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Waterbury to spend $5.44M advancing cleanup, redevelopment of former Anaconda Brass site
Waterbury officials are preparing to spend another $5.44 million on a long-running cleanup of the former Anaconda American Brass site near the city center, preparing for its redevelopment. The roughly 20.5-acre site along Freight Street had, until recent years, hosted a massive industrial complex that had serviced the city’s once-prosperous brass industry for well over a century. As the brass industry faded, portions of a building at 170 Freight St. were leased out to various companies. The neighboring building at 130 Freight St. hosted a handler of environmental waste products. City officials have used millions of state and federal grant dollars in recent years to acquire and demolish buildings in the complex that were aging or entirely decrepit and failing.
State Begins Public Debate on Nuclear Energy, With Little Opposition So Far
HARTFORD — State officials launched a public debate this week about the advantages of expanding nuclear energy in Connecticut as a first step toward encouraging towns to host new capacity, in what could mark a reversal after decades of stagnation in the sector nationwide. Wednesday’s workshop drew a largely receptive audience, with only one critical voice among the participants. State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Karie Dykes noted that Connecticut has recently adopted regulatory changes that will enable expanded capacity. “We have a long and proud history of supporting nuclear generation with the operation of the Millstone facility and strong fundamentals in terms of our nuclear workforce,” Dykes said. “This is not a new topic for us, but it’s a new moment.” The workshop was intended to engage residents in discussions about nuclear benefits and concerns, with the goal of implementing next year a program of grants and loans for towns interested in welcoming new advanced reactors.
$50M rehab of CT’s state Capitol will be delayed until after nation’s 250th celebrations
HARTFORD — The two-year $50 million exterior cleaning and restoration of the historic state Capitol building will take a back seat to next year’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The advisory State Capitol Preservation and Restoration Commission voted recently to delay the project until Sept. 1, 2026. That means the historic 1878 Gothic structure in Hartford will not be sheathed in scaffolding at a time when it will be a major backdrop for a variety of commemorative activities, particularly July 4, 2026, when the nation will celebrate semiquincentennial events. During the Capitol Preservation and Restoration Committee meeting on Tuesday, Osten asked the 12-member group for a consensus to allow the Capitol project to start in September. Brian Pencz, facilities administrator for the Office of Legislative Management, said the price shouldn’t be too different and delaying the construction until the fall is manageable. The building checklist includes a million dollars to brush on new gold leaf 3/1000th of an inch thick around the massive 250-foot-tall dome designed by architect Richard Mitchell Upjohn.
‘What’s in it for us?’ Utility’s plan for a large-scale battery farm in New Milford prompts concerns
NEW MILFORD – A Colorado company planning to build a large-scale energy storage battery farm capable of powering tens of thousands of homes for a few hours drew opposition from a crowd of residents and town leaders over safety concerns during a 2 ½-hour informational meeting. “You made a comment [on an application] that this project is less impactful to the environment and ecologically more beneficial than a housing project,” said William Taylor, chair of New Milford’s Zoning Commission, during the packed meeting. “Can you explain what you mean by that and how you came to that conclusion? Because it’s not obvious.” “This part of the country is in critical need of capacity services due to the aging electrical infrastructure,” said Charlie McGovern, director of development for Flatiron Energy, which wants to build a 140-megawatt battery energy storage plant on residential Aspetuck Ridge Road. “The ability for us to interconnect into the grid at this point and provide such a service to the local distribution system is huge for the local resiliency of this community.”
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/battery-farm-new-milford-ct-21239385.php
State bond package steers $31M to Hartford development projects
State officials are preparing to direct more than $31 million toward economic development and community projects in Hartford under a $3 billion bonding package slated for a Dec. 18 vote by the state Bond Commission. Hartford’s share includes about $17.5 million routed through the Capital Region Development Authority. The bond commission agenda, which covers statewide agency operations, municipal grants and community-focused investments, is widely expected to pass; items that reach the panel are almost always approved. Hartford is also positioned to receive $13.75 million in community development funding recommended by the state’s Community Investment Fund 2030 Board after its Sept. 30 meeting.
https://hartfordbusiness.com/article/state-bond-package-steers-31m-to-hartford-development-projects/
Tweed Announces 2026 Construction Start
Tweed New Haven Airport’s operators announced this week that construction should begin next year — and wrap up by 2028 — on a long-delayed expansion project that has ballooned in cost to $250 million. The top lawyer at a local environmental nonprofit and the mayor of East Haven, meanwhile, expressed skepticism about that timeline — as they voiced long-standing concerns around the project’s impact on the surrounding environment and residential neighborhood. At the center of that plan is the construction of a new terminal on the East Haven side of the Morris Cove airport property as well as the extension of the airport’s main runway by nearly 1,000 feet in order to attract more commercial air service. According to Tuesday’s press release, the airport expansion project is now expected to cost $250 million. Back when the project was first announced in 2021, the estimated price tag was $70 million.
East Hartford seeks $15M state grant to spur Founders Plaza tower conversion
East Hartford is seeking a $15 million state grant to help developers convert an obsolete 19-story office tower overlooking the Connecticut River into apartments. In a Dec. 4 special meeting, the Town Council approved an application to the state’s Community Investment Fund, a program funded by state bonding. According to a memo from East Hartford’s Deputy Development Director Steve Hnatuk, the money would help replace the exterior envelope of the 270,106-square-foot tower at 111 Founders Plaza, built in 1971. Developers plan to transform the building into about 240 apartments. The development team includes several high-profile regional players: brothers Harris and Bruce Simons of West Hartford-based Figure 8 Properties; Hartford developer Lexington Partners; investor and businessman Alan Lazowski; Hoffman Auto Group Co-Chairman Jeffrey S. Hoffman; Manafort Brothers Inc. President Jim Manafort; and Peter S. Roisman, head of Houston-based multifamily investor REV.
Seeking Developers: Accepting submissions on Centre Square site
BRISTOL — The City of Bristol is accepting submissions from developers and associated parties toward the sale and development of an approximately 1.35 acre development site located at Centre Square in Downtown Bristol. Dawn Nielsen, marketing and public relations specialist for the City of Bristol, said the city is targeting multifamily and/or mixed-use projects for the site. The property is zoned “BD – Downtown” and is appraised at $650,000. All submissions are due by 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29. The property in question spans approximately 1.35 acres and is bordered on the north by Wheeler Health’s 45,000 square foot headquarters and medical facility. It is bordered to the south by the future Centre Square “pocket park.” It is also bordered to the east by Hope Street and the Bristol Health Medical Complex and to the West by North Main Street.
Norwalk’s new West Cedar Bridge opens after months-long closure and detours
NORWALK — Norwalk residents no longer have to detour around West Cedar Street after officials announced it reopened and the new bridge is completed. Mayor Harry Rilling celebrated the completion of the bridge on Dec. 5 on the city’s Facebook page. Officials said the bridge was demolished in April and construction began shortly after. “This project will enhance resiliency and improve safety for all modes of transportation to improve the quality of life for residents for decades to come,” he said in an email on Dec. 6. “It’s a beautiful site to see and will allow cars to pass more safely.” Woods Matthews said the city secured $5,354,088 in both state and federal funding, which was administered through the Federal Local Bridge Program, for the full bridge replacement. Alfred Benesch & Company, a Glastonbury-based engineering firm, was hired in 2019 as the design consultant for the project.
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/norwalk-ct-west-cedar-bridge-reopens-21230064.php
Waterbury’s main streets makeover moves city closer to ‘more modern, accessible, and business friendly’
WATERBURY—It’s been a long time coming, but city officials say that a fair portion of the much-needed work to improve and modernize South and North Main streets has been, or is close to being, accomplished. Officials shared some of that progress and what’s still to come last week with a presentation at city hall. The area of improvements being made includes South Main Street to Scovill Street and North Main Street to Phoenix Avenue. The work, according to James Nardozzi, executive director of the Waterbury Development Corporation, has been in the planning stages since 2019. The objectives for the the project include; replacing and repairing aging surfaces and utility infrastructure and planning for future technology and expansion and development; improving visual cues for motorists through new signage and paving materials; improving pedestrian safety and reducing possible conflicts with motor vehicles while improving pedestrian connectivity, mobility and comfort; addressing drainage issues especially at curbside; and maintaining access during construction.
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