and comfort; addressing drainage issues
especially at curbside; and maintaining access during construction.
Above ground, the planned work also includes putting Main
Street on a so-called road diet, enhanced bus stops, new bus shelters and
better defined parking spaces -including on-street parking on both sides of the
street, new granite curbing and concrete sidewalks and loading areas for local
businesses.
Below the surface there have been utilities and storm sewer
improvements on a system that is more than 100 years old. That work would
reduce work time below ground from months to weeks, along with improved water
flow and quality, according to the presentation.
Waterbury Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski said Tuesday that
progress on the North and South Main Street improvements represents an
important advancement in the city's ongoing effort to strengthen downtown.
"Each phase of this work brings us closer to a more
modern, accessible, and business friendly streetscape that supports economic
growth and enhances the experience for everyone who lives, works, or visits
here," Pernerewski said. "As we continue forward, these investments
will help create a more vibrant and connected center city that reflects the
future we are building for Waterbury.”
Nardozzi said that so far the cost of the improvements has
been about $3.1 million for all above ground site improvement work, plus $1.2
million for all subsurface site utilities.
But there is still more to do, Nardozzi said.
"The North Main Street water line portion is already
completed," he said. "The South Main Street water line portion of the
project is projected to start Summer 2026 and has a goal of the end of 2026 for
completion."
Next up on the schedule is West Main Street from North Main
Street to the Naugatuck River, Nardozzi said.
Norwalk's new West Cedar Bridge opens after months-long closure and detours
NORWALK — Norwalk residents
no longer have to detour around West Cedar Street after officials announced it
reopened and the new bridge is completed.
Mayor Harry Rilling celebrated the completion of the bridge
on Dec. 5 on the city's Facebook page. Officials said the bridge was demolished
in April and construction began shortly after.
"This project will enhance resiliency and improve
safety for all modes of transportation to improve the quality of life for
residents for decades to come," he said in an email on Dec. 6. "It's
a beautiful site to see and will allow cars to pass more safely."
Director of Communications Michelle Woods Matthews said the
original bridge, located above the Five Mile River, was built in 1912. She said
the Connecticut Department of Transportation determined the bridge was in poor
condition after a routine inspection in 2022.
Woods Matthews said the city secured $5,354,088 in both
state and federal funding, which was administered through the Federal Local
Bridge Program, for the full bridge replacement. Alfred Benesch & Company,
a Glastonbury-based engineering firm, was hired in 2019 as the design
consultant for the project.
Officials said the bridge is approximately 36 feet and 10
inches wide, and will accommodate two 10-foot travel lanes, 4-foot shoulders,
and a 5-foot sidewalk.
"In addition to meeting modern transportation
standards, the bridge has been engineered to satisfy 100-year storm hydraulic
requirements, ensuring improved safety and resilience for decades to
come," the Facebook post said.
Seeking Developers: Accepting submissions on Centre Square site
Brian M Johnson
BRISTOL — The City of Bristol is accepting submissions from
developers and associated parties toward the sale and development of an
approximately 1.35 acre development site located at Centre Square in Downtown
Bristol.
Dawn Nielsen, marketing and public relations specialist for
the City of Bristol, said the city is targeting multifamily and/or mixed-use
projects for the site. The property is zoned “BD – Downtown” and is appraised
at $650,000. All submissions are due by 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29.
The property in question spans approximately 1.35 acres and
is bordered on the north by Wheeler Health’s 45,000 square foot headquarters
and medical facility. It is bordered to the south by the future Centre Square
“pocket park.” It is also bordered to the east by Hope Street and the Bristol
Health Medical Complex and to the West by North Main Street.
“The site is located on Centre Square, a roughly 15-acre
redevelopment area that formerly hosted a shopping mall,” Nielsen said. “After
taking ownership and demolishing the shopping mall, the city is coordinating
the sale and redevelopment of Centre Square.”
In 2018, Bristol Health completed construction of a 60,000
square-foot medical complex that encompasses four acres of the site.
In Aug. 2024, Wheeler Health, the region’s leading
behavioral health provider, opened a 45,000 square foot headquarters and
treatment center.
In 2025, Carrier Construction completed construction of a
mixed-use building that includes 52 market-rate apartments and 8,000 square
feet of first floor retail space. Carrier is nearing completion of a second
mixed-use building that also will feature 52 market-rate living units and
ground level retail space.
Additionally, a 0.5-acre Centre Square site on Main Street
was recently acquired by the Carriers for the construction of roughly 30
additional apartments.
The site contains a 196-space parking garage available for
both public and private use to support development, pedestrian-friendly
streetscapes, local and CTfastrak bus stops and a future city pocket park.
“The site is just steps from City Hall, the Bristol Police
Department complex and similar government resources along with major employers
including Express Kitchens headquarters, Eagle Environmental, Highstreet
Insurance, D’Amato Construction and more,” Nielsen said.
Nielsen said proposals will be evaluated and one or more
qualified proposals will be selected. Representatives will be invited for an
interview with city officials. Should the first selection be unable to complete
an agreement for any reason, she said, the city reserves the right to pursue
other developers.
Submissions will be accepted between the hours of 8:30 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a due date of 11 a.m. on Jan. 29.
East Hartford seeks $15M state grant to spur Founders Plaza tower conversion
East Hartford is seeking a $15 million state grant to help
developers convert an obsolete 19-story office tower overlooking the
Connecticut River into apartments.
In a Dec. 4 special meeting, the Town Council approved an
application to the state’s Community Investment Fund, a program funded by state
bonding.
According to a memo from East Hartford’s Deputy Development
Director Steve Hnatuk, the money would help replace the exterior envelope of
the 270,106-square-foot tower at 111 Founders Plaza, built in 1971. Developers
plan to transform the building into about 240 apartments.
The tower is part of a 30-acre cluster of aging office properties recently acquired by a development group pursuing a large-scale redevelopment known as Port Eastside.
The development team includes several high-profile regional
players: brothers Harris and Bruce Simons of West Hartford-based Figure 8
Properties; Hartford developer Lexington Partners; investor and businessman
Alan Lazowski; Hoffman Auto Group Co-Chairman Jeffrey S. Hoffman; Manafort
Brothers Inc. President Jim Manafort; and Peter S. Roisman, head of
Houston-based multifamily investor REV.
Together, they’ve sketched out a long-term plan to remake
the aging Founders Plaza office park into a mixed-use district featuring
roughly 1,000 multifamily units — primarily apartments, with a possible small
number of condominiums — alongside about 400,000 square feet of entertainment,
restaurant and retail space.
East Hartford has already committed $6.5 million to help
demolish a 182,890-square-foot former Bank
of America office building at 99 Founders Plaza (also known as 20
Hartland St.), as well as a 126,000-square-foot parking garage attached to 111
Founders Plaza.
The town, with the authorization of the state legislature, is also negotiating a Tax Increment Financing District encompassing the development area. This would allow a portion of aPort Eastsideny new tax revenue generated by the development to be fed back into paying down construction costs.
Separately, the town — with authorization from the state
legislature — is negotiating a Tax Increment Financing District for the
redevelopment area. The structure would allow a portion of future tax revenue
generated by the project to be redirected toward covering construction costs.
“So, we’ll have demo and development happening
concurrently,” Martin said. “That development phase is so important because it
lays the groundwork for generation of new tax revenue and tees up supporting
the potential TIF district that we continue to explore.”
Port Eastside Partner Bruce Simons, in a statement released Tuesday, called the
redevelopment of the “distressed” 111 Founders Plaza tower into 240 apartments
the “cornerstone” of the broader project.
He said the undertaking is “profoundly expensive,” citing
the extensive work needed to overhaul the building’s plumbing, electrical
systems and exterior façade, as well as elevated borrowing and
construction-material costs.
“This dynamic new living community is the catalyst for revitalizing a dormant commercial district into a vibrant, mixed-use riverfront residential, business and entertainment community for East Hartford and the region, and this is the type of capital improvement that the Community Investment Fund was created to spark,” Simons said. “We thank Mayor Martin and the Town Council for recognizing these benefits and applying for the grant to help make it happen.”
Simons described the effort as “upcycling at a meaningful
scale,” giving new life to a building that might otherwise face demolition.
“Adaptive reuse is one of the smartest environmental choices
a community can make: it avoids massive demolition waste, protects the embodied
carbon already in place, and sharply reduces the footprint of development when
compared with starting from scratch,” Simons said.
The Port Eastside team acquired the tower in late summer
2024 by purchasing its delinquent mortgage and moving through an uncontested
foreclosure process.
The grant application included a supporting memo from Hartford-based Tecton Architects, which said the tower is “well-suited for
conversion.”
In a letter, Tecton President and CEO Ted Cutler said the
building’s upper floors — levels five through 19 — offer unobstructed views of
the Hartford skyline and the Connecticut River Valley.
“A significant opportunity exists for a high-quality
amenities package, including a fitness center, clubroom, game rooms, community
kitchen, and possibly a rooftop lounge – further enhancing the residential
living experience,” Cutler wrote.