Mixed-use development proposed for Five Corners in Groton City

A developer is proposing a mixed-use building for the city’s Five Corners area, within walking distance of Electric Boat, in a move the developer’s representatives say will help the city achieve its goal of creating a “sense of place” for the area. During a city Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing on Tuesday evening, representatives […]

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Fairfield opposes Aquarion project designed to improve drought conditions in southwest CT

The project is part of Aquarion’s long range plan to meet water needs in southwestern Fairfield County. If approved, it would divert up to 14.2 million gallons a day from the Greater Bridgeport System, which includes the Mill River watershed to the Southwest Regional Pipeline to serve Greenwich, New Canaan, Stamford and Darien. Aquarion spokesman […]

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There’s a new plan for realigning Hartford’s highways. Is the third time the charm?

The placement of the highways has been criticized almost since they were built. In the past decade, two strategies emerged to remediate the damage. One, developed by state transportation officials, proposed taking I-84 through the North Meadows and over a new bridge. The other, put forward by U.S. Rep. John Larson, would put both highways […]

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South Windsor voters reject proposed sports complex and relocation of town hall at referendum

The spending proposals were among five ballot questions with a total price tag of about $19 million. Voters approved road reconstruction and roofing projects for several public buildings and renovation and expansion of the women’s locker room at police headquarters, according to unofficial results. The proposed athletics complex, across Nevers Road from South Windsor High […]

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First phase of Avon Village Center, town’s biggest development in 25 years, likely to be completed this year

Avon’s tax base grew by more than 1% last year, and town officials are looking for the Avon Village Center mixed-use project along Route 44 to fuel further growth in the years ahead The Avon Village Center’s first phase alone has propelled it to become one of the town’s biggest taxpayers in the course of […]

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Plainfield ready to build on Amazon momentum

The project, which cleared the Planning and Zoning Commission earlier this month, is expected to bring in a fresh workforce, both for the project’s construction and operational phases, along with dozens of new families who will live and shop in town, First Selectman Kevin Cunningham said. Planning and Zoning Supervisor Mary Anne Chinatti said developers […]

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Torrington riverfront project gets final OK

The City Council on Monday gave final approval to the construction of a 60-unit apartment complex along the Naugatuck River that city leaders believe will “change the landscape of Torrington.” The two 5-1 votes by the council authorizes Mayor Elinor C. Carbone to sign a 95-year lease with developer Pennrose, which seeks to construct a […]

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Bristol will sponsor a building trades apprenticeship program

The city will sponsor a building trades apprenticeship program next year as part of the planned renovation of City Hall. Building Pathways is an apprenticeship training program “which takes people who are typically underrepresented in the building trades and exposes them to various aspects,” said Katherine Mamed, executive director of the United Labor Agency, of […]

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Now it’s Biden’s turn to schedule ‘Infrastructure Week’

The great difficulty of infrastructure projects isn’t just getting the politics right. It’s that the technical design details matter enormously, and tradeoffs are difficult to avoid. Highways pose fewer technical challenges of network design, and the U.S. is consequently better at building them. But America has been building highways for a long time, which means […]

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Massive Mystic project flouts sensible development

Mystic River Bluffs, as the mega project is called, is the offering of Long Island developer Jeff Respler, whose website has featured mostly modular housing. Planners today recognize that a community benefits far more by bringing mixed-use development into already developed areas in downtown settings than by sprawling out into undeveloped areas. However, the Respler […]

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CT Supreme Court rules New Haven has to give ex-official her job back. Will she take it?

The state Supreme Court is the latest to weigh in, upholding Nichole Jefferson’s Board of Mediation and Arbitration award that reinstates her as chief executive at the Commission on Equal Opportunities, with back wages and benefits from August 2017. But where the case might go from here remains a question as the city seeks a […]

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‘Quality of life will be impacted’: Tweed New Haven Airport master plan update in officials’ and residents’ bullseye

Giacomini and other area residents and officials offered opinions during a presentation on the soon-to-be final version of the airport’s 20-year master plan update — with proposals to move the airport’s main entrance and terminal to the East Haven side and extend the main runway from 5,600 feet to 6,635 feet. The master plan is […]

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USA Hauling plans $30M state-of-the-art recycling facility in Berlin

Enfield-based USA Hauling and Recycling plans to invest $30 million to build what it says will be one of the largest and most technologically advanced recycling facilities in New England. The company announced that its Murphy Road Recycling subsidiary has partnered with Norwalk-based Van Dyk Recycling Solutions, the largest equipment supplier materials for recovery facilities […]

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Subcommittee will review resolution to see who has final authority on school construction project spending

Discussions on whether the city’s School Building Committee should have the final authority on school construction project spending will continue through a subcommittee. The Common Council approved Wednesday to refer the item to the Consolidated Subcommittee for further review on the resolution’s language and make potential amendments. The SBC is a non-paid 7-member organization appointed […]

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Excavation details approved for two Torrington companies

The Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved the application for a joint stone excavation plan following a hearing that included criticism from the previous quarry owner, Holly Blinkoff. The ultimate plan is to merge the two properties over the next two to five years with a single owner, according to comments by Ken […]

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Upgrades improve Waterbury train station; among key city projects

The newly redesigned parking lot at the Waterbury Train Station, which opened last spring, is one of many upgrades to the Meadow Street area during 2020. The project involved reconfiguring and repaving the parking lot, installing new drainage and lighting, and adding landscaping. A bus pick-up and drop-off zone and passenger waiting shelter were built. […]

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Lamont’s budget would borrow nearly $220 million — to pay off borrowing

During Lamont’s first full fiscal year in office, 2019-20, the state used $125.7 million in bond premiums to support the budget, according to the treasurer’s office. And another $117.8 million is projected to go for that purpose this fiscal year. With about $27 billion in bonded indebtedness, Connecticut is one of the most indebted states, […]

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Plainfield Amazon distribution center plan clears P&Z

The Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a site plan for a planned Amazon distribution facility after lingering questions concerning sidewalks, traffic and sight lines were addressed. The commission’s vote marked the last major town-level hurdle for the project and clears the way for permitting and eventual construction by BL Companies for the […]

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Seven firms interested in designing Norwich school renovation, consolidation project

Six Connecticut firms responded to the request for qualifications Wednesday, including JCJ Architects of Hartford, part of a partnership of three firms that designed a $144 million Norwich schools restructuring plan in 2016 that was rejected by the City Council. But that plan was used extensively by a school facilities review committee that put together […]

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New Torrington Middle/High School to have ‘smart’ design

Architects and project leaders for the new Torrington Middle/High School are taking a “smart” approach in designing the $159.6 million building, which city residents passed last November. Construction of the school is expected to begin in spring of 2022 and be completed by summer of 2024. The overall size of the facility, which will separate […]

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Lamont signs bill to lure high-tech industry to state

With the goal of attracting a new industry into Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont has signed legislation providing long-term tax breaks to data centers, the 21st century warehouses of countless bits of information stored by users as varied as medical researchers, academics and financial services companies. Opponents call it corporate welfare that provides overly-generous tax breaks. […]

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Federal stimulus money heading to Danbury area ‘unexpected’ but ‘welcome’

The U.S. House of Representatives was poised to adopt the “American Rescue Plan” bill Wednesday, which was expected to be signed by President Joe Biden. In addition to aid for cities and towns, the bill includes stimulus checks for many across the country and includes funds for unemployment. Bethel officials expect to get $9.89 million […]

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CT company’s large offshore wind farm moves one step closer to Martha’s Vineyard coast

Orange-based Avangrid, the co-developer of Vineyard Wind, indicated Monday it expects the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to issue a final “record of decision” within a month, at which point it will be ready to begin preparations for construction of wind turbines 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. The company projects it will support […]

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Downtown North developer Salvatore eyes next phase of Hartford’s mixed-use neighborhood development

Stamford-based developer RMS Cos. broke ground on DoNo’s first phase last October, and has already completed construction of the 330-space parking garage. In an interview with Hartford Business Journal Monday, RMS CEO and President Randy Salvatore said foundation work has now begun on the $50-million project’s 270 apartment units, which should be completed about a […]

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Stamford Transportation Center needs a face-lift. But will it get one soon?

The second busiest Metro-North Railroad station, behind only Grand Central, could see new improvements, according to Gov. Ned Lamont’s 2022-2023 budget. Despite promises of modernization for the problematic train station, details on the initiative remain sparse. If the legislature moves to implement, Lamont’s budget predicts that a highway use tax could collect $45 million in […]

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Developer touts ‘hidden little treasures’ and ‘cool features’ of downtown Danbury apartment project

A 149-unit complex under construction on Main Street could begin renting apartments with a downtown view by the winter holiday season. “The pandemic is definitely making construction across the country difficult, but our partners at DiMarco Group are doing a great job dealing with the challenges,” said Dan Bertram, the Danbury-based developer of the city’s […]

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Bridgeport roadwork resumes after delay by FBI probe

A long-awaited road project that was held up by a criminal probe of city government is being rebid. The economic development department is accepting contractors proposals until 2 p.m. March 25 for streetscape improvements along Fairfield Avenue in Black Rock, a commercial strip on the Fairfield border with restaurants, bars and other small businesses. Work […]

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New Naugatuck Valley development agency seeks millions in state backing

Waterbury officials are asking state lawmakers to give millions of dollars to a new quasi-governmental development agency devoted to partnering Waterbury and other area towns on large-scale economic development projects. The proposal was forwarded by Thomas Hyde, the CEO of the newly formed Naugatuck Valley Regional Development Agency. Mayor Neil M. O’Leary and others formed […]

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Spinnaker eyes $63.3M mixed-use redevelopment of downtown Hartford’s 55 Elm St. office building

It’s been just over a year since Spinnaker Real Estate Partners acquired the historic 55 Elm St. office building — and nearby parking lots — across from downtown Hartford’s Bushnell Park for $6.8 million. Now the Norwalk-based developer is moving forward with plans to redevelop the property, formerly home to the Attorney General’s office and […]

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New Canaan Police building committee signs contract with architect

A firing range is one amenity the Police Building Committee discussed before they landed on a design agreement with Brian Humes of Jacunski Humes Architects, LLC. The committee voted unanimously to hire the Berlin, Conn. based architectural firm on Wednesday, Feb. 24 to determine the site needs and options for the department presently housed in […]

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New London middle school construction project hits snag

The City Council has rejected the $39.3 million price tag for construction costs associated with the renovation of Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School because of a possible increase in costs to taxpayers, threatening to further delay the project on the eve of the start of construction. The council voted 5-2 against the so-called guaranteed maximum […]

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Buttigieg says infrastructure faces a ‘once-in-a-lifetime moment’ as bridges, roads get C- grade

During a presentation of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ infrastructure report card, which gave the U.S. an overall C- for the condition of its roads, bridges, ports, drinking water systems and electricity grids and identified a $2.59 trillion spending gap, Buttigieg said it was time to get to work rebuilding the country. Echoing President […]

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Developer proposes converting Manchester hotel to apartments

Paredim Partners, the developer, is planning to buy the hotel at 191 Spencer St. to convert it into a market-rate, multifamily units. Paredim Partners Managing Director David Parisier and the business’s lawyer, Dory Famiglietti, met with the Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday for a pre-application discussion about the plans and to receive feedback about […]

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New Jersey-based NRG to Sell Middletown, Montville, Hartford and Devon Plants

NRG Energy, a New Jersey-based energy company, announced on Monday that it was selling 4.8 gigawatts worth of “non-core fossil assets” to a subsidiary of Boston-based ArcLight Capital Partners for $760 million. Schrader said NRG needs to have more discussions with ArcLight about their plans for the Middletown plant, where NRG has been working to […]

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Bristol community forum to give updates on magnet school

The public school district is planning a community forum for city residents and families on Thursday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. to provide updates on the progress of the Memorial Boulevard Intradistrict Arts Magnet School. The city and the Board of Education are collaborating on the project, which will be open for grades six through […]

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Siting Council gives East Windsor solar farm green light

The approval marks the final significant hurdle for the project’s developers, D.E Shaw Renewable Investments, or DESRI, and North Light Energy. They anticipate construction to begin this summer with the bulk of it occurring in 2022, Aaron Svedlow, director of development for Gravel Pit Solar, said. Developers said the project would generate enough clean energy […]

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Data center deal in Senate clears way for development

The Senate overwhelmingly gave final approval Monday to the data center incentives measure, as well as a second bill that pledges roughly $110 million to $120 million in new general government aid to cities and towns — but doesn’t commit the funds right now. Negotiations between the Senate Democratic caucus and the Lamont administration over […]

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S. Windsor debates second grocery store at Evergreen Walk

Karen Johnson, vice president of development for Charter Realty, the new management company for the Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk, asked the PZC Tuesday to remove restrictions and allow a second 40,000-square-foot grocery store in the area. Zoning regulations don’t allow two grocery stores within 1,500 feet of each other in the Gateway Zone. The […]

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‘Backbone of the digital age’: Lawmakers advance legislation to promote new data centers in Connecticut

The House voted 133-13 to send the data center legislation to the state Senate, which is expected to take up the measure next week. Governor Ned Lamont said the data center legislation, if passed, will encourage increased economic development for the state. Under the terms of the legislation, data centers will be required to be […]

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Proposed bill takes aim at DOT’s tree-cutting practices along CT highways

The recently proposed bill from state Sen. Alex Kasser, D-Greenwich, and state Rep. Stephen Meskers, D-Greenwich, suggests forming guidelines that would conserve urban forests and examine how the Connecticut Department of Transportation manages trees along highways and railroads. Many residents and groups including the Greenwich Tree Conservancy have lamented the tree-cutting along the Metro-North Railroad […]

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New Milford seeks affordable housing plan

New Milford is looking for a new affordable housing plan, with the hopes of increasing the town’s affordable housing from its current share of roughly 4.7 percent. The purchasing department is accepting applications from professional planners and consulting firms ready to develop the plan. The proposal must outline a plan to evaluate demographics, resources, and […]

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New London Wins 10-Year Commitment For Northeast Offshore Deal on State Pier

State officials announced today the signing of a Host City Agreement between New London and a joint venture of Ørsted and Eversource that includes a 10-year commitment paying the city an average of at least $1 million each year during offshore wind operations at State Pier. The long-awaited agreement includes the potential for $250,000 to […]

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Charter Oak Bridge Project Set to Bring Congestion Relief for Connecticut’s Capitol Region

The delivery of the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (CTDOT) I-91 Charter Oak Bridge (COB) Project, a large-scale initiative that combines two projects to reduce congestion and improve safety in the city of Hartford, and towns of East Hartford, and Wethersfield, is less than two years away. The contract, administered by CTDOT, District 1 and the […]

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O&G Industries Leads $54.6M I-84 Safety, Operational Improvement Job

The Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (CTDOT) $54.6 million I-84 Safety and Operational Improvements project in West Hartford, awarded to O&G Industries Inc., is based upon the mitigation of traffic congestion and safety concerns that can arise in heavy traffic situations. Stage 1A of the project, which was just completed, dealt with the first half of […]

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New London community recreation center gains key approvals

A planned $30 million community recreation center received two key endorsements this month. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously agreed to issue a positive referral on use of land at Fort Trumbull for the planned facility. The City Council already has approved the bonding for the estimated cost of the facility, which is still […]

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House approves big municipal aid pledge, tax incentive bills

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a measure Wednesday that effectively promises $110 million to $120 million in new annual aid to cities and towns — but doesn’t officially fund the initiative just yet. Legislatures and governors have struggled to maintain their commitment to PILOT over the past two decades as surging pension and other […]

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Release of Biden’s infrastructure plan details delayed

President Joe Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress — where he is expected to outline specific goals and priorities for measures like an infrastructure package — will not occur this month as was expected. The coronavirus package is legislators’ top priority, as they eye a March 14 deadline on unemployment benefits. Biden’s […]

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Apartment plan near UConn Health draws Farmington neighbors’ opposition

A developer’s plan for 146 apartments near the UConn Health Center is drawing stiff neighborhood opposition. Farmington-based Metro Realty Group is presenting its plan as a way to bring modern apartments to a stretch of Route 4 that has become a medical and technology jobs corridor. The property is behind the Hartford Health Care Medical […]

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Biden DOL Targeting Government Contractors for Wage Enforcement

As the administration readies those big-ticket legislative proposals, which would increase government investment in projects developed by private companies, the department has begun preparations to expand its investigative capacity under two statutes that require government contractors to pay workers prevailing wages and benefits, as determined by the DOL. The building trades and service unions have […]

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Danbury’s downtown ‘needs to be refreshed’: City to start streetscape project amid COVID

Construction is expected to start in the spring on the first phase of a roughly $12 million project to upgrade the sidewalks and install amenities to make the downtown more pedestrian friendly and appealing to shoppers, diners and developers. The first phase includes redoing the Danbury Green and installing streetscape on Delay Street, National Place, […]

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CT legislature poised to make early budget pledge to help cities and towns

The House of Representatives is expected to approve an omnibus bill Wednesday that commits more than $100 million in new aid to municipalities, shields thousands of residents with out-of-state employers from double taxation, and ends the controversial practice of placing liens on the homes of former welfare recipients. Legislative leaders also were considering a proposal […]

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Developers hope Bridgeport’s newly named Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater on track for packed concerts

Saffan and his partner in the venture, veteran concert promoter Jim Koplik of Live Nation, were on hand at the amphitheater with other officials Tuesday to celebrate another milestone in their joint venture: The announcement that Hartford HealthCare, which in 2019 acquired Bridgeport-based St. Vincent’s Medical Center, had purchased the naming rights to the amphitheater. […]

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Carrier Construction plans for commercial, residential development of large section of Centre Square

The city’s Economic and Community Development Commission reviewed Carrier’s letter of intent earlier in the month, planning to send them on to the council for action. The letter said Carrier intended to buy Parcels 6, 7, and 8 – a total of 3.44 acres – for $172,000. Carrier’s original plan was to build at least […]

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Berlin planning to building new community, senior center, but plenty of questions remain

The town is planning to build a new community and senior center sometime in the near future, but the “when” and “how” are still uncertain. No referendum date has been set and community information sessions are not yet in the works. Public forums initially gaged interest in 2018, with residents expressing excitement about the possibility […]

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As the Electrical Grid Collapses in Texas, New England Takes Note

Dan Dolan, president of the New England Power Generators Association, the trade group representing the region’s power producers, said the widespread power outages in Texas are a product of the state’s grid not being prepared for the extreme and prolonged temperatures that the state is experiencing. In New England, power producers invest in winterization, Dolan […]

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‘Looking to develop’: Demand for homes could lead to construction spike in Connecticut

As home hunters pounce on listings nearly as fast as sellers are putting them onto the market in Connecticut, construction of single-family homes is shaping up as the state’s next boom following a decade of apartment construction. The last burst of new construction in Connecticut in 2008 ended up with many homes built “on spec” […]

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Referendum on $137 million Farmington High School plan slated for June

Municipal officials are tentatively looking for a townwide vote June 3 on whether to tear down the high school and build a three-story replacement for $137 million. If voters approve the idea, architects would start work this summer, construction could begin in early 2022 and wrap up in mid-2025, Finance Director Joseph Swetcky told the […]

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Offshore wind a good bet for CT

Currently, the United States has more than 28 gigawatts of offshore wind in development. According to the Department of Energy, offshore wind has the potential to generate more than 2,000 gigawatts of clean, renewable power per year, nearly double the nation’s current electricity use. In Connecticut, a redeveloped State Pier will be one of these […]

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Spring groundbreaking set for 111-unit upscale Bloomfield apartment development

Krohn, of New Britain’s Jasko Development, and Zelman, of West Hartford’s Zelman Real Estate, said in a recent interview that they’ve named the project The Residences at Wash Brook, after one of several nearby brooks at the 20-acre site located midway between Routes 178 and 218. Fresh project renderings show a two-story atrium with a […]

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Carrier Construction plans for commercial, residential development of large section of Centre Square

The city’s Economic and Community Development Commission reviewed Carrier’s letter of intent earlier in the month, planning to send them on to the council for action. The letter said Carrier intended to buy Parcels 6, 7, and 8 – a total of 3.44 acres – for $172,000. That means Carrier would acquire the entire remaining […]

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Biden calls union reps ‘real friends,’ seeks their infrastructure input

Among those present were several heads of construction-related unions including Richard Trumka, the president of the AFL-CIO; Sean McGarvey, president of North America’s Building Trades Unions; and Lonnie R. Stephenson, the international president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who served on Biden’s transition advisory board. “I said from the beginning of my campaign, […]

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Finance panel eyes cap on property tax hikes, gears up for another battle over CT’s credit card

Rep. Sean Scanlon, D-Guilford, the new House chair of finance, is spearheading the property tax cap, which he says was inspired in part by Massachusetts’ Proposition 2 1/2, a statute that has drawn national attention since Bay State voters enacted it by ballot in 1980. The poorest people in Connecticut in terms of adjusted gross […]

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Courtney: State could get more than $4 billion if Congress passes COVID-19 relief package

Connecticut could receive more than $4 billion in federal coronavirus aid if Congress passes President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan. An estimated $2.7 billion would be allotted to the state and $1.6 billion to cities and towns, Courtney said. Courtney said Democrats see mid-March as the deadline for Congress to pass the legislation given that’s […]

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State and local leaders support private development of Seaside property

State Sen. Paul Formica, R-East Lyme, has introduced a bill that requires the state Department of Economic and Community Development “to develop and issue a request for proposals to develop or dispose of the former Seaside Sanatorium facility in the town of Waterford and to preserve the adjacent area for a park with public access.” […]

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Bristol City Council approves contracts to begin design process for renovating City Hall

The City Council has approved contracts to begin the design process for renovating City Hall, something council members said was long overdue. The contracts are for $175,770 to D’Amato + Downs Joint Venture to be the construction manager and for $760,750 to Quisenberry Arcari Malik for architectural engineering services. It’s important to improve the appearance […]

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‘People don’t want to be poor:’ Bill touts apprenticeships as a key pathway to good-paying jobs

Across Connecticut, Vasaturo’s story is retold thousands of times in automotive garages, machine tool factories and scores of other trades where the path to good-paying jobs is not college but the “earn as you learn” apprenticeship track that was launched in 1937, when the nation was in the grips of the Great Recession. A $3.5 […]

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After waiting for decades, Hartford’s Park and Main apartment development raises hope it will bring lasting change to a city neighborhood

The first phase of the $26 million Park and Main mixed-use development — 39 mixed-income studio, one- and two-bedroom rentals — is expected to begin leasing in April. A second phase of 87 apartments on the northern side of the intersection is scheduled to break ground next month. Park and Main is far more modest […]

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Massachusetts demo firm hired for Waterbury project

City officials on Friday awarded a Massachusetts company a $1 million contract to demolish eight buildings of the former Anaconda-American Brass site on Freight Street. Costello Dismantiling Co. has six months to clear eight buildings on 10.5 acres at 130 Freight St., according to its contract with the Waterbury Development Corp. Eight companies bid on […]

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Biden hopes infrastructure can bridge partisan divide

Biden met with lawmakers from both parties at the White House to discuss infrastructure on Thursday, even as the Senate is holding impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump where partisan divisions are on full display. “I’ve been around long enough,” Biden said, “that infrastructure wasn’t a Republican or a Democratic issue.” “The American people […]

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Worker-hungry contractors say rules limiting apprentice hires stymies business

The state Department of Consumer Protection imposes a so-called “hiring ratio” on contracting companies in electrical, plumbing and metal-working trades. The rule is a bit technical but it essentially requires contractors to have a certain number of licensed journeymen on staff for each apprentice they hire. State Sen. Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) chairs the General Assembly’s […]

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Lamont’s budget keeps transportation program afloat through 2026 with new truck fee

The two-year state budget Lamont proposed Wednesday includes a new highway mileage fee on trucks and includes Connecticut in a regional initiative to control greenhouse gases by changing transportation policy — a program that also would boost gasoline taxes. For years Connecticut has relied chiefly on fuel tax receipts to support the Special Transportation Fund, […]

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Tolls and gas tax hike off the table so Gov. Ned Lamont will look for other ways to fund transportation improvements in his new budget

The state’s special transportation fund is facing a deficit of more than $60 million in the current fiscal year, and could face larger deficits in the future if moves are not made to shore up the fund. Connecticut has joined a regional climate initiative with nearby states, but Lamont’s chief spokesman says that does not […]

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Multimodal Planning in the I-84 Danbury Corridor

At the third Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting in September, committee members were asked a series of questions about needs for the I-84 corridor in greater Danbury. The exercise provided the Project team with local insights and input towards the Project’s Purpose. Primer Multimodal planning considers many types of transportation including cars, buses, trains, bicycles, […]

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Lamont uses federal dollars and reserves to boost local aid, avert tax hikes in his new budget

Gov. Ned Lamont will propose a $46 billion, two-year budget Wednesday that relies heavily on federal aid and state reserves to close a major deficit without tax hikes and bolsters funds for cities and towns. The package would channel more than $400 million in emergency federal relief to low-performing school districts, according to several sources […]

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History Revisited: Local area no stranger to transportation levies

For the past several years, a great deal of debate has taken place when the state legislature introduced bills proposing electronic tolls on various major highways in Connecticut. The new highway bridge, ultimately named the Gold Star Memorial Bridge, opened to traffic in November 1943 and the established tolls for using this bridge included: 15 […]

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How the PRO Act would change the construction industry

By redefining “employees” and “employers” in revisions to the National Labor Relations Act, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act grants benefits to workers previously classified as independent contractors. Additionally, the way in which unions and employers collectively bargain and agree could be altered in states where unions have little to no say in the […]

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‘A godsend for the neighborhood:’ New development proposed in north Stratford

The owners of Ryders Landing want to put a new coffee shop on Main Street as the first phase of a development that could ultimately include retail and office space, a restaurant and a 105-room riverfront hotel. The Sbriglios own five properties totaling roughly 5.5 acres off Main Street immediately south of the Ryders Landing […]

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New housing development along CTfastrak in West Hartford latest sign of revival along New Park Avenue

The $20 million project will bring another 52 mixed-income apartments to the mile-long stretch between the Elmwood and Flatbush CTfastrak stations. The “workforce” housing is expected to be ready for occupancy in May, 2022. Trout Brook Realty Advisors, the development arm of the West Hartford Housing Authority, planned both projects and sees a dual purpose. […]

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Big changes could be coming for transportation around greater Hartford, from buried highways to bicycles. Here’s what’s under consideration.

The state Department of Transportation has been laying the groundwork for a comprehensive study ever since it made the startling announcement at the end of 2019 that the state would put a hold on replacing the viaduct and include it in a larger regional transportation plan. A broader array of transportation options are seen as […]

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What a Marty Walsh-led Labor Department could mean for construction

Born in Boston, Walsh joined Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 223 in 1988 and worked his way up through the ranks to lead both Local 223 and the Boston Building Trades Unions before being elected mayor in 2013. Walsh also served in the Massachusetts legislature. Labor organizations hailed Walsh’s nomination as a win […]

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Buttigieg DOT confirmation boosts hope for massive infrastructure investment

Industry and elected leaders praised Pete Buttigieg’s confirmation as Transportation Secretary after his nomination passed the U.S. Senate 86-13 on Tuesday. Buttigieg’s confirmation could be a boon for investment in the nation’s infrastructure, which has been called for on a bipartisan basis for many years, according to experts. During his nomination hearing before the U.S. […]

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Eyeing Obstacles, Dykes Offers Optimism for State’s Green Energy Goals

The latest draft of Connecticut’s Integrated Resources Plan — a semi-annual assessment of the state’s electric supply needs and possible sources of energy supply — is being touted by the department as the first to identify sources of supply to meet the state’s goal of zero-carbon electric generation by 2040. Already, 65 percent of the […]

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Construction set to begin on $20M W-Hartford mixed-use project

Construction of a $20 million mixed-use retail/residential project on West Hartford’s New Park Avenue is set to begin this month, with developers projecting a completion date of May, 2022. Trout Brook Realty Advisors, the nonprofit development arm of the West Hartford Housing Authority, is set to break ground on the transit-oriented development project located on […]

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Wall Street, public construction firms eager for Biden’s infrastructure push

Major Wall Street firms and publicly traded construction companies are eagerly awaiting President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better infrastructure plan, which he said he will detail in his first State of the Union address scheduled for Feb. 23. While the plan is forthcoming, the president pegged it at as much as $2 trillion in the […]

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It has been slow to arrive, but high speed rail could be coming

For the last three years, another high-speed rail concept has been quietly germinating, one that would go inland through Connecticut instead of along the shoreline. Called North Atlantic Rail, the plan originated at University of Pennsylvania planning studios directed by highly regarded planner Robert Yaro, former president of the Regional Plan Association and advised by, […]

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