City officials and developer William R. Deickler, president of Pay Dirt, said the permitting process for the demolition, which is being funded by a $1.5 million Municipal Brownfield Remediation Grant from the Connecticut Department of Community and Economic Development, has started and contractors are working on getting water and utilities properly disconnected. Because the project is a combination demolition and abatement, water must be off in the buildings while available for the cleaning process, he said. The plan for the property is to build a mixed-use development called Hotchkiss Square with market-rate housing and commercial operations, according to a flyer on the city’s website. Construction will be completed in two phases, with the first phase building six to nine units, Deickler said. He and his partners are still finalizing the number of units to build. Initially, the intent was for 155, but needing to raze the factory building means they have details to work out.
