Bridgeport soccer stadium plan faces major cleanup challenges, study says
BRIDGEPORT — One day, the 18 acres along Kossuth Street in
the lower East Side could be the site of a
minor league soccer stadium, a hotel and over 1,000 housing units.
But first, developer Andre Swanston and his Connecticut
Sports Group, per state environmental regulations, need
to exorcise, or at least safely contain, the ghosts of Bridgeport's industrial
past — ground contamination left behind by manufacturers and other
operations that, beginning in the 1880s, at one time or another occupied that
same land.
A just-released environmental site assessment lists those
prior users as: An iron works, coal yards, the American Graphophone
Co., Frisbie Pie Co., textile and corset manufacturers, a business
involving marine engine work, Bridgeport Paper Box Co., a typography and
printing operation, trucking businesses, a maker of gauges and valves, a dump,
and, most
recently, a greyhound racing track and betting facility.
Plus, there is the "urban fill-material" composed
of "varying amounts of asphalt, brick and coal/coal ash" buried on
the property.
Those details and far more are outlined in the 6,711-page
environmental analysis, prepared by Shelton-based engineers Tighe &
Bond. Commissioned
by the area's Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG), a
regional planning organization, the massive document lays out what Connecticut
Sports Group must to do to clean up and/or contain pollutants.
The recommendations are not unusual for such contaminated
locations, commonly known as brownfields, and include "limited""
excavation of "hot spots" of pollution for off-site disposal and
"capping" the remaining soil "beneath proposed buildings and
structures, asphalt-pavement, clean fill material of sufficient thickness,
and/or brightly colored demarcation barriers/liners."
But such clean-ups can prove complicated, as the developers
of Steelpointe, a short distance from the proposed stadium site, learned
when they had to similarly address industrial pollutants before
breaking ground on an apartment complex there. Currently under
construction, that
harbor-front housing project was delayed by the remediation.
MetroCOG referred questions about the results of Tighe &
Bond's report to Connecticut Sports Group. In a statement for this article, the
latter organization did not respond to specific inquiries about the impact on
its project timeline and budget, saying only, "The latest environmental
assessment ... validates the significant amount of infrastructure work required
to develop the stadium and residential aspects of the project."
It goes on to reconfirm
a previous announcement that its minor league team, Connecticut United, will
instead "start playing in 2026 in a temporary location that we
will announce this fall."
Swanston already has some state financial help for site
preparation. Last year, a total of $16 million was awarded for the ground
remediation effort, with state officials emphasizing that even if the soccer
stadium does not move forward, the money will be well-spent readying the prime
acreage for another future redevelopment.
Whether Swanston and Connecticut Sports Group receive any of
their additionally requested subsidies remains a key question.
He
first went public with his plans in late 2023 and unveiled Connecticut
United in January 2024 with an ambitious goal of having the stadium
built for 2025's soccer season. And while Swanston has boasted that the
majority of his $1.1 billion redevelopment vision will be privately financed,
his and his allies' efforts to secure around $127 million from the state have
so far proven unsuccessful, with
Gov. Ned Lamont in June calling it "a pretty big ask."
In response, Swanston and other proponents have
attempted to place the emphasis not on the stadium but
on the project's housing component at a time when Connecticut needs
more of it.
During the legislative session, which concluded in early
June, Bridgeport's representatives to the Connecticut General Assembly in
Hartford accomplished two things to further the stadium's chances. They got
language passed that would allow Bridgeport to use incremental
tax financing to help pay for up to $190 million of the sports venue
and infrastructure construction. A portion of any new real estate taxes
generated by the project would pay off the debt rather than going directly into
Bridgeport's municipal coffers.
Secondly, the legislature called on the state departments of
Economic and Community Development and Revenue Services to conduct
an economic assessment of the impact of the proposed stadium by Oct. 1. The
belief was that the anticipated positive results of that review could then help
better make the case for the $127 million in state aid.
However, with a month and a half left before the deadline,
the state economic department said last week that it had not begun that study
and offered no additional comment.
In response, state Rep. Christopher Rosario, D-Bridgeport,
said, "I would assume they would start it soon," and planned to touch
base with the agency. He acknowledged there was no funding attached to the
assessment request.
Connecticut Sports Group, in its statement for this article,
alluded to the pending assessment and did not respond to the revelation the
work had yet to begin.
"We look forward to the state completing its review of
the economic impact and revenue generation so we can commence with the next
stage of this project," the organization said.
Norwalk to install 3 traffic circles, a $9 million investment, 'to improve safety'
NORWALK — The city plans to invest $9 million to
create three
traffic circles with the goal of improving traffic safety and flow,
according to Norwalk traffic
officials.
The first traffic circle, also called a roundabout or a
rotary, will be built at the intersection of South Main Street, Wilson
Avenue, Meadow Street and Meadow Street Extension, said Benjamin Yeung, a
senior traffic engineer with the city of Norwalk.
“Of the three roundabouts currently under design, this
is our first priority because it is immediately adjacent to the new South
Norwalk Elementary School,” he said.
The city is also building a roundabout at the intersection
of Richards
Avenue and West Cedar Street, and another at Gregory Boulevard and
Fifth Street.
Jim
Travers, director of transportation, parking and mobility in Norwalk, said
the city’s traffic department is constantly looking at ways to make
improvements.
“Roundabouts are proven to improve safety and improve
traffic and improve flow but simultaneously, also help us maintain or reduce
speed through intersections," Travers said.
They "allow you better mobility for all modes of
traffic. You go through a roundabout intersection at slower speeds, you avoid
the worst accidents,” he said.
When describing the roundabout at South Main
Street, Yeung said the city is “very
excited for the new school” that will welcome students later this
month. Officials want to make it safer and more convenient for students —
“whether that’s by foot or in vehicle,” he said.
The new roundabout will provide an opportunity for “a more
aesthetically pleasing gateway” to the South Norwalk neighborhood,”
he said, especially for those coming from the south on Wilson
Avenue, and “truly tie this area and the school into the fabric of the
neighborhood.”
The city secured $2.5 million to build the South Main Street
roundabout from a community investment fund grant, administered by the state
Department of Economic and Community Development, with assistance from state
Sen. Bob
Duff, Yeung said.
Additional funds will include city capital dollars the city
would put in for the construction of the new school, Yeung said.
The Richards Avenue roundabout will be created
simultaneously with the roundabout near the new school — both will be built
next summer, Travers said.
At Richards Avenue and West Cedar Street, there’s an aging
traffic signal, Travers said.
“Those traffic signals can cost anywhere from $250,000 to
$400,000 to construct. They also require ongoing maintenance, where roundabouts
don’t.” he said.
Pedestrians also get frustrated when they come to a traffic
signal in off hours, Travers said.
“They are hitting a red light and they’re not seeing any
opposing traffic, but they still have to wait for their turn for green. In a
roundabout, you just get to continue to move and you get to your destination,”
he said.
Roundabouts become much more “holistic,” as part of overall
improvements to the neighborhood then traffic signals, he said.
The city hopes to create more roundabouts, which cost about
$3 million each to construct, Travers said.
“The $3 million includes the construction of new sidewalks
that support those areas, the construction of rapid, rectangular flashing
beacons that support your pedestrian movement … the green space component — the
plants and materials that are there,” Travers said.
East Hampton Kills Sewer Expansion Project After Homeowner Opposition
Francisco Uranga
EAST HAMPTON — After a dozen homeowners spoke out against a
proposed sewer extension over cost concerns, the Town Council decided not to
move forward with the project on Tuesday.
The council voted unanimously to notify the Water and
Pollution Control Authority it was not in favor of the project.
Town public utilities administrator Anthony DeSimone
clarified to CT Examiner on Thursday that the council’s decision meant they
would not approve bonding for the project. Although sewer construction falls
under the WPCA, the town would need to issue bonds to finance it.
“The sewer expansion project is completely dead,” DeSimone
said.
Sewer construction costs have become a contentious issue in
various towns in Connecticut. Old Lyme is undergoing a similar debate, with
residents opposing
the project and aggravated by inflation in recent years.
According to DeSimone, the East Hampton sewer extension was
triggered by an affordable housing project that planned to build 198 units at
30 Long Crossing Road. Developer William Wayne Rand, under the name Belltown
30 LLC, requested sewer service in September 2024 and the WPCA
confirmed sufficient capacity.
Rand, the biggest developer in town, planned to pay for its
sewers. But the WPCA staff proposed an alternative to extend the sewers to a
larger area which included nine streets that were also scheduled for paving.
Building sewers at the same time as paving would result in cost savings.
Last June, DeSimone presented a memorandum at
a Town Council meeting recommending that the town pay for the work and then
charge the homeowners for the cost.
DeSimone presented updated estimates
on Wednesday at a WPCA meeting scheduled before the Town Council voted
against the project. He shared an estimated cost of about $15.2 million to be
distributed across 411 equivalent dwelling units, or EDUs. Under the chosen
method, one EDU was equivalent to a single-family home, while multifamily homes
were two EDUs. The estimated cost was around $40,000 per EDU, or $170 per
month, including interest.
“Those numbers are fluid,” DeSimone said in June. “Until we
bid on it and get it in, we don’t know what these actual costs are per house.”
The proposed extension would have affected an area that was
excluded when the sewer system was built in the town in the 1980s, with federal
and state grants covering 90% of the cost. The original construction left a
12-inch sewer stub for future expansion.
The expansion would have provided sewer service to Abbey
Road, Alden’s Crossing, Childs Road, Clark Hill, Cone Road, Long Crossing Road,
North Cone Road, Tiffany Court and Serafin Terrace. That would have affected a
total of 203 properties, including one where affordable housing would be
developed.
Rand’s plan would have represented 199 EDUs, counting a
clubhouse — almost half the total.
DeSimone pointed out that, according to WPCA, the area has
soil that is not ideal for septic systems because there is a lot of groundwater
and rock, and that some of the aging septic systems installed are environmental
hazards. In the June memo, he estimated that the project would add 10% more
users to the network and generate approximately $190,000 in additional annual
revenue for the WPCA.
Costly and unnecessary
At this week’s meeting, residents repeated a similar message
— the project was too costly and unnecessary.
Amy Stino said she paid $14,750 three summers ago to install
a new septic tank.
”I could have three septic systems for that cost,” Steino
said. “And my septic is said to last at least 50 years.”
Timothy Johnson said he spent $22,000 in 2022 on a new
septic system as well.
Stephen Jones called for more transparency about the reasons
behind the project and mentioned Old Lyme, which is now debating a sewer
project and all the associated costs, including connection and operating fees.
“What is the real reason for this massive assessment? Is
this solely about the WPCA needing to expand its revenue? Are we being forced
to subsidize? Is this actually about environmental needs?” Jones asked. “Is
this about serving outside interests to allow for the expansion of a
development that requires sewers?”
It was expected that the WPCA would waive the connection
fees for the sewer expansion, according to DeSimone.
Lindsey Gionfriddo said she was “absolutely appalled” by the
proposal.
“It’s about burden. You’re asking retirees on fixed incomes,
young families barely making ends meet, and people like me already recovering
from major unexpected expenses to take on debt that could sink them,”
Gionfriddo said. “If this council allows this to go forward, it will be a
betrayal of the people you represent. You should be ashamed to even consider
putting this on our backs.“
Town Council Chair Dean Markham, a Democrat, responded to
the criticism during the public comment section.
“This council is not insensitive to the concerns of our
citizens regarding the sewer project,” Markham said. “And there’s going to be a
long way to go before this is enacted.”
When the matter was discussed, council members quickly
agreed to reject it.
“I could never support that in any way, shape or form,”
Republican council member Ted Heinz said.
“It’s too high from the standpoint of a reasonable person,”
Democratic council member Jack Solomon added.
Rand’s affordable housing project, however, is still on
track, DeSimone told CT Examiner. If it’s built, the houses abutting the pipe
could connect to the sewer. It would be optional, unlike in the town project,
where all homeowners would have paid even if they did not connect.
DeSimone clarified that septic systems would no longer be
allowed in the Rand sewer area. Once a septic system fails, it cannot be
replaced and homeowners must connect to sewer service.
The cost of connecting to the Rand sewer pipes was estimated
at $12,000, payable to the developer, plus a $7,000 connection fee to the WPCA.
The cost would be lower than in the failed town project, DeSimone said, because
it required installing a shorter stretch of sewers.
Developer to donate 20 acres to East Hartford ahead of 150-unit housing project
A planned 150-unit apartment development along the
Connecticut River will come with a boost to the town’s parkland.
The Simon Konover Co., a West Hartford-based developer,
intends to donate to East Hartford about 19.7 acres of its 35.3-acre property
at 341 East River Drive, before starting construction on an apartment complex
next to Great River Park.
The Town Council is scheduled to review the donation at its
Aug. 19 meeting.
Konover acquired the site more than 40 years ago with plans to build an office
building that never materialized. The company is now moving forward with a
residential project that will market proximity to the park and riverfront
trails as key amenities.
The donation is part of a plan to subdivide the property,
which is structured as a condominium. Under the proposal, 6.9 acres — currently
occupied by a middle school — would be deeded to the Capital Region Education
Council (CREC); 10 acres retained for the apartment development; and the
remainder transferred to the town.
Newton C. Brainard, Konover’s vice president, said the
donation more than satisfies town subdivision regulations requiring creation of
open space.
“We are giving significantly more than is required because
they are the logical owner and it will augment the Riverfront Recapture space,”
Brainard said. The land to be donated includes 12.1 acres of wetlands and
borders the existing park.
According to East Hartford Economic Development Director
Eileen Buckheit, Riverfront Recapture plans to rebuild the Great River Park
trail, with new spurs connecting to the proposed apartments.
In terms of the apartment project, Konover aims to complete
local land-use reviews before October and begin a roughly 18-month construction
by year’s end.