Connecticut’s trucking industry will face a small tax hike next month when the state tax on diesel fuel rises slightly more than 3 cents per gallon. The diesel tax and highway mileage fee each represent a relatively modest share of the state budget’s Special Transportation Fund, which covers operating costs for the Departments of Transportation and Motor Vehicles and debt payments on bonding for highway, bridge and rail projects. Final totals for the current fiscal year, which closes June 30, weren’t available this week, but Boughton said the diesel tax collected about $133.5 million in 2022-23, when the rate also was 49.2 cents per gallon. Those collections represented 7% of total STF expenditures in 2022-23 and about 6% in the current year. If the Department of Transportation can launch more construction projects — thereby triggering the need for more transportation borrowing — the STF surplus next fiscal year would be just 4%, according to the governor’s budget office. And by 2025-26, the STF would run a very modest $8 million deficit, equal to roughly one third of 1%. Connecticut’s construction industry and trades say the state’s transportation infrastructure needs even larger investments than the administration is aiming for to overcome decades of neglect.

CT diesel tax to jump 3 cents after yearlong freeze

Wheelers Farm Partners and Greenview Equities have asked the city to change the zoning of a five-building, 47-acre complex at 470-488 Wheelers Farm Road to allow the addition of 444 apartments and some commercial or retail uses, according to their 85-page proposal. The hook for both sides might be a first in Milford: a compromise on 8-30g, said attorney Timothy Hollister, who represents the developers. Several other office buildings will be replaced with a five-story residential building accommodating 150 units connected to the parking garage. Six more buildings will be built for the other 294 apartments. If the board approves the change in zoning, the developers said they plan to provide final site plans within a year of the approval.

Developers Pitch 514-Apartment Project in Milford as Alternative to Affordable Housing

A $2 million brownfields grant was awarded June 14 by the state Department of Economic and Community Development for remediation work at the former Stanadyne plant at 90-92 Deerfield Road. Another $200,000 was awarded to conduct an environmental assessment study of a neighboring property, which will collectively become part of a new Connecticut River Business Park. Ohio-based IRG Industrial Realty Group LLC bought the fully vacant property in late 2023 for $250,000. Windsor was among several municipalities to receive a remediation grant, which according to the DECD, “will enable the adaptive reuse of the property to a business park that will provide new manufacturing, research and development, warehousing/distribution, and offices to meet local market demand.”

With $2M brownfields grant and new ownership, former Stanadyne campus in Windsor looks for new life

The 154-unit affordable housing conversion of a former factory building in New Britain got a boost from the city last week with municipal officials unanimously supporting a zoning change to allow a solar energy array on the property. New Britain’s Common Council last week voted to allow developers to construct a solar facility at 321 Ellis St., on the same lot where an affordable housing redevelopment is currently underway of the former Landers, Frary & Clark factory, which is more than 115 years old. Developers from WinnCompanies and WinnDevelopment, the Massachusetts-based developer and housing management firm doing the housing redevelopment project, had been planning to construct the solar farm but previously approved master plans for the site dating back to 2015 reserved the land for a 20-story residential tower.

New Britain housing redevelopment wins zoning approval for 850 KW solar array

The $112 million project was given the go-ahead by the commission, with one dissenting vote, Tuesday night following a final presentation by the Central Middle School Building Committee. CMS principal Tom Healy told the commission, “we’re proud of what we have in front of you.” He said the “collaborative effort” behind the project was impressive. The current school, built in 1958, has a number of major structural problems. According to the CMS building committee, construction is expected to start in October 2024 and finish in August 2026. New ball fields will also be added to the school campus.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/greenwich-central-middle-school-planning-19508625.php

A Residence Inn by Marriott is scheduled to commence construction in 2025, according to a news release issued by Bobby Christoph Jr. developer of the mixed-use Steelpointe Harbor which has started work on the first phase of housing including luxury and workforce apartments. True North Hotel Group Inc. and Bridgeport Landing Development have finalized a deal to bring a Residence Inn by Marriott to Steelpointe. The hotel will feature approximately 135 rooms and be located between East Main Street and Pembroke, bordering Stratford Avenue. Construction on the new hotel will commence in 2025. Mayor Joe Ganim of Bridgeport said, “I want to extend my gratitude to True North Hotel Group Inc. for choosing Bridgeport as its newest destination for a Marriott Residence hotel. Having a Marriott company plant a flag in Bridgeport is a huge validation of the progress and visible recognition that Bridgeport is ‘on the move’, attracting First Class international companies to invest here. This new development will be a great addition to Bridgeport and will complement the housing that is currently under construction at Steelpointe Harbor. Our waterfront is truly remarkable and we look forward to sharing a piece of Bridgeport’s cultural beauty with visitors.”

Steelpointe Harbor Developer Inks Deal To Build Residence Inn By Marriott

Gov. Ned Lamont appeared skeptical this week of a decision by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to halt the rollout of a congestion pricing plan that would have funded mass transit improvements throughout the tri-state area. The plan, which would have charged most drivers $15 a day to enter Manhattan below 60th Street, was expected to go into effect at the end of this month, until Hochul abruptly announced a “indefinite pause” last week, citing concerns about the cost on commuters. More than 22,000 Connecticut residents take public transportation into Manhattan’s congestion pricing zone every day, mostly via Metro-North Railroad. About 3,100 commuters make the drive there, according to the MTA. “Look, you’ve got to pay for transportation, we’ve all had debates in our respective states, I know what everybody’s opposed to, I’ve got to see what they’re for,” Lamont told reporters during an event in Meriden on Tuesday. “We’ve got resources, our special transportation fund’s in pretty good shape right now, if you want to upgrade Metro-North, you’re going to need some capital to do it.”

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/politics/article/ny-congestion-pricing-ct-gov-ned-lamont-response-19509371.php

A Great Wolf Resorts executive announced Wednesday the $300 million waterpark resort the company’s been developing next to Foxwoods Resort Casino will open June 15, 2025. The good-natured exchange, which took place during remarks that preceded a traditional “topping out” ceremony on the construction site opposite Foxwoods’ Grand Pequot Tower, spoke volumes about Great Wolf’s target audience: families with kids. The Mashantuckets and Great Wolf had partnered on a plan to develop a waterpark on tribe-owned, non-reservation land along Route 214 in Ledyard in the mid-2000s. Then the Great Recession struck, scuttling the plan. The would-be partners also discussed waterpark projects in 2010 and 2014, before Jacobsen joined Great Wolf.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20240612/great-wolf-lodge-topped-out-opening-set-for-june-15-2025/

The Wallingford Planning & Zoning Commission this week unanimously approved a special permit and site plan for a privately developed facility devoted exclusively to charging electric vehicles that could be the first of its kind in the U.S. The plan submitted by Gem Property Group LLC will develop a 2.04-acre vacant lot at 1 Miles Dr., across the street from Wallingford KinderCare and close to two hotels — Fairfield Inn & Suites and Homewood Suites by Hilton. Elizabeth Verna, a principal with Verna Builders & Developers, said her family owns Gem Property and has owned the land on Miles Drive, less than a mile from Interstate 91, for more than a decade. She said the decision to seek approval for a large EV charging facility was made because demand for new office space is so low.

Wallingford OKs EV charging facility that might be a 1st in U.S.

After defeating an amendment and a motion to postpone the vote, the Hartford City Council passed a resolution Monday night granting air rights for a pedestrian bridge over Washington Street. The resolution, which was approved along party lines, allows Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) to construct a bridge connecting the $280 million, eight-story wing of the hospital currently under construction with a parking garage to be constructed across the street by LAZ Parking. Both projects were previously approved by the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission, but because the bridge would cross over Washington Street the city needed to grant air rights for it, as well as grant a sidewalk easement for a bus turn-in lane that will require relocating the existing public sidewalk onto property controlled by Hartford Hospital and CCMC.

It took 3 votes, but Hartford City Council OKs CCMC pedestrian bridge