The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 5 approved a plan by IJ Group LLC, controlled by Norwalk developer Jason Milligan, according to the city’s principal planner Bryan Baker. A narrow five-story office building currently sits atop an expansive ground-level retail floor on a 1.43-acre site at 24 Belden Ave., which IJ Group owns. The present structure contains about 45,000 square feet of office space and another roughly 45,000 square feet of retail space, according to an application filed with the city. IJ Group plans to renovate the office and retail spaces and build a five-story, 71,775-square-foot apartment building on one side of the present office-retail structure, and a five-story, 61,491-square-foot hotel on the other side, on the corner of Burnell Boulevard and Belden Avenue. Milligan said he plans to start the project in the summer, pending the permit approvals, and finish it in 18 months.

https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/102-unit-apartment-building-96-unit-hotel-approved-for-norwalks-belden-avenue

The Trump administration officially enacted a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada Tuesday, along with an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods. The tariffs on Mexico and Canada were initially set to take effect in February but were ultimately postponed for a month. The construction industry has been bracing for the impact for months. That’s why much of the tariff-driven price movement has likely played out by now, even ahead of the effective date, said Michael Guckes, chief economist at ConstructConnect. Construction input prices jumped 1.4% to kick off the year in January as contractors rushed to buy materials before tariffs went into effect, according to an analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors. That marked the largest monthly increase in two years. In other words, just the anticipation of tariffs had already been driving up prices on key materials, even before Tuesday’s deadline.

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/trump-tariffs-add-pressure-construction-pipeline/741431/

Following City Council approval Monday night, Norwich Public Utilities will apply for an additional $3.75 million from the state to continue inspecting its water lines for lead. Seventy percent of the $3.75 million would be paid to NPU as a grant, while it would receive the other 30% in the form of a 20-year loan, with 2% interest. The low-interest loan would be paid back through water rates charged to customers, Riley said, adding the rates will not increase due to the loan. NPU is among drinking water systems across the country that are being required by the EPA to identify and replace lead lines by 2037. Under the mandate, every public drinking supply needed to provide an inventory of their service lines, categorized as lead, non-lead, galvanized pipe, or unknown material by last October.

https://theday.com/news/712605/norwich-public-utilities-to-apply-for-375m-state-grant-to-investigate-water-lines/#

Significant projects to enhance baggage screening and improve the flow of passengers through the terminal are underway because Bradley International Airport needs to keep up with rebounding activity. The pandemic hit the aviation industry hard, and Bradley did not escape the disruption. In 2020, its annual passenger traffic plummeted 65% to 2.4 million. The projects’ estimated cost totals approximately $243 million. CAA has secured about $99 million in federal funding. The remaining $144 million will come from passenger-facility charges, which are included in the prices of airline tickets, and airport revenues, which comprise landing and terminal-use fees, as well as revenues from terminal concessions, parking and terminal advertising. Among infrastructure projects completed at the airport in the past few years, a ground transportation center opened in 2022. The hub includes 830 parking spots and a rental-car center.

https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/bradley-international-airport-windsor-locks-ct-20158949.php

Recent U.S. Census Bureau data shows that 18% of Norwalk’s residents identify solely as Black; recent data from the city shows that over a fifth of the residents of District B, comprising South Norwalk, identify as Black. The voting district has the highest proportion of Black residents in the city, according to the data. Restoring a sense of community to South Norwalk with the $15.5 million renovation project funded by federal, state and city dollars is crucial, officials said — especially with the rapid development that bolsters South Norwalk. The new community center will reinvigorate the generational community in South Norwalk, officials said. It is slated to open in the early spring of 2026, according to Robert Stowers, recreation and parks director.The project is funded by about $2 million from the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development; $1.2 million in state economic and community development funds; and about $12.3 million of Norwalk’s American Rescue Plan Act dollars, according to the city’s Building and Facilities Manager Alan Lo.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/south-norwalk-recreation-center-gentrification-20185210.php

Although phase one of the plans for the senior center is in motion, the city is still looking for funding to start phase two once phase one is completed, said Meriden City Manager Brian Daniels. Recently, the committee designated 116 Cook Ave. as the site for the new senior center. However, before construction can begin, the existing structures on the property must be demolished, and necessary site preparations must be completed to prevent flooding. Phase one of the project involves the removal and reconstruction of the Hanover Street Bridge and Butler Street Bridge, with completion expected by spring 2027. The project is backed by $16.8 million in funding, and LaRosa Construction began working in October.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/recordjournal/article/meriden-cook-avenue-flood-senior-center-funding-20185066.php

The state Department of Transportation is developing plans to improve the Wilbur Cross Parkway and Whitney Avenue interchange at exit 61, it announced in a press release. The project, designed to reduce crashes on the parkway and improve accessibility on Whitney Avenue in Hamden, is the extension of a plan set in motion more than 15 years ago to modernize the scenic highway, also called Route 15, and prevent rear-end crashes. The DOT said in the press release that the project would reduce crashes, provide “operational improvements” to the Route 15 interchange and “improve mobility” for everyone who travels on Whitney Avenue.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/hamden-wilbur-cross-route-15-project-stop-signs-20189657.php

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is up for another busy year repairing state roads and bridges. And that means motorists need to know: There are 532 active capital projects planned for this year to be aware of while traveling on state highways, bridges and roads. There are currently 181 in construction, 185 in planning, 110 in final design, 40 in predesign and 16 in contract processing, according to DOT. Among the multi-year projects are the largest in the state continuing this year: the East Lyme Interstate-95 Interchange 74 Improvements at Route 161, the I-91/I-691/Route 15 Interchange Project that spans Meriden and Middletown as well as the Norwalk Bridge Transmission Relocation Project in Norwalk.

Get ready for traffic jams: CT DOT has 532 active capital projects this year. See where they are.

Gov. Ned Lamont and legislative leaders reached a compromise Wednesday that returns his embattled nominee Marissa Gillett to chairmanship of a restructured Public Utility Regulatory Authority that will expand to five commissioners and move out of the executive branch. Under the deal, which could cool off what was expected to be a fiery Gillett confirmation hearing Thursday, Lamont gets a PURA chairman whose chances of clearing the legislature looked unlikely Wednesday morning. Legislative leaders get a redesigned state regulatory agency with more diversity of perspectives and on which the chairman’s power is diluted. Under the compromise deal, the two additional PURA appointees are expected to be John Fonfara and Holly Cheeseman, veteran lawmakers with long experience on the Legislature’s Energy and Technology Committee, which has oversight over energy and utility regulation.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ct-legislature-lamont-reach-11th-hour-compromise-to-expand-restructure-pura/ar-AA1zoYz5?ocid=BingNewsVerp&cvid=99bf6d9b85804484d502544b6116c46b&ei=15

A Vernon builder is proposing an age-restricted housing development in South Windsor that would include 44 single-family houses and three duplexes. Kenneth J. Boynton, president of Boynton Construction, in January applied to the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission for a zoning exemption and site plan approval for his “Orchard Pointe” senior residence development at 186 Foster St. The development would be restricted to owners ages 55 and above. The town’s Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission signed off on the plan on Feb. 5. It is tentatively scheduled to go before the Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 25. The development would be a planned community with underlying land, roadways, common areas and a community building owned by a homeowners association, according to Boynton’s application. It would also be served by public sewer and water.

‘55-and-older’ community proposed in South Windsor