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Park City Wind Asks Connecticut to Adjust Energy Bid ‘to Reflect Current Economic Realities’
Avangrid Senior Vice President for Offshore Projects, Sy Oytan, said that the company will ask Connecticut for a “modest adjustment” to the state’s contract to buy power from the company’s planned 804 megawatt Park City Wind project south of Martha’s Vineyard, to “reflect the current economic realities.” Since Connecticut agreed to buy power from the Park City project in 2019 at a price of $79.83 per MWh, Avangrid has faced the same challenges as other businesses around the world – inflation, higher interest rates, supply chain shortages and escalating commodity prices, Oytan said. Park City is now scheduled to come online in 2027 instead of the original state date of 2025. Oytan told investors that the delay will allow Avangrid to use newly-developed wind turbines with a capacity of between 17 to 20 MW each.
Park City Wind Asks Connecticut to Adjust Energy Bid ‘to Reflect Current Economic Realities’
Preston residents to vote on amendment to Norwich Hospital sales agreement with Mohegan tribe
The Board of Selectmen Thursday endorsed the amendment to the Property Disposition and Development Agreement between the town and Mohegan tribe and scheduled a town meeting and vote for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 at Preston Plains Middle School. The Preston Redevelopment Agency approved the amendment Wednesday night. Cleanup work has virtually halted at the 393-acre property for the past two years as the parties wrangled over the terms of the final cleanup, to be funded with a $7 million state grant approved in 2020 and a $2 million state loan to the town if necessary. The amended agreement also changes terms to the $2 million low-interest loan the town obtained several years ago. The original language called for the loan to be forgivable if Mohegan development creates 200 permanent jobs, and the amendment allows loan forgiveness for either the 200 jobs or $200 million in construction value of new buildings.
https://www.theday.com/local-news/20220923/preston-residents-to-vote-on-amendment-to-norwich-hospital-sales-agreement/
A decade after Sandy, Bridgeport flooding project over budget and delayed
What began as a $64 million total vision is, at the 90 percent design stage, going to instead cost another $30 million. And as of this week it was unclear where those additional dollars, a figure that until now had not been made public, will come from or when ground will be broken. The most recent goal had been this winter. Resilient Bridgeport is being planned by the state’s housing department, with help from Connecticut’s departments of transportation and energy/environmental protection. City Councilman Scott Burns, a budget committee co-chairman, said he has been concerned about the lack of progress. Told Friday about the $30 million issue and asked whether the city could help foot that bill, Burns said, “We don’t have $30 million of capital lying around. (And) I wouldn’t be inclined to say we should go bond (borrow) for all that.” Hanks disputed the allegation that there has been poor communication. And she also sought to address any skeptics who believe Resilient Bridgeport is a failure and will never get finished.
https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/A-decade-after-Sandy-Bridgeport-flooding-project-17462645.php?src=rdctpdensecp
Hartford firm tapped to partner with Middletown to develop prized lots near river
The city has chosen a firm to be part of a public/private partnership to redevelop three parcels at the site of the former municipal garage near the Connecticut River. These “opportunity zones” are located on a total of 3.5 acres at 60 Dingwall and 195 deKoven drives, and at the rear of 222 Main St., something officials have described as prime real estate. The original request for qualifications sent out two years ago solicited only two applicants, Acting Director of Economic and Community Development Bobbye Knoll Peterson explained, so the city issued another, which drew five developers. Those were narrowed down to a final three, which were recommended to the mayor, she said. The project would initially kick off efforts to reconnect the city to the riverfront, which was cut off with the construction of Route 9, the deputy mayor said.
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Hartford-firm-chosen-for-Middletown-redevelopment-17462313.php
East Hartford’s first new apartment complex in 50 years key piece to revitalization plan
Local officials have approved an $81 million project that Mayor Mike Walsh says would be the first apartment complex built in town in nearly 50 years. The town’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved the project at its meeting on Wednesday. Plans call for the apartment complex — Concourse Park — to include a pool, dog park and other amenities, and officials hope the development will help bring more people to the town and the surrounding area. The project will create 406 temporary construction jobs and will bring an annual economic impact of $14.1 million to the community, according to the town’s website. Concourse Park will be developed by Jasko Development and Zelman Real Estate. It will include 470 units, Brian Zelman, of Zelman Real Estate, said at an August planning and zoning commission meeting.
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/East-Hartford-Concourse-Park-Silver-Lane-Plaza-17455010.php
Long-dormant Cheshire property could attract 300 apartments and a national grocery store chain
Officials with Eastpointe, a Fairfield developer, have presented Cheshire’s Planning and Zoning Commission with plans for a 300-unit apartment complex that would be built within Stone Bridge Crossing. The 107-acre mixed use development, is located near the intersection of Interstates 691 and 84 as well a main entrance off of Route 10. Town officials are declining comment on who that tenant might be. Burt Flickinger, managing director of Strategic Resource Group, said it is likely either Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. Cheshire has an ordinance that limits retail development to 50,000 square feet or less. Charter Development’s online leasing information has the two largest retail space in Stone Bridge Crossing one that is 23,000 square feet and another at 22,000 square feet. Mike Glidden, Cheshire’s town planner, said Eastpointe’s apartment complex plans will be formally read into the record Monday night with a public hearing scheduled for Oct. 24.
https://www.nhregister.com/business/article/cheshire-commercial-property-development-17459894.php?src=nhrhpdesecp
Mixed-use apartment development eyed for Berlin Turnpike
Nicholas R. Morizio, a broker with Colliers International and manager for property owner 550-554 Berlin Turnpike Associates LLC, submitted applications to the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission in July for the development project and a zone change from BT-1, Berlin Turnpike 1 designation, to BTD, Berlin Turnpike Development. The change, along with the site plan and special permit, would allow for development of a mixed-use project containing 106 residential units throughout three new buildings, with 20% of them affordable, a new retail building and reconfigured parking areas at 502, 522 and 554 Berlin Turnpike. A public hearing on the applications has been scheduled before the next regular Planning and Zoning meeting Oct. 6, where the board could take a vote.
Judge orders halt to Rhode Island truck tolls, rules system is unconstitutional
A federal judge has slammed the brakes on Rhode Island’s truck tolls and sided with the long-haul trucking industry’s complaint that the highway charges were unfair and unconstitutional. After U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith ordered Rhode Island officials to stop collecting truck tolls within 48 hours, Rhode Island Department of Transportation spokeswoman Lisbeth Pettengill on Wednesday afternoon said the tolls would be shut off “probably this evening.” The state has collected $101 million in truck tolls since the first one launched in 2018. Without the dozen toll locations across the state, Rhode Island would lose an estimated $40 million annually in revenue. Rhode Island is the only state in the country with a truck-toll system like the one Smith struck down. The trucking industry fought it since 2018 in large part to prevent any other states from trying their own.
https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2022/09/21/judge-ri-truck-tolls-unconstitutional-must-stop-charging-tractor-trailers/8072195001/
Middletown P&Z Approves Big Y Development on South Main
Despite concerns from several neighboring residents, the Planning and Zoning Commission overwhelmingly approved a proposal for a new Big Y on South Main Street near Randolph Road last week. The 6-1 decision made last Wednesday will allow Stone Point Properties to build a nearly 52,000 square foot Big Y supermarket at the site of the former Frontier and SNET fleet maintenance garage at 850 South Main Street – including a new traffic light on South Main and a 256-space parking lot. Traffic engineer Scott Hesketh said that, while the development would draw additional traffic, it could end up making it easier for Highland Avenue residents to turn onto South Main Street by creating more gaps in the traffic. Commissioner Sebastian Giuliano, who voted in favor of the application, said that the blinking traffic light has been a problem since it was installed. He said he hoped that the new development would be enough to convince the state that it needs to fix it.
New Milford makes way for temporary bridge on Cherniske Road
As the town continues taking the steps necessary for securing a permanent bridge on Cherniske Road, preparations for installing a temporary bridge began this week. The temporary bridge will be open to first responders only. The one-lane, temporary bridge was delivered by the contractor M&O Construction, who began working on the abutments on Monday. The purpose of installing a temporary bridge, Bass said, is “to give our first responders quicker access to that area.” Following an evaluation by the town, the bridge on Cherniske Road received a poor rating in 2017, and despite the town’s efforts to repair it, it continued deteriorating until the town closed it in January 2021. Once the temporary bridge is installed, the contractor will work with engineers and other officials to finalize the permanent bridge. Bass said the permanent bridge project still hasn’t gone out to bid, and the town is working with its engineers on this project.
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/New-Milford-makes-way-for-temporary-bridge-on-17452292.php
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