Christian Metzger
WALLINGFORD — O&G Industries, the largest privately held
construction firm in Connecticut, is moving into a new 9,992-square-foot office
space at 900 Northrop Road, the firm announced recently.
The office is within close proximity to I-91 North and
South. The move comes after the state awarded O&G a major contract to carry
out the reconfiguration
project of I-91,1-691-and Route 15 Interchange in Meriden.
Choyce Peterson Commercial Real Estate Specialists carried
out the lease negotiations on behalf of O&G and the Connecticut Department
of Transportation.
To better coordinate the construction efforts, the
Torrington-based firm sought out a centrally located office much closer to the
interstates where they would be housing their Heavy Highways Division staff
overseeing the project until its completion.
The office won’t be used to house any of the group’s
construction equipment and the space is set aside so that the project team
might be closer and manage the work more efficiently, officials said. Upon
moving in, multiple suites will be redesigned to accommodate the new office’s
layout requirements, as well as a potential lease extension and expansion
option, should O&G look to pursue nearby projects.
While there is no guarantee that O&G would make the
location a permanent office, according to Vice President of Choyce
Peterson Charlene O’Connell, the firm could end up staying in Wallingford
long-term as it pursues several more projects within the area.
“Securing dedicated office space for state contractors
proves mutually beneficial for both O&G and the local economy. Not only
does it provide a comfortable environment for the construction team, but it
also helps local office building owners fill vacancies," O’Connell
said.
O&G is the main contractor awarded with carrying out the
second phase of the state’s $500 million highway redevelopment project, focused
on an area which studies have found is one of the state’s most congested
roadways. One particularly notorious segment of the interchange, the
southbound, one-lane off-ramp connecting I-91 with Route 15, routinely causes
traffic to back up by as much as a mile.
The work on the second and third phases of the project are
expected to last until 2029, with work beginning early next year focusing on
restructuring the northbound and southbound interchanges between I-91 and the
other highways. New interchanges will be added between I-91 and Route 15, with
existing exit ramps widened and redeveloped to free up flow of traffic. The
work will take place along a 4.2 mile span, primarily around I-91.
O&G has worked with the state DOT on other
road-paving projects primarily along the western half of the state, with a
fleet of over 1,900 rollers, pavers, and tractors. Overall the company seemed
satisfied with the new space and moving into it in the near future.
Vice President of O&G, John Rouleau, complemented
O’Connell for securing what he felt was an ideal space for their operations.
“Once again, she worked tirelessly to negotiate favorable
lease terms on our behalf, securing office space ideally suited for our current
needs while ensuring flexibility to accommodate any future requirements. Her
efforts have provided us with a workspace solution that aligns perfectly with
our objectives.”
Amtrak Awards $1.3B Contract to Construct New Moveable Rail Bridge in Connecticut
AMTRAK
Amtrak will soon begin construction of a new, $1.3 billion
Connecticut River Bridge between the towns of Old Saybrook and Old Lyme
following the award of a design-bid-build contract to O&G/Tutor Perini, a
joint venture of two major construction firms.
The passenger rail company's agreement with the building
team comes on the heels of recent permit approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental
Protection (DEEP).
The new Connecticut River Bridge will improve reliability
and reduce delays for Amtrak's intercity services, the Connecticut Shore Line
East commuter service, and freight operators along the Northeast Corridor
(NEC), America's busiest rail corridor.
It will be primarily funded by the Infrastructure Investment
& Jobs Act (IIJA), due to a $826.64 million federal grant awarded by the
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); Amtrak and the state of Connecticut will
foot the remainder of the project's cost.
It is but one of several passenger rail improvement efforts
in the state, including the Devon Bridge and Walk Bridge replacement projects
undertaken by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT).
"Today's milestone brings us one step closer to putting
shovels in the ground and kicking off construction for this major
project," Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner noted in a June 28 news release.
He also expressed his appreciation to the Biden-Harris
Administration and the FRA for the funding necessary to advance the project
from planning to construction. Additionally, Gardner thanked Connecticut's two
Democratic U.S. senators, Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, along with Gov.
Ned Lamont (D), and CTDOT "for their continued support and
partnership."
"The Connecticut River Bridge is an essential part of
the busy Northeast Corridor rail line, but in dire need of repair,"
Blumenthal said in the news release. "I am thrilled the work to replace
this century-old bridge is moving forward — ensuring improved rail service is
on the way — and I will keep fighting for federal resources to improve
Connecticut's aging infrastructure."
In a statement from his office, Murphy added,
"Investing in the future of rail in Connecticut is a no-brainer — it makes
life easier for travelers and commuters, boosts economic growth, creates
good-paying jobs and helps fight the climate crisis. Thanks to funding from the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, this $1.3 billion investment to replace
the aging Connecticut River Bridge will keep our railways safe, cut travel
times and improve Amtrak's rail service for Connecticut riders."
The current 1,500-ft.-long Connecticut River Bridge opened
in 1907 and is one of several moveable rail spans along the NEC.
Today, it serves more than 50 daily Amtrak Northeast
Regional and Acela trains, the CTrail Shore Line East service, and various
freight trains. However, the unreliability of the aging bridge, due to its
failure to open and close consistently, results in cascading delays to rail and
maritime traffic.
New Moveable Bridge Will Help to Modernize NEC
The O&G/Tutor Perini joint venture will work with Amtrak
at the Connecticut River site to construct a new two-track, moveable bridge to
replace the existing dual-track structure between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme,
located about midway between New York City and Providence, R.I.
The proposed moveable bridge will be located immediately
south of the old span, and feature modern tracks, signals, catenary, power,
communication and other supporting rail infrastructure.
It also is designed to safely support trains moving at a
maximum operating speed of 70 mph, a 55 percent increase from today's maximum
speed of 45 mph.
Maritime navigation and safety in the river also will
improve due to additional vertical clearance compared with the existing bridge.
The new bridge design is 100 percent complete, according to
Amtrak, and construction is set to begin late this summer or early fall.
The rail service previously awarded a construction
management contract to AECOM, which will assist the rail company with
management of the construction joint venture, document control, schedule and
budget oversight, and community outreach support.
The NEC rail bridge project in Connecticut is key to
Amtrak's vision of a new era of passenger rail, which includes investments into
modern trains, stations, tunnels, bridges and other critical infrastructure
upgrades to enhance the customer experience, improve safety and reliability,
and expand capacity to serve more future customers.
"The new Connecticut River Bridge will serve the entire
Northeast Corridor. It will help realize Gov. Ned Lamont's goal of improved
rail connectivity north to Boston and south to Washington, D.C.,"
explained CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto.
"The new structure, built by Connecticut's building
trades, will improve safety, reliability and increase operating speeds along
the line," he added. "CTDOT is grateful for the continued support of
the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration,
the advocacy of our congressional delegation, and collaboration of our partners
at Amtrak."
Naugatuck River Greenway Trail to expand with $5.7M federal grant: 'Transformative project'
Funding to continue the Naugatuck
River Greenway Trail into more towns in Litchfield County was
announced last week by U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5.
The $5.725 million grant, from the Rebuilding American
Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity fund, was awarded to
the Central Naugatuck Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization for
planning and designing a segment of the Naugatuck River trail, according
to a statement.
In 2017, Torrington's
portion of the trail began from Franklin Street to Bogue Road,
following the Naugatuck River past the Sullivan Senior Center. Since then, the
city has used grants to continue the walking trail, while making street and
sidewalk improvements. Those projects connected to the trail
were completed in 2022.
The non-motorized, multi-use trail being developed will
follow the river for 44 miles through parts of the Fifth District, including
Litchfield, Harwinton, Thomaston, Watertown, and Waterbury, according to
Hayes.
The $5,725,699 grant, Hayes said, is more than the $5.1
million in funds she, along with U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and U.S. Sens.
Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, requested from the U.S. Department of
Transportation earlier this year.
“I am delighted to announce over $5.7 million in federal
funding to expand the Naugatuck River Greenway Trail, a project that I have
long supported,” said Hayes. “This funding is an example of our local, state,
and federal officials coming together to strengthen the economic and
environmental future of the region.”
The grant funding will be used to complete final design,
environmental review, and preparation of construction documentation of a
roughly 6-mile section between the northern point of downtown Thomaston to the
southerly point of downtown Naugatuck, connecting through downtown Waterbury
and Watertown.
“The NRG Trail is a transformative project that will enhance
our region's connectivity, promote sustainable transportation, and provide
residents with greater access to recreational opportunities. This funding not
only acknowledges the importance of our vision for a more integrated and
resilient community but also empowers us to take substantial strides towards
realizing it,” said Rick Dunne, Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
executive director.
The Torrington
Trails Network in Torrington and the Sue
Grossman Still River Greenway in Winsted, which attract walkers,
runners and cyclists, are an example of the continuing efforts to expand
fitness and outdoor recreation activities in Litchfield County. The Torrington
Trails network recently received funding to add to its trail network on Red
Mountain Road and Norfolk Road.
Winsted is working on obtaining easements on Winsted Road,
to continue the Grossman greenway from Winsted Road to recreation areas on
Rowley Street.
The Naugatuck River Greenway Trail will eventually link
Torrington to Derby, and was estimated to prompt more than $85 million in
consumer spending annually and create 2,800 jobs in New Haven
and Litchfield counties, according
to a study from the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, the
University of Connecticut and the Naugatuck River Greenway Steering Committee,
according to the council website.
Data centers could transform local CT communities, but some officials are hesitant
Efforts to improve Connecticut's position as a potential
host for data centers appear to be stuck in neutral at the moment, despite an
increased focus on artificial intelligence and how the two are intertwined.
Depending upon the information source, Connecticut currently
has between 16 and 19 data centers. In order to boost data center activity
in the state, Connecticut officials enacted
a law in 2021 to provide incentives for the developers of the facilities.
But to date, only one company - Cigna - has taken advantage
of the incentives, according to Jim Watson, a spokesman for the Department of
Economic and Community Development.
The incentive agreements are for either 20- or 30-year
terms, depending on size and location of the data center. The incentives
include sales and use tax exemptions for goods and services purchased by the
data center, property tax exemptions and exemption from any future financial
transactions taxes. To qualify for the 20-year term of incentives, data
centers must make a qualified investment in the site of $50 million if the site
is in an opportunity zone or $200 million if it is not. For a 30-year term, the
investment must be $200 million in an opportunity zone and $400 million
elsewhere.
Fred Carstensen, who is a professor at the University of
Connecticut School of Business and the director of the state Center for
Economic Analysis, is troubled by the lack of emphasis state officials have on
data centers.
"We don't have a cohesive strategy for this (data
centers)," Carstensen said. "Connecticut was the most important
state in the industrial revolution. But we've lost our mojo."
A good start at fixing that problem, he said, could start
with strong state support for a 1.2 million square foot data center that is
being proposed adjacent to the Millstone nuclear power plant in Waterford.
The developer of the data center project, New England Edge, and Millstone owner
Dominion Energy have signed a host fee agreement with the town, promising to
pay a fee of $231 million over 30 years in lieu of property taxes.
But since the host agreement was signed in March 2023, the
progression toward making the data center a reality has slowed. The data center
developer has not yet to submitted plans for the facility to Waterford
officials for review, according to Jonathan Mullen, the town's planning
director.
The company also needs approval from the Connecticut Siting
Council. The Siting Council decided earlier this year that it was premature to
issue a ruling decline to issue a ruling on any potential effects of the
project on the environment and the provision of "adequate and reliable
public utility services" from the power plant.
Once completed, the data center would create 200 permanent
technology jobs, New England Edge officials have testified to lawmaker.
Carstensen said the New England Edge data center is
something "the governor ought to be pushing very hard for."
In addition to the permanent technology jobs the data center
would create, he said another benefit is the consistent revenue stream
that a power supply deal with New England Edge would given Millstone and
Dominion. That's important because the continued operation of the nuclear plant
is considered a critical element of the state's goals to reduce carbon
emissions.
Carstensen said officials in Massachusetts have taken a much
more aggressive approach toward data centers, Massachusetts Gov. Kerry Healey
put $100 million in a fund to create an AI hub in that state, he said.
But Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced in late May
that the
state was committing $100 million over the next five years with the
goal of matching private dollars to build out the state's tech sector with
project funding.
State Sen. Norman Needleman, D-Essex, co-chairman of the
Energy and Technology Committee, is among those state officials who are
concerned about the impact that a power-intensive data center located adjacent
to Millstone would have on Connecticut's energy security.
At one point during the legislative session held earlier
this year, legislative committees were considering a bill that would have
authorized a study on the impact that the New England Edge data center and any
others that might follow would have on the region's electric grid, Needleman
said. But the legislation authorizing the study failed to advance to a vote by
the full General Assembly, he said.
Needleman said he is cognizant of the impact the
Waterford data center project could have on Connecticut's economy.
"I'm all for the economic benefits, but not at the
expense of the (electric) grid," he said. "We certainly don't want to
lose (electric generating) capacity at Millstone."
To date, the operator of the regional electric grid, ISO-New
England, has not taken a position on New England Edge's plans in Connecticut.
"The developer has not put forward a formal proposal to
the ISO, and as such no project study has been initiated," said Mary Cate
Colapietro, a spokeswoman for the grid operator. " If and when the
developer submits a formal proposal, the ISO would then conduct a study of the
project. The exact nature of that study would depend on a variety of items that
are unclear at this time, including exactly how the project could connect to
the grid, the demand flexibility, and whether additional generation and/or storage
would be part of the project."
Daniel O'Keefe, commissioner of the Department of
Economic and Community Development, told lawmakers during a legislative hearing
in March that the time to act is now because "it is in the states and
communities where these data centers are ultimately built that the greatest
economic benefits will accrue."
"We need that to happen here, in Connecticut and
there is a limited window of opportunity in which to act," O'Keefe told
lawmakers.
Connecticut is not the only place where technology companies
are looking to locate data centers near nuclear plants.
Amazon Web Services announced plans in March for a
$650 million data center campus next to the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station,
a nuclear power plant located in central Pennsylvania.
"DECD recommends that instead of studying the impact of
data centers on the grid, the state instead study ways to support data centers
on our grid to leverage the greatest economic benefit they enable,"
O'Keefe said. State-of-the art computing power is especially critical to the
financial service sector, which is one of Connecticut main engines for economic
growth, he said.
The amount of data center capacity that is under
construction in primary markets around the country so far this year has
increased by 46 percent over the first half of 2023, according to a
report recently released by Trepp, a New York City-based data and analysis
firm. But demand remains greater than supply, according to Trepp officials,
with lessees of data centers now often pre-leasing space 18 to 36 months in
advance, an increase over the previous norm of 6 to 12 months.
Despite the increase in data center construction, vacancy
rates have fallen to record lows in some major markets.
While new data activity is becoming quite brisk, a
project to create a data center at a former Stanley Works factory in New
Britain that broke ground in July 2018 is still nowhere near
completion, according to city officials.
"Connecticut's competitive advantage is our highly
skilled workforce, working on the forefront of research and development and
technological innovation," O'Keefe said. "We can not afford to have
them built first elsewhere, as these new computing technologies are
important for our economic future."
Hamden's High Meadows site plans show more than 200 apartments and 64 condos
Austin Mirmina
HAMDEN — Plans for the 50-acre High
Meadows property on Hartford Turnpike have finally begun to take
shape after years
of debate over the future use of the long-vacant site.
Dakota Partners, Inc., Massachusetts-based developer,
proposed to build 202 apartments, some of them affordable, and 68 condominiums
while keeping about 22 acres of the property as open space.
Owned by the state, High Meadows once was home to a boys’
residential treatment center, which closed
in 2009.
The state offered to sell
the property to Hamden for $1.3 million. Instead of buying
it, the town issued a request for proposals that carried an asking price of
$1.5 million for the property, allowing Hamden to profit $200,000 from the
sale.
Officials said an advisory committee received applications
from three developers and ultimately chose Dakota, whose proposal prioritized
the preservation of open space – something residents
had called for during community discussions.
Dakota's proposed development would include four apartment
buildings with a total of 161 market-rate rental units and 41 rental units that
are affordable for people earning between 60 percent and 89 percent of the Area
Median Income. Of the 202 apartments, 31 would be studios with six affordable;
93 would be one-bedroom with 20 affordable; 69 would be two-bedroom with 13
affordable; and seven would be three-bedroom with two affordable, plans show.
For fiscal year 2023, Hamden's AMI was $111,900, according
to the Department of Housing & Urban Development's income
limit database.
The developer's plans, which still need to be approved
by the Hamden Legislative Council and Planning and Zoning Commission, also
call for 34 duplexes that would yield 68 for-sale condo units.
The complex would feature "significant common
greenspace" with walking trails, as well as a swimming pool, fitness
center, community room, pickle ball courts, a playground, fire pits and grills,
the proposal states. Some of those amenities would be offered inside a new
clubhouse included in the plans.
Some of the land that Dakota has pledged to preserve as open
space could be transferred to the Hamden Land Conversation Trust, officials
said.
The project would be built in three phases, the proposal
states. Phase one, which includes the construction of the four apartment
buildings, would cost about $67.7 million. The condos would be built in phases
two and three, but Dakota did not say how much those efforts would cost.
Construction is expected to start in August 2025, according
to a schedule posted
on the Hamden Economic and Neighborhood Development's website.
The redevelopment, Dakota said, would complement the
existing neighborhood while also building on the "growing need to create
housing opportunities for all residents." The 41 affordable units likely
would bring Hamden's affordable
housing stock right around the state's goal of 10 percent for
municipalities.
The housing complex, if approved, would generate
"substantial" tax revenue for the town, boosting its grand list and
revitalizing a parcel that has sat mostly vacant for 15 years, said Erik
Johnson, Hamden's economic development director.
While some residents have expressed support for the project,
others have raised concerns over the number of units being built and the
effects the high density will have on traffic conditions on Hartford Turnpike,
Johnson said. Dakota was not required to submit traffic studies as part of its
pitch to the advisory committee.
Some residents also have questioned whether the community
will negatively affect town services or increase educational costs, according
to Johnson.
Dakota has more than 1,400 completed units and a few
thousand more in development or pre-development.
The company, based in Waltham, Mass., has spearheaded
several development
projects in Connecticut, including the historic
Judd and Root Building in Hartford; Columbus
Commons in downtown New Britain, home to 80 one- and two-bedroom
apartments; Cedar Pointe, a $29.4 million apartment complex in
Newington; and New
Milford's Barton Commons, an apartment complex with affordable units.
This story has been updated to reflect the breakdown of
units for the market-rate and affordable apartments.
How CT plans to memorialize a historic Farmington River dam after demolishing it
AVON — In preparation for the potential
removal of the Collins Company Lower Dam on the Farmington River,
finding a way to preserve the dam's rich history is at the forefront of the
state's efforts.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is working on a plan to demolish the now-obsolete dam and open up the river for fish passage. But project officials must contend with the historical aspects and impacts of any potential removal, which they discussed at a public information meeting in Avon on July 2.Top of Form
In the 1900s, the dam provided waterpower for the Collins
Company, a world-renowned axe factory. But after the manufacturing company
shuttered in the 1960s, ownership of both the upper and lower dams was donated
to the state, and the lower dam has remained unused since.
Despite its languishing state, the State Historic
Preservation Office has determined that the entire dam complex, including the
gatehouse, raceway, and powerhouse, is eligible for listing in the National
Register of Historic Places. And for the dam removal project, which has
construction costs estimated at $5 million, DEEP has to comply with state
regulations and go through the federal regulatory process just as any other
entity would, said Ramona Goode, the project manager and state dams sanitary
engineer for DEEP Water Planning and Management Division, at the meeting
Tuesday.
Because of that, dam removal efforts must operate under the
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which is essentially a federal
process for preservation, said Matthew Spigelman, archaeologist and project
manager from ACME Heritage Consultants LLC, at the meeting.
"It's part of the mid-century questioning of, what
should we save, and how should we remember and study what we can't save?"
he said.
Both DEEP and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Administration, which is funding the project and serving as the lead federal
agency for it, have been consulting with the state's preservation office for
the last few years to ensure the proposed dam removal is in line with the
National Historic Preservation Act.
And at the recent public meeting, state officials and
consultants working on the project said they have begun to come up with
potential ways to mitigate any adverse historical impacts of removal and
memorialize the dam so the project can move forward in the federal regulatory
process.
The first step in developing mitigation, Spigelman said,
consisted of brainstorming methods of counteracting the negative effect itself
of removing the dam and potentially losing a piece of history. Project
officials presented at the meeting possible options for this, referencing
strategies that have been used successfully at other dam removals and
projects of similar magnitude.
One of the possible mitigation actions would mean installing
interpretive signage on the west bank of the Farmington River, providing
historical background on the Collins Manufacturing Company and the role
that the Lower Dam played in the industrial history and landscape of the
region.
"Interpretive signage allows for really telling a
bigger story," Spigelman said, "it's a way to preserve and present in
a public setting, the larger context of the dam itself and then the records of
the dam."
Another method would be to salvage and preserve mechanical
components, which would mean taking a physical piece of the industrial
heritage, such as a water wheel or gate mechanism, and showcase it with
interpretive panels or in a local institution, Spigelman said.
There's also the possibility for documenting the Collins
Company Lower Dam complex to the standards of the Historic American
Engineering Record through large-format photography, a historic narrative, and
measured drawings, said Bruce Harvey, historian and photographer with Harvey
Research and Consulting.
"These memories are embedded in landscapes. They're
embedded in buildings," he said. And when those go away, its essential to
find other ways to retain those memories, which is the exact function of the
HAER and its associated components of the Historic American Building Survey and
Historic American Landscape Survey, serving as a massive collection of
documentation, Harvey said.
This would work to preserve the dam's history in
an archivally stable format, and would be curated and publicly accessible
in the Library of Congress.
"It helps to create this source for a public
memory," Harvey said.
These methods are among the possibilities for what the dam's
historical preservation could look like in the future, and further consultation
and public input is still underway, project officials said.
Ultimately, NOAA would enter into a memorandum of agreement
with the State Historic Preservation Office and Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation to resolve the adverse effects of the proposed dam removal, and
eventually implement them.
Goode had previously said that the goal was for construction
to start within this year, but that is all dependent on how long the permitting
and regulatory process takes, which is hard to say.