Norwich — The City Council on Monday authorized the city to apply for a $250,000 state grant to fund a feasibility study of a developer’s plan to transform the former Chestnut Street Mill into as many as 170 workforce housing units. Councilors voted unanimously to authorize the city and Norwich Community Development Corp. to apply for the grant. During the meeting, NCDC President Kevin Brown explained that the owner of the downtown mill property and the developer are interested in studying the path to redeveloping the building and bringing it “back to life.” The 125-year-old mill, which has sat abandoned for around two decades, has been the subject of multiple blight violations, including for falling bricks. “There is a possibility that finally, this can be transformed,” Mayor Swarnjit Singh said Monday. The building, which opened in 1901, was originally home to gun manufacturer Hopkins & Allen, which supplied firearms to the British and Belgian governments during World War I. Most recently it was home to Norwich Textiles, which colored synthetic fabric for use in swimsuits and lingerie. It was purchased by Franklin St. LLC, based in New York, in 2006. Property owner Maurice Moezinia, who is in the textile business, said Tuesday he originally acquired the building in hopes of keeping textile manufacturing there alive. Moezinia mentioned that through the years it wasn’t easy to get things done with the building. Moezinia said that changed when Singh called him, gave him his cellphone number and made him feel he could trust the mayor. “We’ve been trying to do something for many years, but it was always hitting a brick wall, or the numbers never made sense,” Moezinia said. “And the atmosphere wasn’t proper for development with this property,” he said, adding that Singh “was basically able to put all the puzzle pieces together to help this project work.”

https://theday.com/news/898031/city-council-authorizes-norwich-to-seek-grant-to-study-massive-chestnut-mill-housing-project/

Killingly — Opponents of Amazon’s plan to build a massive warehouse on Westcott Road turned out in full force on Monday for the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission’s final public hearing on the proposal. Nearly three dozen residents rallied outside Town Hall for a “Residents Against Distribution Centers Protest” before the IWWC’s meeting, carrying signs that called on commission members to “Save the Last Green Valley,” “Protect the water and land,” and say “No to more distribution centers.” The proposed 1.3 million-square-foot Amazon fulfillment center would operate 24/7, employ 500 workers, bring in more than 400 trucks a day, and serve as the company’s “most advanced robotics facility” in the state, according to Amazon Economic Development Director Brad Griggs. Residents fear that the construction and operation of the warehouse will destroy ecosystems, pollute the groundwater that feeds local wells, decrease property values, and create new traffic, light and sound nuisances, among other concerns. After voting unanimously to close the public hearing Monday night, the IWWC is now required by law to make a decision on the application by July 15.

https://theday.com/news/898090/killingly-residents-protest-amazon-distribution-center/

MIDDLETOWN — As the state Department of Transportation explores potential remedies to the high number of crashes on Route 9 through Middletown and Portland, local officials are seeking to ensure residents have a voice in the process. The city’s Common Council passed a resolution at its Monday meeting requesting that the department schedule a public hearing on all proposed changes to Route 9 and adjacent city streets within 90 days. “I fully expect that there will be a public session to review the plan,” Mayor Gene Nocera said. Nocera questioned what would happen if traffic lights were removed — something he acknowledged could make overall travel in the area safer — and wanted to ensure the plan is “well thought out and achievable.” The 41-mile expressway connects the eastern Connecticut coastline at Old Saybrook to the Hartford suburbs in Farmington. According to the DOT’s website, there are currently two active projects underway in Middletown’s portion of the expressway. First is a reconfiguration of a northbound entrance ramp to Route 9 in Middletown, which the department says will help reduce rear-end crashes at the Route 9 northbound and Route 17 northbound interchange. The existing ramp from Route 17 onto Route 9 is controlled by a stop sign and has significantly higher crash rates than similar adjacent on-ramps, according to the DOT. The four-year project began in March 2023 with an estimated cost of $54 million. The second project is the removal of two traffic signals on Route 9 — from Exit 22 near Silver Street in Middletown to Exit 25 at Route 99 in Cromwell — which the department says is to improve safety and reduce congestion.

https://ctexaminer.com/2026/06/02/middletown-officials-push-dot-for-public-input-on-route-9-changes/

The first four developments paid for through the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority, including housing, a museum and downtown retail space, got approval on Friday for about $19 million in bond funding. Connecticut’s State Bond Commission approved about $652 million in funding for statewide projects, school construction, upkeep of state facilities and purchasing of electric vehicles. The Connecticut Municipal Development Authority, formerly called the Municipal Redevelopment Authority, was established in 2019 as an unfunded entity and officially got money and started work in 2024. The authority partners with municipalities to help them reconfigure their zoning to allow more housing and transit-oriented development, particularly in downtown areas. More than 40 towns are member agencies. Once towns are member agencies, developers can apply to the authority for funding. The agency has been a favored initiative of Gov. Ned Lamont and is one of his administration’s answers to a looming housing crisis partially borne of restrictive local zoning that makes it hard to build apartments.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/first-housing-projects-ok-d-through-connecticut-22286535.php

STAMFORD — Construction of the new Westhill High School, likely the largest school project in Connecticut history, is now officially underway — at least symbolically. A collection of local and state officials gathered at the Stamford school Tuesday afternoon to celebrate a groundbreaking for the project, which includes demolishing the existing Westhill and replacing it with a new 450,000-square-foot building, expected to open in August 2029. Connecticut Department of Administrative Services Deputy Commissioner Eleanor Michael called the Westhill project one of the most significant in the state and likely the largest-ever school project in Connecticut history. The department agreed to pay for 80% of the project to rebuild the school, estimated at a cost of $446 million, last year. That would mean a reimbursement of up to $356.8 million. However, the total cost of the project may not reach that level. In March, the Stamford Board of Finance approved a guaranteed maximum price of $353.4 million for the work. City Director of Operations Matthew Quinones said there is an additional $45 million to $50 million anticipated in soft costs that could drive the total above $400 million. The new Westhill is designed to hold up to 2,458 students and will feature nearly 100 classrooms. https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/education/article/new-westhill-high-construction-project-stamford-ct-22280831.php

As wrecking crews demolish the Bank of America building at 99 Founders Plaza for one phase of the Port Eastside mega-development, East Hartford is applying for $9 million in state aid to help pay for converting a vacant office high-rise nearby into an even bigger part of the mixed-use project. Developers have estimated they’ll need $90 million to transform the 19-story office tower at 111 Founders Plaza into about 230 modern apartments. East Hartford is seeking $15 million in state assistance to make the project more financially feasible, and this week is applying for $9 million of that. “There’s no tax abatement for this project, no money from the town. We might be going for a state loan, but all the rest is private equity,” Mayor Connor Martin told The Courant. “We think if we can get all the funding pieces together, it’s realistic to think they can start construction in the beginning 2027. The developers have all their designs down.” A partnership of major developers and industry leaders from around Greater Hartford proposed Port Eastside three years ago, calling it an $850 million project that would generate nearly 1,000 apartments along with restaurants, entertainment venues and more. They’ve predicted it would transform East Hartford’s under-used waterfront by replacing much of the 1970s-era Founders Plaza campus of office buildings; the plan is for a highly walkable cluster of residential and commercial uses with a pedestrian path along the river and greater connections to the Hartford waterfront.

https://www.courant.com/2026/06/02/ct-town-applying-for-9-million-to-boost-sprawling-port-eastside-redevelopment-plan/

Groton resident George Abad, who works the night shift in the emergency room of Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London, drives over the Gold Star Memorial Bridge multiple times a day. He drove the new crossover lanes driving north on Sunday and the existing northbound bridge on Monday. He thought the crews did a really good job, though there could be more signage on the northbound bridge, but he thinks that is coming. “I think they did a great job with all the lanes, but we just have to remember to go slow,” Abad said. “We have to go slow for a mile and a half for the next four years, and it’ll work out.” Abad was among the residents on Monday getting used to a new traffic crossover on the bridge, which will be in place for four years. The $900 million repair project for the northbound span includes installing a new deck, repairing concrete and strengthening steel. The “crossover” of two northbound lanes onto a section of the southbound bridge — separated by a barrier from the regular southbound lanes — was installed overnight Saturday. Exit 86 is accessible through the crossover. The existing northbound bridge was reduced to two lanes, with the right lane as an Exit 85 only lane.

https://theday.com/news/897654/residents-get-used-to-new-gold-star-bridge-traffic-crossover/

NEW HAVEN — A stretch of the Newhallville section along the Farmington Canal Greenway which has seen major redevelopment in recent years will see even more in the months to come as work begins on the “Elm City Lofts” project, which will add another 242 units to the mix. The project along Shelton Avenue, which the City Plan Commission recently unanimously approved, includes the renovation of a five-story mill building at 89 Shelton that is part of the former Winchester Repeating Arms factory — once the city’s largest employer — into 98 apartments. It also includes construction of two new buildings on what now is an empty lot. One of which would be five stories and 106,325 square feet, with 84 apartments. The other would be four stories and 76,800 square feet, with 60 apartments and about 2,150 square feet of retail space, according to plans submitted to the commission. The developers are Vesta Corp. of Simsbury, which also was involved in the renovation of the former Monarch Laundry building on Derby Avenue into 64 affordable apartments, and Vallone Ventures of Westport. The development would include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and 265 vehicle parking spaces, along with 180 spaces for bicycles. The Farmington Canal trail runs to the east of the site.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/new-haven-ct-housing-apartments-winchester-22272463.php

A new state law requires Connecticut to assess the workforce needed to support a potential advanced nuclear energy industry, as policymakers continue exploring whether advanced nuclear technologies could play a future role in the state’s energy mix. Gov. Ned Lamont on May 22 signed Public Act 26-46, which directs the Connecticut Council for Advancing Nuclear Energy Development to study the skilled labor needs associated with advanced nuclear energy projects. The council must identify the types of workers that would be needed to support future projects, including engineers, technicians and skilled trades workers, and determine whether Connecticut’s existing education and training programs could meet that demand. The law also requires recommendations for workforce development, recruitment and training strategies. The measure does not authorize construction of a nuclear facility, provide funding for a reactor project, or change the state’s energy procurement policies. Instead, the legislation is intended to ensure Connecticut is prepared if advanced nuclear technologies become commercially viable and attract investment here.

https://hartfordbusiness.com/article/ct-to-study-nuclear-industry-workforce-needs/

Noise, lighting, trucks, exhaust and more are on the minds of Connecticut residents who oppose a proposed nearly 1.4-million-square-foot warehouse and distribution center project that would be built off Interstate 395. The Killingly residents voiced concerns about the development, called Project Husky, that is being proposed by developer Ryan Companies. It also calls for 60 loading docks, 430 trailer parking spaces and 930 associate parking spaces. Although the name of the distribution company was not on any town material or proposals, Amazon was mentioned several times by name during the May 18 town Planning & Zoning Commission meeting. The 228 Westcott Road plan includes the construction of a new warehousing and distribution center of 1,288,220 square feet and includes 340 acres for development and 76 acres of conservation easement. There are also 216 acres proposed to be deeded to the town of Killingly for conservation. The project is located between I-395, Westcott Road and Mashentuck Road, according to the Killingly Planning & Zoning Commission agenda from May 18. Two new distribution centers are being proposed on 54 acres at 90 Putnam Pike. That proposal totals 467,500 square feet of gross floor area with associated loading bays, trailer parking spaces, employee parking, access drives, stormwater management systems, retaining walls, septic systems, utilities, landscaping and lighting, records show.

https://www.courant.com/2026/05/27/proposal-for-massive-ct-distribution-center-draws-opposition-an-unacceptable-burden-resident/