The Oxford-based developer behind the proposed 152-unit apartment complex on River Road has been given the greenlight to move forward with the project. The Planning and Zoning Commission recently approved initial plans from B-WIZZ to develop the four-building complex at 453 River Road. The developers must return with final detailed development plans once they receive approvals from the state traffic authority and complete layout and architectural designs. But the vote marks a key step in the project, which was first proposed more than a year ago. The vacant property, which was previously partially zoned commercial but changed to residential as a part of the approval, sits across the street from Cumberland Farms, Hook Line and Sinker and the entrance to Jordan Avenue.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/shelton-zoning-oks-152-unit-apartment-river-road-18263171.php

After only one application was received to develop 118 acres of town-owned property, the Request for Proposals call remains open until September, an official said. Proposals for the sale and development of Mountainside Drive, located off of Wallens Hill Road, are now due by Sept. 22. Town officials said that any proposal should focus on providing residential homes that will grow Winsted’s grand list and provide housing for “key demographics,” including but not limited to seniors and first-time homebuyers. Winsted will favor proposals that include amenities, such as playground space, tennis or pickleball courts, a pool, walking trails, bocce courts and other outdoor recreation spaces and facilities, Kelly said. Questions on the RFP can be submitted until Aug. 15, with responses from the town by Aug. 31.

https://www.registercitizen.com/news/article/winsted-invites-second-round-proposals-18259963.php

The zoning application was originally submitted in December 2021 by then-Testo’s owners Mario Testa, longtime head of the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee and ally of Mayor Joe Ganim, and his nephew Ralph Giacobbe. And the apartment plan was drawn up by Bridgeport-based contractor John Guedes, well-know for his work in Shelton and some under-construction downtown Bridgeport housing projects, like the conversion of the former Holiday Inn into apartments. Then, after the Testo’s application was formally approved last October, the sale of the restaurant and the adjacent homes to Amit Lakhotia was announced in late November. That $3.5 million deal closed in early April. Guedes remained involved as the contractor and got a foundation permit in mid-May and his demolition approvals last week. It is not clear whether the revocation of the zoning authorization from last October will put Testa and Giacobbe at legal risk. Guedes has repeatedly stated their deal with Lakhotia, for whom he has been acting as a spokesman, was contingent on that zoning approval being in place.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/bridgeport-testos-apartments-north-end-madison-ave-18266833.php

Mayor Joe Ganim’s administration is seeking $25 million from the state to purchase — or, if it comes to it, seize through eminent domain — and demolish the PSEG-owned facility at 1 Atlantic St. in the South End. Those unfamiliar with the massive industrial harborfront property will likely at least recognize its red and white striped smokestack that has become a landmark visible from I-95, the Metro-North train line and Long Island Sound. Earlier this summer the city submitted its application for $25 million from the highly competitive Community Investment Fund. The legislature established that pot of money and process in 2021 to target dollars specifically for projects/needs in under-served and marginalized Connecticut communities.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/bridgeport-pseg-coal-plant-18264500.php

A shortage of engineers is complicating the state Department of Transportation’s efforts to upgrade and repair Connecticut’s roads and bridges, officials told the CT Mirror. Although officials gave varying estimates as to how many jobs need to be filled in the department in coming years — from 10% to more than 40% of the ideal workforce — they agreed that hiring is a top priority. “We did lose a large number of senior engineers, senior maintainers,” DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said at a press conference last month. “The reduction in staffing has caused some projects to slow down, so it caused us to prioritize projects. What hasn’t happened is it hasn’t led to any reduction in inspection and repairs.” Repairing and upgrading the nation’s infrastructure has been a top priority of the Biden administration, but according to a 2022 report by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Connecticut’s infrastructure has been given an overall grade of C; with bridges graded at a C, and roads graded at a D-.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20230730/a-shortage-of-engineers-is-slowing-down-work-at-dot-officials-say/

Spotted off the coast of Waterford on Friday was L/B Jill, a massive vessel with 300-foot legs that support a raised platform and will be used to support work at South Fork Wind, an offshore wind farm under construction off Long Island. The 12-turbine project, which will generate enough electricity to power 70,000 homes, is one of three offshore wind farms developed by Danish wind company Ørsted and Eversource expected to use the newly reconstructed Admiral Harold E. Shear State Pier in New London as an assembly and staging area. Price increases because of soaring inflation and supply chain bottlenecks have led to delays and attempts to renegotiate contracts in some long-planned projects along the East Coast. Eversource, Connecticut’s largest energy supplier, announced in May it was divesting itself of its stake in offshore wind assets, including a 50% stake in the $300 million redevelopment of State Pier in New London.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20230729/can-offshore-wind-withstand-market-storm-and-what-does-it-mean-for-connecticut/

The Board of Mayor and Burgesses has hired national engineering firm Kleinfelder Northeast for $437,273 to work on the design for the Parcel A and B major development hub, roadway and site improvement concept. Borough officials already had chosen Kleinfelder for work on stormwater and sanitary sewer upgrades. Richter & Cegan, an Avon-based landscape architecture and planning firm, is collaborating with Kleinfelder to work on the streetscape portion of the project. The roughly $14.8 million downtown project will address Church and Maple streets, the Maple Street bridge and the intersection near Water Street. Of the money spent, $9.2 million will come from the borough’s American Rescue Plan Act funds with a good portion of the work expected to be finished in the fall of 2024.

https://www.rep-am.com/localnews/2023/07/30/ct-borough-hires-engineering-firm-for-development-hub-roadway/

A Baltimore-based builder of prefabricated multifamily structures has been approved for a $1.5 million state tax break in return for 112 hires it plans for a new factory in Windsor. The loan committee of Connecticut Innovations, on Tuesday, approved the tax break. The deduction will be applied against taxes on the anticipated $96 million cost of the new factory for Baltimore-based Blueprint Robotics Inc. Blueprint, earlier this year, announced plans to build a 450,000-square-foot production facility on a vacant 62.5-acre parcel at 11 Goodwin Drive. Phil Siuta, chief operating officer of Connecticut Innovations, the state’s quasi-public venture investment arm, said Blueprint will have three years following the issuance of a certificate of occupancy to meet its pledge to hire the equivalent of 112 full-time employees at its new Connecticut plant.

Planned $96M factory project in Windsor gets $1.5 million tax break

A planned 225-unit luxury apartment development in Newington is regaining momentum after the withdrawal of a court challenge, which was followed by a $2.3 million land sale. In April 2022, Newington’s Zoning Commission approved a special permit allowing Pennsylvania-based multifamily builder A.R. Building Co. Inc. to build luxury apartments on a roughly 26-acre site along the Berlin Turnpike. Reno Properties Group, of Newington, announced Tuesday morning it was the sole broker of the sale. Reno said the buyer plans to build a Class A luxury apartment complex with a pool, fitness center and other amenities. The development will be in proximity to a Walmart, Lowe’s Home Improvement and other national retailers, according to the release.

26 acres in Newington sell for $2.3M to developer planning 225 luxury apartments

The Meriden Housing Authority Board of Commissioners voted Monday to undertake a study to determine the costs of completely demolishing Community Towers rather than doing a gut rehab. The 11-story towers house low-income elderly and disabled adults in 220 units at 55 Willow St. The housing project, the last owned and managed by the MHA, has come under scrutiny after residents cited a number of security concerns. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development gives housing authorities discretion over their capital facilities, but plans must be approved by the regional HUD officials. According to a HUD spokesman, public housing agencies are afforded the opportunity to develop, modernize or reposition their public housing inventory based on local housing needs and the physical condition of specific developments utilizing their capital funds.

https://www.myrecordjournal.com/News/Meriden/Meriden-News/MHA-calls-for-study-to-raze-or-rehab-Community-Towers.html