EPA to resume project to bring water line from Middletown to Durham Superfund Site

Work will soon resume on the Durham Meadows Superfund project in the center of town, bringing fresh drinking water from a yet-to-be-built water tank near the Middletown line to families and businesses dealing with the effects of 30 years of contamination. The project will encompass building an 800,000-gallon water storage tank at the top of […]

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Mounds succeeds Drajewicz as Lamont’s chief of staff

One of Gov. Ned Lamont’s highest-profile recruits from the private sector, Ryan Drajewicz, is leaving the administration after 13 months as the governor’s chief of staff, a long-rumored departure resulting in a reshuffling of two other appointees, Paul Mounds and Josh Geballe. Mounds, the chief operating officer and deputy chief of staff, succeeds Drajewicz, giving […]

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Waterbury intersection to close for construction

The intersection near The Home Depot, 575 Bank St., will close at 8 a.m. Wednesday and is set to reopen March 6, the following Friday. During this time, sanitary storm drainage and water main work will be performed, mayoral adviser Judith Mancini said in a news release. The work is part of the ongoing reconstruction […]

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Southington looks to improve roads and bridges

A public hearing was held on bonding for the road repairs, during which Town Council Chair Victoria Triano said two residents spoke in favor. Later, the council voted unanimously to go ahead with it. “The roads are repaired based on their condition,” explained Triano. “We go out and check their condition and then assign them […]

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West Hartford approves $7M Corbin’s Corner facelift, Trader Joe’s expansion, new restaurant

West Hartford’s town council on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan by Florida real estate investment firm Regency Centers to upgrade the New Britain Avenue property at an estimated cost of $7 million. Regency is aiming to complete the improvements before this year’s holiday shopping season, according to economic development specialist Kristen Gorski.  According to plans, […]

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Hartford OKs land sale to developer proposing $6.7M senior-housing complex

The city council on Monday approved a resolution authorizing the sale of 126 and 130 New Park Ave., 161 Francis Ave. and 8 Francis Court to New Samaritan Corp. for $87,000. According to city records, the proposed four-story, 23,626-square-foot residential complex will feature a community kitchen, activity area and rooms for physical and occupational therapy, […]

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Wilton gets $1.4 million grant for pedestrian bridge

The town received a commitment letter for a $1,405,200 grant from the Connecticut Department of Transportation for the construction of a pedestrian bridge, according to an announcement by First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The bridge is expected to facilitate mixed-used development around the Wilton train station, to increase the value and development […]

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Old Mystic bridge closure may be permanent

The bridge was closed in 2010 after a March flood damaged the small span that connects the two towns and frequently was used by the Old Mystic Fire Department North Stonington Road station to respond to calls. A previous project to repair the bridge was stopped when the contractor doing the work discovered the damage […]

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Developer says Hartford’s DoNo project could break ground in April with more apartments

Plans for the first phase of development, estimated at $46 million, have grown by about 30 or so residential units in recent weeks, city officials say. The quasi-public Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) has pledged $12 million towards RMS’ first-phase development. “If all goes well with our approval process, I would expect that within the […]

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Naugatuck Valley leaders make case for Waterbury rail line

Regarding the Waterbury branch line, Hess told committee members that action, not another study, is what is needed now. “We don’t need a study. This has already been studied five times. The studies said we should have what we are asking for,” he testified. Local officials, state legislators and business leaders from the Naugatuck Valley […]

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Tenants sought for mixed-use development in Cheshire

The currently wooded property at the town’s north end has long been eyed as prime real estate for potential development because of its proximity to both I-691 and I-84. Over the last few years, prior plans, such as for a shopping plaza, never came to fruition. Last summer, Miller Napolitano Wolff LLC and Tri-Star Development […]

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No plans for new boat launch at Haddam state park

Boaters nurturing hopes for a second launch at Eagle Landing State Park on the banks of the Connecticut River near the East Haddam Swing Bridge may be disappointed to learn the state says it’s not happening any time soon. There’s also increasing concern among boaters who put their crafts in at Haddam Meadows, on Route […]

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With CT tolls debate on ice, fiscal issues loom large

The transportation fund currently supports roughly $800 million per year in state borrowing, which in turns leverages about $750 million in matching federal grants. But DOT officials say as aging, overcrowded highways and bridges demand more costly repairs, $1.5 billion-to-$1.6 billion won’t get the job done, and something closer to $2 billion per year will […]

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Developer eyes second project attempt on fiercely guarded Avon golf course land

Simsbury developer Anthony Giorgio, whose plans to build 95 upscale single-family homes on a portion of Blue Fox Run golf course were dashed by stiff local opposition and a zone-change denial last September, says he’s plotting a comeback. Giorgio, managing director of The Keystone Companies LLC, told HBJ he is negotiating the purchase of 52 […]

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Investing in Hartford’s aging XL Center would lift the arena’s finances, but not a cureall

Lamont unveiled a revised fiscal year 2021 budget plan that sets aside $55 million in bond funding in the current fiscal year and the next to renovate and improve the arena. Both chambers of the General Assembly and the State Bond Commission would need to approve the proposed borrowing for the venue. The proposed public […]

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Water main project to begin next week in Mystic

The Aquarion Water Company has announced its plans for a water main replacement project on Bruggeman Place that is scheduled to begin Monday and be completed by the end of April. The company said the project, which will replace 1,360 feet of water main, is part of its ongoing program to improve its distribution system, […]

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Study: Investing in Hartford’s aging XL Center would lift the arena’s finances, but not a cureall

Lamont unveiled a revised fiscal year 2021 budget plan that sets aside $55 million in bond funding in the current fiscal year and the next to renovate and improve the arena. Both chambers of the General Assembly and the State Bond Commission would need to approve the proposed borrowing for the venue. The proposed public […]

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If the state borrows to fix the highways, will there be money for school construction, new sidewalks and economic development?

With the political collapse of his plan for truck tolls, Gov. Ned Lamont is now proposing to fund transportation repairs and improvements through borrowing — raising concern that there won’t be state money for other projects. Lamont’s decision has sparked concern that highway, bridge and mass transit projects could monopolize most of the state’s long-term […]

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Legislative Leaders Move On From Tolls

House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, said if anything, the nearly year-long debate over tolls made everyone aware of the issue and the consensus that something needs to get done to improve Connecticut’s transportation system. Looney said he doesn’t place the blame on anyone for the governor’s decision to pull the plug on the debate. He […]

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Former Groton school site envisioned as 280-unit housing development

DonMar Development Corp., a North Haven-based, family-owned business, unveiled conceptual plans for the redevelopment of the site during an informational meeting attended by about 70 people Wednesday evening at the Town Hall Annex. The proposed development is designed to appeal to millennials, as well as empty nesters, DonMar Project Executive Anthony Di Gioia said in a […]

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New high school a win for students, community

The success of Norwalk, or any city or town, depends heavily on education and ensuring that students receive the resources they need to succeed and compete in an every-changing 21st century economy. Given that, there’s no better time than now to think big and embrace the construction of a state-of-the-art, new Norwalk High School. With […]

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Lamont pledges to release stalled town aid, regardless of whether tolls are approved

Lamont didn’t offer a precise date for releasing the stalled grant dollars, but said it wouldn’t take long for him and lawmakers to adopt a bill authorizing the funding, and to then have the State Bond Commission — which also must grant approval — endorse the borrowing. Lamont chairs the bond commission and his budget […]

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Gov. Ned Lamont says it’s ‘time to take a pause’ on tolls after legislators repeatedly delay vote

After pushing the issue for more than a year, Gov. Ned Lamont is pulling the plug on his latest plan for truck-only tolls after the state legislature repeatedly failed to vote on the issue. Lamont said he would instead use state borrowing to increase investment in transportation, which he noted would be paid for 100% […]

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Fairfield spends $4 million on hardening project for wastewater treatment plant

According to a press release from First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, the project will cost a total of $7.4 million but $3.33 million will be funded through a grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Developments’ (US HUD) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery. The release said the project will project the […]

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Plans to redevelop former Groton school property to be presented Wednesday

The Town’s Planning and Development Director Jon Reiner said an interview committee has recommended DonMar Development Corporation of North Haven as the “preferred developer” for the site, but the Town Council has not yet approved an agreement with the developer. “Although this plan is in the early stages, we would like to share with you our […]

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Bridgeport seeks state grant to overhaul aging Sikorsky Memorial Airport runway

The city has yet to strike a formal deal with an airline, despite negotiations last year between Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim’s administration, an unidentified carrier and the Federal Aviation Administration to launch a revived passenger service by 2021. In the meantime, however, one of Sikorsky’s two runways — 11-29 — is “at the end of […]

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Controversial solar project is back on the table

The developers who proposed a 75-acre solar project off Oil Mill Road that state officials rejected two years ago have asked the state to reconsider its decision. Originally proposed by Greenskies Clean Energy in 2018, the proposal’s application was denied by the state Siting Council after the town and Save the River-Save the Hills raised […]

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Study suggests areas for improvement for CT utilities

Last summer, PURA commenced a review of United Illuminating Co. and Eversource’s performance during an emergency, defined as 10 percent or more of a company’s customers without power for 48 hours. Additionally, the study said it would consider possible updates to the “Make Safe” protocol, which requires that utility companies commit one crew to each […]

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East Windsor casino a long way away

The lengthy legal battle delaying the East Windsor casino has caused the project to be scaled back to reflect the saturated gambling market in the region, Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council, said. “Now that we’re seeing some stabilization, we’re refining the plans slightly,” he said. Another obstacle has been a local […]

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Newington eager to get rolling on road project

The state Department of Transportation is giving Newington $2 million to fix critical issues and facilitate multimodal transportation along a 1.6-mile stretch of road, town engineer Gary Fuerstenberg told a few dozen people who attended a recent public information meeting on the Complete Streets Project. “We expect to increase the quality of life throughout the […]

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Magnet school is on schedule to open in 2022

The complete design set is now on file with the Board of Education’s facilities office, said Dietter, who chairs the building committee for the project. “We understand that we’re up to date and everything has been submitted at the appropriate timelines,” Dietter said. “We do anticipate that in June the work will be moving forward […]

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Work to begin on $46M rehab of Arrigoni Bridge

The state Department of Transportation has announced the start of construction in a $46 million rehabilitation of the Arrigoni Bridge. Construction work on the 72-year-old bridge is set to begin on or about Feb. 27. The Arrigoni Bridge, built between 1936 and 1938, was the largest and most expensive bridge in the state at the […]

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Group seeking to sell Stamford school buildings has limited authority

Elected officials have been reluctant to relinquish public property, and question the financial information provided by Director of Administration Michael Handler, who heads SAMG. Handler said a private company can build and maintain schools for 70 percent less than the city. During the board discussions of the last few months, elected officials asked about SAMG’s […]

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Lamont Defends Transportation Plan

Waterbury lawmakers, even those who support truck-only tolls, are concerned about the number of gantries in the area. But there’s not much time left to negotiate. The House and the Senate have told their members to hold Feb. 18,19, and 20 as possible days for a vote on the measure. Lamont went on to explain […]

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Stamford planning board sets $48 million capital budget

Not without warnings of financial gray clouds on the horizon, the Planning Board issued its final recommendation for a $48.2 million budget, with mold remediation and city and school infrastructure projects among the highest priorities. The budget recommendation now heads to the mayor’s office, who can increase or reduce the budget. The mayor will issue […]

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Lamont unveils New London harbor deal as quasi-public debate heats up

Lamont announced Eversource and its Denmark-based partner, Ørsted North America, will transform New London into the green energy capital of the Northeast as part of a deal unanimously ratified by the Connecticut Port Authority’s oversight board. “Economic growth has remained a top priority throughout my administration, and this agreement paves the way for a surge […]

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Bradley International Airport eyes continued growth, construction in 2020

2019 was the seventh straight year of passenger gains at Bradley, said Kevin A. Dillon, CEO of the Connecticut Airport Authority, which oversees Bradley. Bradley has taken steps toward starting construction this year on its long-awaited ground transportation center, a $210 million project. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking in July. That followed […]

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$30M redevelopment would bring apartments, upgrades to South Windsor’s Geissler’s plaza

Farmington developer Prospect Enterprises LLC acquired South Windsor’s Geissler’s plaza almost a decade ago with aspirations of recasting the property into a mixed-use development. Now, after a wave of support from residents and town officials, Prospect is eyeing a $30-million investment to expand and modernize the popular Geissler’s Supermarket and add new apartment buildings at […]

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‘This never should have happened’: Politicians, loved ones honor those killed in 2010 Middletown power plant explosion

Dylan’s father, 42-year-old Colchester resident Ronald Crabb, was among six people killed on Feb. 7, 2010, a Super Bowl Sunday, when there was a massive explosion at the River Road power plant. The blast came as “gas blows” — which force natural gas through pipelines at extreme high pressure — were used to clean pipelines […]

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Lamont proposes $45M for development authority pushed by tolls ally

Gov. Ned Lamont has proposed borrowing $45 million to launch a transit-oriented development authority that still lacks an oversight board and that he and lawmakers effectively opted not to fund eight months ago. The governor and Democratic-majority legislature created the authority last June to stimulate commercial and housing development in urban downtown areas or within […]

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Lamont proposes $55M for XL Center upgrades

The $22.3 billion budget’s capital plan earmarks $27.5 million in the current fiscal year and the next to renovate and improve the 16,000-seat arena. Both chambers of the General Assembly and the State Bond Commission would need to approve the proposed borrowing for the venue. In recent years, the quasi-public Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) […]

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Lamont to propose millions for affordable housing construction

The Democratic governor is seeking $300 million in bonding for affordable housing construction, sources said, but roughly 40 percent of that involves previously approved financing for housing that was never spent. “We are going to continue to grow and expand on that,” Lamont said Monday when asked about his plans for affordable housing funding. “Housing […]

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Developer sues Rocky Hill over ‘illegal’ $10M hotel, restaurant denial

Developer Ron Lyman, of Sam Center LLC/REL Inc., filed the lawsuit in November just weeks after the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously denied his application for a special permit and site plan approval to allow construction of a four-story, 126-room hotel and 5,660-square-foot restaurant on the east side of Silas Deane Highway adjacent to […]

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Aside From Pushing His Transportation Plan, Lamont Says He Isn’t Considering Big Changes In 2020

At an event Monday in Bridgeport, Lamont said that aside from the transportation plan that he announced last year and is still trying to pass, he has no plans to increase spending, decrease taxes, or to announce any other sweeping new policies in 2020. Lamont said there’s a very strict spending cap in place and […]

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Lamont: Focus on upgrading existing train stops, not building Bridgeport’s long-sought second station

Lamont then clarified he was referring to the downtown train station on Water Street. “Right now our plan is to look at existing stations,” he said, adding later: “I want to make sure existing stations are up to speed, state of the art.” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced $2.75 million for the design in 2014 […]

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Tabacco & Son Builders Inc. are getting a tax abatement for buying former Mastrobattisto Construction Company building

The city will be giving Tabacco & Son Builders Inc. a tax abatement for buying 126 Burlington Ave. It formerly housed the Mastrobattisto Inc. construction company. The City Council at its January meeting approved the five-year, 80% property tax abatement for Tabacco. While the city will not be getting that tax revenue, it “will benefit […]

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Spinnaker acquires Hartford’s 55 Elm, nearby parking lots for $6.8M

Spinnaker co-partner Matthew Edvardsen said his firm is now designing plans to renovate the offices formerly housing the state attorney general, comptroller and treasurer for hotel, office and retail use. It’s also looking to build a mixed-use development across the parking lots with offices, shops, restaurants and housing in a project aimed at linking downtown […]

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Connecticut joins others in blasting regional power grid operator

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is blaming New England’s regional power grid for continued high electric rates in the state, saying ISO-New England failed to follow a competitive bidding process as is required law. “Connecticut is plagued with some of the highest energy costs in the nation, and families and businesses simply cannot afford these […]

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