As the local school district grapples with surging student enrollment and overcrowding at Danbury High School, local leaders have considered whether expanding Henry Abbott Technical High School could help resolve the issues. Expansion is possible, according to the leader of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System, which oversees Abbott and 16 other technical high schools statewide. However, several factors need to be considered — including the costs of construction and additional staffing — if that were to become a reality. The technical high school system receives “solid support” from Gov. Ned Lamont, whose “initiative around workforce development translates directly to what we’re doing,” Solek said. But the statewide school system isn’t the only recipient of state funding. Danbury is the largest of the more than 20 municipalities Abbott Tech serves, with New Milford as the second largest. In comparison, Danbury High School’s graduation rate for the 2021-22 school year was 80.8 percent, according to the most recent state data.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/abbott-tech-danbury-high-student-overcrowding-18698617.php

Residents will decide on a $61 million middle school renovation project when it heads to referendum on Tuesday. While the total estimated cost of the project is $61,913,393, the estimated local cost to the town is $25,712,663. This is due to the project meeting the state’s “renovate as new” criteria, making 65.36 percent or $40,466,593 of the project cost eligible for reimbursement. The referendum will be held on March 19 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. with voting taking place at the Plainville Firehouse. The Middle School of Plainville Building Project will include upgrades such as a secure entrance with updated camera and communication systems; Classrooms designed for programs related to STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and Visual & Performing Arts; Sports fields; Physical education facilities and equipment; Media Center/Library; Roofing, windows, doors, HVAC, and mechanicals. If approved, the project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2028.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/recordjournal/article/plainville-referendum-school-project-18938881.php

Residents approved a $39 million bond referendum in November 2022 for a new main library branch to be located at 1041 Main St., intended to help revitalize Main Street while modernizing and expanding the town’s offerings beyond the cramped Mary Cheney Library at 586 Main St. At the time, town officials said the state had already committed some funding to the project. Work continued on the project in 2023, with an architect selected in August and design work and public input beginning shortly after. The town also applied for grants, including for as much as $9.5 million from the state Community Investment Fund. A presentation from the Library Building Committee to the Board of Directors last Tuesday had estimated the schematic for the project at roughly $53.6 million, leaving the budget roughly $4.1 million short.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/journalinquirer/article/ct-manchester-library-main-street-18967735.php

A special state board has recommended spending $8 million to help clean up lower East Side properties where a developer wants to build minor and major league soccer stadiums, plus adjacent housing, retail and a hotel. Though that amount is, according to key legislators from Bridgeport, only about a quarter of the $30 million that was sought, it is being welcomed as a first sign of support for and faith in the overall project by state government. Last October, Andre Swanston unveiled a multi-phase proposal to bring professional soccer, along with housing and retail, to the former greyhound racing track site on the lower East Side. Moore called the $8 million “a start” for Swanston. She said the housing component in particular appeals to her. Swanston is pledging to build 1,000 units. As of early January Swanston had said having the minor league stadium built and open for the 2025 season was “ambitious but possible.” On Tuesday Connecticut Sports Group stuck with that timeline, stating that the site work should begin in the spring “to complete stadium construction by summer 2025.”

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/state-offers-8m-for-bridgeport-soccer-proposal-18921285.php

Norwalk has received a $3.4 million federal grant that will cover the design and construction of the new signals, among other traffic improvements. TMP requested $380,461 of the grant to be allocated to the engineering consultant VHB to design the new intersections and design a new transit signal priority system for 56 intersections. The Economic and Community Development approved the agreement with VHB for $380,461. The Common Council will vote to authorize the agreement as well. The intersection at Strawberry Hill Avenue and County Avenue will be designed in anticipation of the new Norwalk High School campus. Overall, the $3.4 million will cover the replacement of two traffic signals, the implementation of adaptive traffic signal technology at 19 intersections, improve pedestrian enchantment at 56 intersections and introduce transit signal priority at 56 intersections.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/norwalk-advances-traffic-signal-modernization-18883855.php

A newly executed agreement between the town and the developers of the Founders Plaza property near the bank of the Connecticut River transfers $6.5 million in state funding for demolition of the former Bank of America building. The new agreement, approved by the Town Council at a special meeting Monday, also reduced the minimum number of apartments expected to be built and the timeframe for construction of the first phase. The original plan, unveiled last summer after Lexington Partners, the lead developer, bought the property for $4 million, called for 1,000 units to be built along with 300,000 square feet of commercial space, a pedestrian bridge over the river to Hartford, and a transportation center. The developers have since set aside the bridge and transportation center to focus on the housing for the $840 million project, which originally included $125 million to $150 million in public improvements.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/journalinquirer/article/east-hartford-ct-founders-plaza-port-eastside-18920277.php

Construction officially began this week on the new Norwalk High School with the installation of fencing around the site. This marks the first step in the five-year project that is scheduled for completion in 2029, though students will start classes in fall 2027. The construction comes a month later than the district’s anticipated February start. Last month, Deputy Superintendent Sandra Faioes, who oversees facilities and operations, said that groundbreaking on the new NHS was delayed by winter weather conditions. Contractor Gilbane Building Company will construct the school where the Testa Field Complex is currently located. The $239 million project will cost the city about $47.8 million with an 80 percent state reimbursement rate.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/education/article/norwalk-high-school-construction-begins-18919726.php

State Treasurer Erick Russell and Gov. Ned Lamont now hope to do something similar — albeit on a smaller scale — with Connecticut’s transportation program. Rather than attacking unfunded pension obligations, this plan would erase hundreds of millions of dollars in bonded debt, the principal and interest on highway, bridge, and rail projects. The goal ultimately is to save about $70 million in annual debt service payments and use that savings to accelerate the rebuild of Connecticut’s aging transportation infrastructure. But for the initiative to be completely successful, the Department of Transportation needs to overcome a second hurdle: pushing Connecticut’s construction program to record highs. Lamont’s budget office projects the STF to close this fiscal year with a surplus of $240 million, or 11%. The Special Transportation Fund reserve, the account that holds these surpluses, is projected to approach $920 million by June 30, equal to almost 43% of this year’s STF. And while transportation fund revenues and fund balances have swelled, critics say construction work has not grown as swiftly. If Connecticut saves $60 million to $75 million annually in a transportation fund that’s already achieving big surpluses, they added, the state must leverage those resources to ensure hundreds of millions of additional dollars are invested in projects each year.

Plan to cut CT’s transportation debt could offer more than savings

As part of nearly $9 million funding package from the federal government, the city will get $850,000 to help make the road through Hamilton Park more pedestrian friendly. The Hamilton Park project is part of the master plan to convert the 92-acre park into athletic fields and courts, said Tommy Hyde, executive director for Waterbury Development Corp. The city originally applied for $5.3 million, so officials will have to determine how to best apply the funds. Cheshire-based design firm SLR Consulting recommended converting Hamilton Park Road into a 12-foot pedestrian walkway and multiuse trail with amenity space and lighting. SLR landscape architect Suzanne Schore has cited the plan as one of the most significant parts of the master plan. Hyde said he was not sure of the timeline of the project as the bill was just approved.

https://www.rep-am.com/localnews/2024/03/11/waterbury-park-getting-a-makeover/

East Hartford’s Town Council on Monday night agreed to conditions for the use of a $6.5 million state grant to demolish a building within the Founders Plaza office park, which will make way for a massive, mixed-use redevelopment. Under the agreement, the money will be used to demolish the 182,890-square-foot former Bank of America office building at 20 Hartland St., which is also known as 99 Founders Plaza. Any leftover funding could be used to further other elements of the “Port Eastside” development along the eastern bank of the Connecticut River. Port Eastside LLC – an entity backed by a group of prominent area businessmen – paid $4 million for the building last summer. Reilly gave a rough estimate of mid- to late-2028 for the first building to be completed. It would include about 40,000 square feet of retail space, Reilly said last week. While the agreement commits Port Eastside to a minimum of 150 apartments in the first building, the aim is closer to 300, Reilly said.

East Hartford approves conditions of $6.5M state grant for Founders Plaza redevelopment