The Planning & Zoning Commission gave unanimous approval to expand and renovate the Old Greenwich School, though issues about funding the multi-million dollar project remain. Now the project needs to be funded by the Board of Estimate and Taxation, where Republican members of the finance board have previously turned down appropriations in split votes. The current building is not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible and has a number of maintenance problems. The renovation would add a four-kindergarten-classroom addition, a new elevator, entry plaza and upgraded security, among other construction projects, at an estimated cost of roughly $42 million.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/old-greenwich-school-planning-zoning-mi-status-18406127.php

In the spring state lawmakers came to then-cash-strapped developer Anthony Stewart’s rescue, providing $3.5 million to help fund the completion of his Honey Locust Square project that is intended to help revitalize the East End with a supermarket, restaurant and more. “It messes up my timeline,” the developer, owner of the Ashlar firm, acknowledged. “I am trying, but money makes a big difference. It makes a big difference.” He said a recent loan from a Wallingford-based organization allowed him to re-start construction. The state’s $3.5 million was actually awarded the city for Honey Locust Square in April from the Community Investment Fund that Connecticut lawmakers established in 2021. That pot of money — $875 million total, spread out through 2030 — was set up to funnel financial support to projects/initiatives like Stewart’s that will benefit underserved and marginalized communities and people adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/bridgeport-east-end-honey-locust-square-18406446.php

For more than a decade, a lot at the corner of Albany Avenue and Woodland Street has sat vacant and fenced in, waiting for some redevelopment to take place. That plan includes a 31,700-square-foot, multistory building that would provide more than 16,000 square feet of space to house most of the city’s health department offices, a Liberty Bank with a drive-thru and ATM, space for more commercial operations, and a restaurant with rooftop dining. It would also include 100 public parking spaces. The cost of the project is expected to be $12.5 million, which would be covered by a $5.5 million loan and a $7 million grant from the Connecticut Regional Development Authority.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/capitalregion/article/hartford-ct-redevelopment-albany-avenue-18401160.php

Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday that Connecticut has signed an agreement with officials in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to collectively solicit new offshore wind project proposals in a multi-state approach designed to leverage buying power. State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes joined Lamont for the announcement of a first-of-its kind memorandum of understanding Wednesday during a news conference at State Pier in New London, which is being used for a staging and assembly hub for the South Fork Wind project under construction off the coast of Long Island. On Monday, Avangrid, developer of the 800-megawatt Park City Wind project, announced it was terminating a 2019 agreement with Connecticut utility companies to buy power because costs have become prohibitive.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20231004/state-to-join-neighbors-in-seeking-offshore-wind-power-contracts/

Avangrid announced late Monday that it will terminate its power-purchase agreements for Park City Wind, an 804-megawatt offshore wind project in Bridgeport. The offshore wind farm, expected to supply about 14% of Connecticut’s electricity, is seen as pivotal to the state reaching its zero-carbon grid mandate by 2040. It was at one time expected to begin operations between 2025 to 2027. According to filings with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, Avangrid will pay termination fees of $3.15 million to United Illuminating and $12.92 million to Eversource. Avangrid has asked for PURA’s approval to terminate the PPAs. Avangrid still owns the development rights for the project, a spokesman said Tuesday morning.

Avangrid pulls plug on Park City Wind contracts; to pay $16.07M in termination fees

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has a plan to replace the State Highway 16 bridge over the Salmon River in East Hampton. It will be unveiled to the public in an upcoming virtual meeting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 5, according to the transportation agency. It is listed as Project 0041-0121. The Oct. 5 meeting is intended to “provide the community an opportunity to learn about the proposed project and allow an open discussion of any views and comments concerning the proposed improvements,” according to CTDOT, which added that a question-and-answer session will immediately follow the presentation.

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/connecticut-plans-new-10m-bridge-over-salmon-river/62617

The delay of a hearing scheduled to start this week — possibly until late November — comes as the mixed-use development around the city’s minor league ballpark remains stalled. A legal battle between the city and the former developer — fired by Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin — has ensued for months over who has the right to develop the property. And as legal fees mount for the city, both sides in the long-running dispute — the city and the former developer — appear dug in for the long haul, a potentially costly endeavor that could stretch out for years. Still, earlier this summer, both sides exchanged public volleys over a potential settlement. Meanwhile, Salvatore, frustrated by the inability to move forward, has a contract to purchase the neighboring, former campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He recently announced plans to build a similar phased-in, mixed-use development on the RPI campus. Approval is now being sought to use $16.6 million in financing set aside for the next phase of North Crossing to be also used, if necessary, for the first phase on the RPI campus.

Court delay means future development around CT city’s ballpark no clearer as legal fees mount

The largest of these projects in eastern Connecticut is $8.707 million expected to go to Griswold to fund a municipal water infrastructure project to extend water and sewer access to 325 acres of commercial land, according to a press release from state Sen. Heather Somers’ Office. With $175 million awardable per year for five years, split between 10 rounds, Community Investment Fund 2030 offers 55 eligible municipalities across the state funding for projects ranging from infrastructure to economic development and community needs, The Bulletin reported in March. Groundbreaking on the infrastructure project is expected in the spring, and the construction portion of the project will take 18 months. Supply chain issues may still affect the project, including with acquiring the right kinds of generators, Bennett said.

https://www.norwichbulletin.com/story/news/local/2023/10/03/griswold-8-million-community-investment-fund-grant-water-sewer-infrastructure-heritage-river-village/71007925007/

The requests to increase distribution rates – which would raise revenue by 5 percent for Connecticut Natural Gas and 9 percent for Southern Connecticut Gas – come at a tense time between utilities and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority tasked with overseeing them. Customers have bristled at high costs, lawmakers and PURA have pushed for more accountability from utilities, and the companies have warned that the state’s new direction will make it harder for them to attract outside investments. CNG, which serves about 185,000 customers in 25 municipalities in central Connecticut and Greenwich, will ask to raise rates to increase its revenue by about $21 million – a 10 percent increase to delivery revenues and 5 percent increase in overall revenue, the company said. SCG, which serves about 208,000 customers in 24 municipalities, is asking to raise rates to increase its revenue by $42 million – a 20 percent increase to its delivery revenues, and 9 percent increase to its overall revenues.

Two Gas Utility Companies Planning to Raise Rates

Now, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is looking to remove the obsolete dam, in an effort to open up the river for fish passage and restore a free flowing river. Dam removal could open up about 19 miles for fish passage on this part of the Farmington River, said Ramona Goode, state dams sanitary engineer for DEEP Water Planning and Management Division. Right now, migratory fish aren’t able to get over the wall that the dam creates. Goode estimated that construction costs alone could cost around $5 million, and said that they hoped to use the funding currently available through the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to remove the dam as soon as realistically possible. Goode said that, ideally, construction would get underway in 2024.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/farmingtonvalley/article/ct-deep-collins-company-lower-dam-removal-18393899.php