Heavy equipment and construction workers will roll in to peel up the asphalt, do some digging, pour a foundation and start putting up steel. In a couple of years, the 200-apartment first of three buildings in Phase 1 of the site’s redevelopment, to be known as “Square 10,” will appear. Clay Fowler, founding partner of Spinnaker Real Estate Partners and principal of LWLP New Haven LLC, to which the city transferred ownership of the property last month, said, “We couldn’t be more pleased or more excited to be here.” Spinnaker took over the project in August 2019 after the initial developer, Live Work Learn Play, a Montreal company that started the plan in 2013, withdrew after six years, faced with complications related to potentially moving utility lines and putting up a hotel that didn’t cost out. The total construction price for Phase 1A is expected to be $76 million, with the costs of the later phases still to be determined, city spokesman Len Speiller has said. Estimated completion dates are 2025 for Phase 1A and 2027 for phases 1B and 1C.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/New-Haven-breaks-ground-former-Coliseum-site-17575688.php

A nearly $12.3 million project that’s part of the town’s multi-year water system capital improvement plan will soon go to a town vote. A special town meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday in Meeting Room A of the Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center to schedule a referendum on funding for the proposed Bergstrom Well and Water Treatment Plant. Of the $12.3 million needed for the project, nearly $10 million would be for construction, roughly $1.8 million for professional services, $499,413 for contingency and $16,000 for legal fees. “It’s user-based, so the people who currently get town water will pay for this project and it’ll be over a 20-year loan,” he said. Straiton said their water rates will go up a bit, but it’s not yet known how much. “We’re applying for over $3 million in grants, which will help lower the cost, but the final number is not currently known,” he said.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Bethel-seeks-12-3-million-for-water-treatment-pla-17577506.php

The town is now one step closer to the replacement of Merryall Road bridge — which has been identified as one of the worst five bridges in Litchfield County and classified as being in “poor condition.” New Milford hired WMC Consulting Engineers in Newington to provide the design of the bridge and associated roadway and site improvements, along with the evaluation of additional alternative studies for the bridge replacement. Elder said for next year, the cost of construction is approximately $4.3 million — funding will be 50 percent from the state and 50 percent from the town. He said construction is expected to take seven months, to start April 1, 2023 and be finished on Nov. 30, 2023. A public hearing on the Merryall Road bridge’s replacement will continue at the Inland Wetland Commission’s next meeting on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Merryall-Road-bridge-replacement-s-impact-on-17577701.php

A Department of Transportation study four years in the making determined that reinstating a train station along Wall Street in Norwalk was not recommended for a number of concerns. The Wall Street Station Feasibility Study, which began in 2018, was completed and released by the DOT in July, with a final report briefing on Oct. 21, according to DOT documents. In the final study, a 104-page document, the DOT determined, “due to a combination of physical, operational, and cost factors, none of the station alternatives evaluated are considered viable.” With four existing train stations — East Norwalk, South Norwalk, Rowayton and Merritt 7 — in the city, the nearest of which is one mile from the study area, “it is likely that the projected ridership for a Wall Street station does not consist of new riders, rather a shift of existing users along the Danbury Line.” Cost estimates placed construction of the station at $60 million, according to the study. “A smaller investment into existing transit/microtransit systems could likely create a focused and highly effective shuttle service within the study area that links to the main line and points north of Danbury,” the study said.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/DOT-advises-against-return-of-Norwalk-s-Wall-17558909.php

Norwich voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved an overhaul of city schools by a vote of 5,600-3,660 and proponents now hope the transformation goes well beyond the aging buildings. The measure will consolidate seven elementary schools into four new schools to be built on the grounds of the John B. Stanton, Moriarty and Uncas schools and the former site of the Greeneville School. The Teachers Memorial Global Studies Magnet Middle School either will be renovated or replaced, and the Samuel Huntington School is slated to become the adult education center and school administrative offices. Although the ballot question asked voters to approve a $385 million bond for the work , the city’s anticipated costs ranges from $97 million to $153 million, depending on state reimbursement. Osten said Wednesday she will work with newly-elected Norwich state Rep. Derell Wilson and re-elected Reps. Kevin Ryan and Doug Dubitsky on legislation to raise Norwich’s reimbursement as a distressed municipality.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20221109/norwich-school-advocates-ready-to-start-work-on-385-million-reconstruction-project/

Voters on Tuesday approved $57.5 million in bonding for renovations and updates to four schools in the Lyme-Old Lyme School District with 3001 votes in favor and 2200 opposed. The referendum asked residents to approve or reject a request for $57,550,000 in bonds, with a state reimbursement of $9,775,000, to renovate and update four schools in the consolidated school district, at a net cost of $47,775,000. The referendum proposed updating heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems at Mile Creek School, Lyme School, Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School and Center School, all renovated between 18 and 20 years ago. Construction on the project would begin in the fall of 2023, with Center School and Lyme School completed in mid-2024, Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School completed in mid-2025, and Mile Creek School tentatively completed in August 2025.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20221108/lyme-and-old-lyme-residents-approve-57-million-schools-project/

Voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum for a $385 million overhaul of city schools, with four new elementary schools and a major renovation to one middle school. The project calls for consolidating the current seven elementary schools into four new schools that would be built on the grounds of the John B. Stanton, Moriarty Environmental Sciences and Uncas schools and the former site of the Greeneville School. The Teachers Memorial Global Studies Magnet Middle School either would be substantially renovated or replaced. The Samuel Huntington School would be renovated and converted into the adult education center and administrative offices. Although the bond question asked for $385 million, the city’s total costs would range from $97 million to $153 million, depending on state reimbursement levels.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20221108/norwich-school-construction-referendum-passes/

Avangrid announced in September that it would ask Connecticut to pay a higher price to buy power from the planned 804 megawatt Park City Wind project, and for Massachusetts to pay more for the 1,200 MW Commonwealth Wind project. Senior Vice President for Offshore Projects Sy Oytan said at the time that Avangrid needed to sell the power from those two projects at higher prices than it originally agreed to because the cost to build those projects has escalated with inflation, escalating commodity prices, and supply chain shortages. Connecticut agreed in 2019 to buy electricity from Park City at $79.83 per megawatt-hour. It agreed to buy 200 MW of electricity from Eversource and Ørsted’s 704 MW Revolution Wind project at $99.50/MWh, and another 104 MW from that project at $98.43/MWh. Avangrid has not made a formal request to renegotiate its contract with Connecticut yet, but a spokesman said they expect their case will be convincing. Eversource announced in May that it plans to sell its stake in its offshore wind partnership with Ørsted, turning its focus away from developing offshore wind projects and towards integrating wind into the grid onshore.

As Avangrid Moves to Renegotiate Wind Energy Prices, Eversource Sticks With Bids, Looks to Sell Wind Projects

The state rail plan ensures Connecticut complies with the federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, according to a DOT statement. Work on the new plan began in 2021 and several public hearings were held in the past year. State officials previously touted ambitions outlined in the plan, including decreasing travel time to New York by 25 minutes and potentially connecting Connecticut riders with New York’s Penn Station. A 2021 statewide Rail Improvements Economic Impact Study conducted by the Capitol Region Council of Governments and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, found that there has been a disinvestment in rail connectivity over the last 30 years, according to the plan. Additionally, DOT plans to invest in infrastructure improvements that will allow freight trains to increase service. To implement the plan’s initiatives, nearly $13 billion will be invested into the state’s rail system over the next five years. Of the $12.7 billion, $8.7 billion is for the New Haven line; $12.5 million for the Danbury line; $120 million for Waterbury and $921 million for Hartford, and “many more millions of dollars along the corridor,” Leone said.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Connecticut-rail-plan-economy-17564062.php

As permitting gets underway for a proposed $24 million, 384-acre second business park in Occum, neighbors are rallying opposition to the plan many say would ruin Norwich’s quiet corner. The first chance for public comment will be at a neighborhood meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Norwich Worship Center, 165 Lawler Lane. NCDC has an option to purchase the 17 properties for $3.55 million from M&A Holdings LLC and Byron Brook Country Club LLC. NCDC’s option expires Dec. 31. Meanwhile, NCDC and real estate consultant Henry Resnikoff have pushed forward with design and permitting. The City Council-zoning board approved zoning regulations for a Business Master Plan District in April 2021.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20221105/norwich-residents-get-chance-to-comment-on-proposed-second-business-park/