At Farmington High School, many teens are eagerly looking forward to next school year, when a brand-new building is expected to be completed and they can finally move in. While students at Bulkeley High School in Hartford complained of a former campus that was “falling apart,” the interim plans — splitting students into two different campuses across the city from each other — have meant limited extracurriculars, disruptions to learning and the loss of a cafeteria. At Bulkeley High School, the $210 million renovation comes after decades of operation without major upgrades, other than a new sprinkler system installed in 2000. Approved for renovations in 2018, the high school in south Hartford began construction in 2020. Originally slotted a $149 million budget and supposed to be completed by August 2024, Hartford officials say Bulkeley’s reopening will not only be delayed a year but will also cost an additional $61 million because of COVID-19 and supply chain issues.

Getting a new high school: A different story in two CT towns

The relocation plan for residents is a phased approach that will advance as construction continues. Lamont said housing in the state has been underfunded for too long “and now we’re paying for it,” adding that it’s important to modernize the units to make them accessible to older and disabled residents. Enfield Housing Authority Executive Director Scott Bertrand said the CIF grant will greatly improve the lives of the residents at Enfield Manor. “Not only will it replace existing affordable housing, but will expand it with 22 units,” he said, adding that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has joined the effort and will bring additional funds that will go toward construction.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/journalinquirer/article/enfield-manor-ct-housing-funding-18430425.php

Town officials unanimously approved a 10-year tax abatement for the $100 million redevelopment of the “blighted” former Red Lion Hotel property on Route 372 that would allow the property owner to pay no taxes for the first two years. Lexington Partners, a Hartford-based real estate development firm, has already received Planning and Zoning Commission approval to build some 254 studios, and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment units with 38,000 square feet of retail space at Berlin Road. There will also be 20 condominiums for sale. The property owner is M350 Berlin Land Holdings of California, according to the assessor’s database.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/cromwell-housing-project-berlin-road-18433742.php

Distribution centers are on track for completion or have opened their doors in many Connecticut towns in response to rising demand, though other warehouse proposals have faced legal challenges and rejections from municipal officials. Not all plans have come to fruition. In August, Windsor Locks officials shot down a plan to build 1.15 million square feet of warehouse space submitted earlier this year. Scannell Properties have not yet appealed the decision, though developers and residents alike have fought against votes in other towns. Litigation over an Enfield warehouse has ended with a settlement, while South Windsor and Bloomfield projects are in the middle of separate lawsuits.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/journalinquirer/article/ct-warehouse-amazon-enfield-east-hartford-18430391.php

Some of the city’s top officials say Fountain Square should have a hotel, not apartments as the latest round of changes to the developers’ apartment plan prompted another developer to withdraw his opposition. Highview Commercial, the project’s developer, has filed an application with the Planning and Zoning Commission seeking to amend the already approved Planned Development District for the site. The public hearing has been continued. Thomas added that preventing apartment developments — especially ones that follow the city’s affordable housing plan guidelines such as this one — on Bridgeport Avenue could lead to more state statute 8-30g applications.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/shelton-aldermen-oppose-fountain-square-apartment-18434558.php

Trinity College will be starting construction in late 2023 on a $30.1 million, 37,000-square-foot addition to its George M. Ferris Athletic Center. The addition is going on a space that is currently a lawn, and school officials said the project is expected to be finished by March 2025. The center was originally built in 1968. The number of the college’s athletic teams and coaching staff has increased in the decades since, prompting the need for more space, according to Trinity. The addition will feature seven new squash courts, an open-air second-floor terrace with views of playing fields and more space to accommodate fans.

Trinity College to start $30M athletic center expansion

Tensions between Bradley International Airport and its smaller-but-ambitious competitor, Tweed New Haven, are reflected in a burgeoning turf battle over whether the airport authority that operates Bradley has the power to license Tweed. Kevin A. Dillon, the executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, is pressing Tweed to submit to its licensing authority as Tweed awaits federal approval of plans to lengthen its runway and build a new terminal in East Haven. The Tweed New Haven Airport Authority has refused to complete the form necessary to renew a license that expired in March 2022, saying under federal law it answers to the Federal Aviation Administration, not the CAA. Dillon said there are no obstacles to Tweed’s licensure other than its refusal to complete the paperwork.

A Bradley-Tweed airport turf battle takes flight in CT

The giant Stone Bridge Crossing mixed-use project in Cheshire has cleared another development hurdle as the retail portion won town land use approval. The Planning and Zoning Commission last week granted approval for the 130,000-square-foot retail area, which will include large and small storefronts, restaurants, outdoor seating areas and drive-thrus. Tenants for the retail portion have not yet been announced. The retail portion of the project — on what’s known as Lot 5 — is part of Miller, Napolitano, Wolff LLC and Tri-Star Development’s broader plans for the massive Stone Bridge Crossing project, which also contains more than 300 residential units in various stages of construction.

Retail portion of Cheshire’s massive Stone Bridge Crossing development approved

The Connecticut Port Authority has paused its search for a new executive director but is adding a new position to help market its deep-water ports and manage its small harbors. The port authority plans to hire a maritime business development manager that will in part handle the duties performed by Andrew Lavigne, the former manager of business development and special projects. As the port authority transitions from the construction project at State Pier, Hammond said much of the organization’s attention will turn to marketing the state’s three deep-water ports in New London, Bridgeport and New Haven as well as assisting municipalities with management and infrastructure at 35 smaller ports and harbors across the state. Throughout the construction of State Pier, the CPA has also had project management assistance from personnel at the state Department of Transportation. That assistance disappears once the project is completed.

https://www.theday.com/news/20231017/ct-port-authority-to-add-staff-focus-on-ports-and-harbors/

The City Council voted unanimously Monday night to use $385,000 from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act federal grant to purchase nearly 30 acres off Ox Hill Road as a potential site for a new police station and to expand Mohegan Park. Residents will vote on whether to build a proposed new $44.75 million police station at a Nov. 7 referendum. The council removed $500,000 from the $715,000 earmarked to hire new police officers. Police Chief Patrick Daley said the department is having a difficult time hiring officers and likely could not use the ARPA money within the federal time limits. The council used $385,000 of the police money to cover the entire purchase price for the land. Speakers during public comment Monday offered mixed reactions to the use of ARPA funds to purchase the land for the police station.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20231017/norwich-city-council-approves-385000-to-buy-land-for-proposed-police-station/