In industries like construction, where safety risks are present daily, taking steps to provide resources and support for individuals to take their mental health seriously is critical. According to a 2021 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 94% of workers in the construction and extraction professions have outdoor exposure, and 62.2% of workers in the industry are exposed to heights more than five feet off the ground. The study found 15% of workers in the construction industry are impacted by substance abuse with 8.6% of people as the national average. The construction industry, in many ways, is still stuck with the mindset that talking about stress, anxiety and other mental health issues is a weakness. When this conversation shifts to recognizing and supporting individuals suffering from mental illness, the industry starts to become a safer environment for everyone.

https://www.constructiondive.com/spons/mental-health-in-the-construction-industry/646290/

Capital Community College (CCC) is considering a new downtown Hartford campus, school officials confirmed to the Hartford Business Journal, as its existing space in the former G. Fox department store building at 960 Main St. becomes increasingly outdated and in need of significant repairs. Terrence Cheng, president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system, which includes CCC, said all options are on the table, but the preference would be to buy a building downtown and renovate it for a new campus. The ability to do that, however, hinges on the availability of state funding. A building purchase and redevelopment would come with a hefty price tag — approximately $350 million — that may get pushback from policymakers, including Gov. Ned Lamont, as the state college system faces budget deficits and declining enrollment. The plan — known as CSCU 2030 — was unveiled in January and outlines $2.1 billion in capital projects over a seven-year period, in addition to higher annual block grant funding to support new academic programs, student services and a free community college program.

Amid funding uncertainty, CSCU eyes new $350M Hartford campus for Capital Community College

As part of the Walk Bridge replacement, the Planning & Zoning Commission voted to move forward with the sale of a piece of city-owned land to the Connecticut Department of Transportation that will be used for the $772 million project. The project — which has been in the planning stages since 2017 — is scheduled to begin later this spring, DOT spokesperson Josh Morgan said. The 127-year-old bridge has far exceeded its 100-year life span. In recent years, the swing bridge has failed on many occasions, interrupting train traffic. The first construction phase of the project will start this spring, Morgan said, once the department gets a permit from the U.S. Coast Guard. The project — which is expected to take about six years to complete once construction starts — will be a sweeping revitalization of the Walk Bridge. The structure, which is not a pedestrian bridge, is called the Walk Bridge after the city of Norwalk.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/norwalk-p-z-commission-approves-sale-land-walk-17872099.php

NorthPoint hasn’t publicly identified any prospective tenant or tenants for the facility, which would be built along West Dudley Town Road. But the Kansas City-based development company has a history of successfully leasing large distribution centers around the country, and currently controls nearly 150 million square feet of warehouse space in 15 states. NorthPoint is looking for Bloomfield planners’ permission to erect a 521,886-square-foot building with 118 loading docks. The plan goes to a hearing by the planning and zoning commission April 4 at 7 p.m. NorthPoint’s plan was approved by the wetlands commission earlier this year. Anticipating questions about traffic, NorthPoint has commissioned a report by F.A. Hesketh & Associates, a consultant that is frequently hired on behalf of developers. The traffic study is expected to be part of NorthPoint’s presentation at the hearing.

Developer eyes Bloomfield for a 522,000-square-foot warehouse

The office tower was a symbol of Stamford taking flight – from its manufacturing past and downtown blight toward urban renewal. The developers will keep the iconic tower, but they want to knock down a six-story Landmark Square building, known as No. 3, and replace it with a luxury apartment high-rise. If the project is approved, the new building will stand 31 stories – 10 stories taller than Landmark Tower – with 400 rental units facing Atlantic Street. Members of the Planning Board unanimously approved the proposal. The proposal is to demolish Landmark Square’s building No. 3, which has 134,000 square feet of office space, and replace it with 400 apartments, accompanying amenities, 420 parking spaces, and 5,200 square feet of retail and restaurant space on the ground floor. If the Zoning Board approves the plans, the developers hope to begin construction by the end of the year and complete it by 2026.

A Reimagined Landmark Square with 400 High-end Apartments Heads to Zoning for Approval

As Electric Boat ramps up hiring, Groton is looking at its plans to handle traffic and parking and is making sure its schools are ready. The town known as the Submarine Capital of the World is also attracting interest from developers. Currently, about 8,900 people work at the Groton plant and Electric Boat is looking to add 1,500 new employees at the shipyard over the next two to three years, according to Electric Boat Spokesperson Daniel McFadden. Electric Boat announced last month that it is expecting the number of employees in Rhode Island and Connecticut to reach its peak at 22,000 in 2033, The Day reported. The new employees will be primarily in the skilled trades involved in building submarines, such as welders, pipe fitters, carpenters, and machinists, as well as some employees working in engineering.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20230401/groton-preparing-for-growth-at-electric-boat/

About 75 municipal roads were paved across Stamford last year, up from about 35 the year before as the city looked to meet Simmons’ goal of doubling paving through an effort called “Pave Stamford,” said Matthew Quinones, the city’s director of operations. Quinones said the city is looking to pave another 70 or so roads during the 2023 paving season, which is set to start in April and run into November. Officials posted an initial list of 36 roads to be paved on the city’s website this week. “We want to continue that momentum this year so that we can give our residents quality, safe roads in our city,” Simmons told The Stamford Advocate. Simmons included a $5 million request for street patch and resurfacing — the city’s main account for road paving — in her capital budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, which is about midway through the paving season. She requested $500,000 for a separate account, which Quinones said the city will use to match funding from utility companies to ensure roads are paved curb to curb. Bonding would fund both requests.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/200-roads-4-years-stamford-mayor-sets-1st-term-17872237.php

After three hours of debate Wednesday night, the Region 4 Board of Education voted 7-1 to approve borrowing nearly $10 million to revamp athletic fields at the middle school and high school. The $9.6 million bond would cover a complete renovation of Valley Regional High School’s practice field and upper field, the partial renovation of its baseball and softball fields, and a renovation of the football field along with the construction of a six-lane running track. It also includes constructing two new soccer fields and a cross country course on a controversial piece of property the district purchased in 2017, known as the “Mislick property.” The district has scheduled a referendum on the project for May 2.

Region 4 School District OKs $10M for New Athletic fields, But Concerns Linger

Numerous East Haven officials, first responders and residents denounced a recent FAA study at a hearing on Saturday that projected minimal harm from the proposed Tweed New Haven Airport expansion. The environmental assessment was co-signed by New Haven city staff who embraced the economic benefits of the plan. Residents cheered as Carfora called for an environmental impact statement which, under the National Environmental Policy Act, would provide a more detailed study of the expansion’s impact on the nearby environment and residents. Carfora said the estimated 61,300 cubic yards of fill required for the expansion construction would only worsen flooding in the flood-prone airport and surrounding neighborhoods, explained that the increase of 21.62 acres in impervious surface would mean large volumes of polluted stormwater runoff and pointed to impacts from heavy airport traffic on the local town green and beach.

East Haven Residents, Officials Oppose Tweed Expansion at Saturday Hearing — a Sharp Split from New Haven

The Water and Sewer Commission this week helped a 454-unit proposed senior housing development clear its first major hurdle. Members on Tuesday voted 6-1 to allocate a majority of the sewer capacity Pelletier-Niantic LLC estimates it needs for 160 condominiums, 144 apartments, and a 150-bed assisted living section, as well as urgent care and radiology facilities that would be open to the public. The company’s principal is listed as New York-based architect Eric J. Pelletier. The developer could begin filing permit applications with the land use department “maybe in a couple months,” according to Pfanner. Multiple public hearings will be required as the project moves through the regulatory process. Of the 1.5 million gallons per day allotted for sewer lines in East Lyme, 1.02 million gallons are for municipal use while the rest are reserved for the state at sites including York Correctional Institution and Camp Nett. The town averaged about 708,000 gallons per day in each of the past five years, according to North.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20230329/east-lyme-sewer-commission-makes-room-for-senior-development/