The town will hold a referendum on Tuesday to decide whether to add $8.1 million to the budget to transform the former Academy School building into a community center. That’s 50% more than the cost of the project approved in 2022, and some critics say they expect the final cost will be even higher. Arcari argued that he had followed the current International Building Code standards, on which the Connecticut state building code is based. According to Arcari’s criteria, the project was a “level 2 alteration,” meaning it did not involve a change of more than 50% of the original building’s footprint and therefore did not require upgrading the entire building to comply with energy efficiency regulations for new construction. “There’s been a little bit of a disagreement between the building official and the architect about what part of the code applies to what part of the renovation,” Lyons said. “We’ll go to the state to appeal to waive certain things.” Lyons clarified that the project had a contingency fund of 8% of the project cost, slightly more than $1.5 million.

Madison Votes on Adding 50% to Community Center Budget, Critics Say Cost Will Be Higher

The 80-acre property is seen as promising for future redevelopment — given its location on the river — and now, so are more than an estimated 1,000 acres to the south and west that all could become part of a massive, new redevelopment district in Hartford’s gritty South Meadows. The district, part of a bill in the legislature this session, would include a wide swath of land between the Connecticut River and Wethersfield Avenue, taking in not only the trash-to-energy plant but also the Connecticut Regional Market and Hartford-Brainard Airport. The proposal for the new development district was tacked onto a bill that seeks to transfer control of the trash-to-energy plant to the Capital Region Development Authority to guide its future redevelopment. Closing an airport requires the approval of the General Assembly and the backing of the Federal Aviation Administration. If approved, a closure could take years. A $1.5 million legislative study last year recommended keeping the airport open, but it did outline possible alternatives should the decision be made to close it.

Hopes are high for redevelopment of CT trash-to-energy plant. Now 1,000 acres are being looked at

In 2021, in response to concerns about underrepresentation of minority businesses and the alleged presence of “front businesses” taking advantage of the system, the legislature commissioned a study examining whether state contracts were being awarded fairly. Last December, the results of that study were published — and they largely validated the concerns minority contractors have raised for years. Office of Policy and Management Secretary Jeff Beckham said the state needed better data collection in order to comply with the bill’s requirements, and DAS Commissioner Michelle Gilman questioned what would happen if available contractors did not bid on the contracts. Gilman also noted that requiring CHRO to set goals for each project without a clear timeline could stall projects. Minority contractors say they operate within a system that favors larger, established firms over theirs. That disadvantage is present in every step of the process, from bidding to purchasing materials, they say.

Minority contractors say CT not following its own rules, proposed fix doesn’t go far enough

After three years of eager anticipation, online retail giant Amazon is on its way to delivering on a towering and massive state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution center to Waterbury and Naugatuck. With the logistics hub, Amazon is also expected to bring the equivalent of up to 1,000 full-time jobs to a part of the state with the highest regional rate of unemployment. The construction of the five-story, 3.2 million-square-foot building is additionally anticipated to create 300 construction jobs. No construction timetable has been announced yet. The project developer has three years to complete construction under its contract, but can request two extensions totaling 18 months. Waterbury and Naugatuck officials have been advised Amazon is looking to have the fulfillment center up and running in 2027.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/waterbury/article/waterbury-naugatuck-ct-amazon-fulfillment-center-20290737.php

After more than a decade of planning, New Haven has nearly concluded the fourth and final phase of its section of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail that stretches toward downtown. Mayor Justin Elicker said the path should open in May, with only some electrical work yet remaining. The trail will provide more transit options for cyclists, scooter users and pedestrians away from roads with cars, buses and trucks, he said. The project received approval in 2019 and was slated for completion in 2021, but the city’s date of expected finish was continually pushed back. Elicker said the trail fits into a wider strategy of creating accessibility for more modes of transportation; the newly finished section of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail is an advantage to people seeking to go downtown where it’s more dense than other parts of the trail, he said.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/new-haven-finish-farmington-canal-trail-20302588.php

The Stamford Zoning Board gave final approvals for plans for a warehouse and “flex industrial” building at the site of the former World Wrestling Entertainment studio on Hamilton Avenue. The Zoning Board reviewed some modifications to the initial proposal to construct a 112,757 square-foot structure at the former broadcast studio at 120 Hamilton Ave., which was once used for wrestling promotions and shows by the WWE. The Zoning Board gave unanimous approval. The project was previously authorized by the Planning Board. The developers behind the planned construction are the V20 Group based in Darien, under the leadership of Joe and Jon Vaccaro.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/stamford-hamilton-avenue-wwe-20300603.php

One year ago, all traffic on Interstate 95, one of the busiest highways in the country, was halted in the heart of Norwalk. Traffic flows freely along Interstate 95 in Norwalk under the remnants of the Fairfield Avenue bridge on Monday morning, May 6, 2024. Crews demolished the span last week and over the weekend after a tanker carrying gasoline ignited under the bridge last Thursday, authorities said, leading to massive traffic jams throughout the area. This fiery collision made national news, as for three days, I-95 traffic between New York City and Boston was choked while crews worked to clear the way. Within 80 hours, the damaged overpass was removed, and all lanes reopened, relieving the congestion but leaving Norwalk residents without a vital connection to the busy Route 1 corridor with no bridge over that section of highway. It took 80 hours of round-the-clock work to reopen the highway. Today, the scars of the accident are gone, and traffic flows under and over the bridge as if it never happened.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/norwalk-i-95-fiery-crash-before-after-photos-20300019.php

Work has begun on Spruce Street enhancements that will complement the 41 apartments planned for the former Nathan Hale School. Manchester will construct a neighborhood pocket park at 140 Spruce St., currently a parking lot next to the historic Nathan Hale School building at 160 Spruce St. targeted for redevelopment by Farmington-based developer Parker Benjamin. Town Engineer Jeff LaMalva said construction began in April and is scheduled for completion by the end of August, with minor impacts to traffic expected during the portion of the work within the road. The project also includes a 17-stall public parking lot to be built at 163 Spruce St., across the street from Nathan Hale School. An existing gazebo will remain but be moved further back on the property. Construction on the lot is anticipated to begin in August, with completion expected by October. The $2.3 million project is funded primarily by American Rescue Plan Act funds, with the parking lot portion paid for with Community Development Block Grant funding.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/journalinquirer/article/ct-manchester-spruce-street-nathan-hale-farmers-20302223.php

The StoneRidge retirement community has announced plans for a $40 million addition to its 32-acre campus that will include a new wing with 72 apartments attached to its existing buildings. StoneRidge Senior Living Community officials said Monday that plans still need to be approved by the Stonington Planning & Zoning Commission, but they are hoping to break ground for the project next spring and be finished within three years. The new wing will be the final phase of the retirement community project. Opened as a continuing-care community in 2004, it offered a range of options for residents as they age including assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. StoneRidge said SB&A Architects of Ames, Iowa, has been hired to do the building design work. The construction firm has not yet been named.

https://theday.com/news/735855/stoneridge-in-mystic-plans-40-million-expansion/

Amazon has completed the purchase of 200 acres of land in Enfield for $20 million, with the company having already aired plans to build a new distribution warehouse. “Amazon represents a major opportunity for job growth and economic development,” said Aaron Marcavitch, Enfield’s director of economic and community development on Wednesday. “We are glad they chose Enfield and Connecticut and look forward to working effectively with them through the permitting and development process.” Earlier in April, Amazon received approval to build a huge warehouse on nearly 160 acres on the Waterbury-Naugatuck line, with a projected employee base of 1,000 people. Amazon is slated to release its first-quarter results on Thursday afternoon. Profits totaled $59.2 billion in 2024, as revenue rose 11% from a year earlier to $638 billion.

https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/ct-amazon-warehouse-enfield-land-purchase-20302126.php