Plans for a prominent downtown corner that envision a new development anchored by a regional bus transit center could unfold far more slowly that city officials had hoped, now that the latest round of a state grant program does not include funds to tear down a vacant, decaying structure on the site. The city had sought $22.3 million from the state’s Community Investment Fund to demolish the One Talcott Plaza office and parking garage complex between Capital Community College — the former G. Fox & Co. department store — and the burgeoning North Crossing project around Dunkin’ Park, the city’s minor league ballpark. Instead, at this week’s CIF board meeting, the redevelopment project — estimated to cost $200 million — received a planning grant of $250,000. CIF, which seeks to foster economic development in traditionally underserved communities, approves grants on a competitive basis. This week, 35 projects and programs were approved for funding, totaling $77 million. The projects included $10 million for the redevelopment of the languishing Enfield Square mall. The next round of grants will be voted on Sept. 30.

Massive CT redevelopment to unfold slower than hoped. Federal transportation funding could be issue

The U.S. DOT has rolled back a Biden-era policy that included environmental and social considerations in federally funded infrastructure projects, according to a Monday memo from the agency. The move rescinds two Federal Highway Administration memos, issued in 2021 and 2023, both titled “Policy on Using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Resources to Build a Better America.” Former President Joe Biden’s policy advised state and local agencies receiving funds from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to prioritize projects that advance equity and environmental goals. The recission memo states that that policy will have no role in DOT programs going forward. The rescission is the latest effort from the Trump administration to dismantle Biden’s signature policies. Previously, the DOT announced that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had authorized a series of actions to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda to “rescind woke policies” and roll back regulations. In January for example, the DOT said it would give grant preferences to “communities with marriage and birth rates higher than the national average.”

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/dot-removes-equity-environmental-criteria/742173/

Lamont met separately with the Trump’s Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum while in the nation’s capital in late February for a meeting of the National Governors Association. A spokesman for the governor said each meeting lasted approximately 30 to 45 minutes. While the meetings generally covered the region’s energy challenges, Lamont said they also waded into specific discussions about federal permitting for state-of-the-art nuclear reactors as well as the future of Constellation Energy’s liquefied natural gas import terminal in Everett, Mass. Connecticut, like the rest of New England, gets the majority of its electricity from nuclear and natural gas, with the much of the remainder split between renewable sources such as solar and wind, along with imports from Canada. Trump promised to dramatically lower the cost of energy, largely by increasing the production of oil and natural gas, Lamont pointed out. But in New England — where there are no mines or wells extracting fossil fuels — the high cost of electricity is driven in part by the need to transport natural gas long distances across pipelines running through multiple states. Increasing the region’s supply of natural gas, therefore, will require expanding pipelines crossing over from Canada or New York, or constructing new facilities capable of offloading LNG from ships. Either of those options would likely require buy-in from Connecticut’s neighboring states.

After D.C. meeting, Lamont sees path to working with Trump on energy

The latest bids for installing sewers in the beach communities came in under budget, putting the project on track even as many residents continue to oppose the plans as both overpriced and unnecessary. The town has struggled for more than a decade to settle on a plan that would satisfy the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection at a cost that local residents on fixed incomes can afford. The town’s Water Pollution Control Authority is analyzing bids received in late February. The lowest was $8.7 million for the work in Sound View and Area B, less than the $9.5 million approved by referendum in 2019. The Old Colony Beach Club Association is also reviewing bids for its construction and the shared infrastructure for the project, which was below the amount authorized for bonding. The sewer project for the Miami Beach Association still has not received bids, and the Old Lyme Shores Beach Association has yet to request bids.

Low Bids Give Sewers a Boost in Old Lyme

Tilcon is proposing a zoning change that would allow it to expand its basalt quarry operations by another 83 acres. The proposal would rezone parts of Long Swamp Road and Nike Road from a residential zone to a quarry zone. According to an agenda for the Planning and Zoning Commission, a public hearing will be scheduled for April 8. He said, if the request is approved, there would be a requirement for a six foot chain link fence with warning signs wherever quarry activities are happening within 100 feet of the protection zone line. DeVoe’s last day as town planner is March 13. Any further actions with this project, he said, will have to be handled by his successor. The application by Tilcon states that the consultant for this project would be SLR International Consulting.

https://www.bristolpress.com/news/tilcon-looks-to-add-83-acres-to-quarry-with-zoning-change/article_a792b016-fdd8-11ef-8c5e-5f68f6d9731a.html

The state Department of Transportation plans to construct a new maintenance facility on state land at 900 Boston Post Road East. DOT spokesperson Joe Cooper said the contract for the work is expected to be awarded by late March. Construction is expected to begin this winter, with completion anticipated by fall 2026. The DOT site at 900 Post Road East is bordered by Post Road East to the north, Sherwood Island Connector to the west, Hillandale Road to the south and West Parish Road to the east. The plan is to construct a 23,000-square-foot maintenance facility building with associated parking, storage structures and underground utilities generally within the western portion of the site.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/ct-dot-new-maintenance-garage-westport-20209372.php

City Engineer Abdul Quadir said the project “was ready to go to bid in 2005 but due to lack of funding has been postponed many times.” Quadir said the culvert has poor subsurface conditions and extensive piling — the installation of new columns — will be required. The current wooden piles will be replaced, he said. The project will also require the relocation of a number of utilities, including gas, electric and a water main, he said. The delays require the city to apply for new permits from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and to modify its design because of new guidelines, Quadir said. “Costs have escalated and now will be around $3 million depending on the final cost estimate from the Regional Water Agency for water main relocation,” he said.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/west-haven-close-parts-spring-street-culvert-20204163.php

The hearing will take place during the next Operations Committee meeting March 20. The rehabilitation of the bridge was estimated to cost $6.7 million, according to a report from construction and engineering firm BL Companies. The bridge was built in 1888 and closed to cars in 2002. It deteriorated as lawmakers argued over how to replace it. The city put a prefabricated bridge, which cost $1.6 million and was open to pedestrian traffic only, next to the bridge in 2023 after the original bridge was closed to all traffic. Multiple representatives during a previous Operations Committee meeting last month, wanted to hold a public hearing on the project. The committee, however, voted 6-3 to move through the resolution on the bridge rehabilitation.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/stamford-west-main-street-bridge-board-of-reps-20202005.php

The Northern Middlesex YMCA is getting closer to raising the millions it needs to renovate its historic building, transforming it into a modern, state-of-the-art community center. So far, the All Together Better campaign has garnered about $15 million in state, local and federal money. The Y recently received $8 million in state Community Investment Funds, aid the agency applied for three times, Rulnick said. Last year, a $1.1 million award came in from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Project. Although the project is estimated to cost between $15 million and $16 million, Rulnick added, “inflation in these construction projects is so significant.”

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/ymca-middletown-ct-8-million-fed-grant-renovation-20206683.php

Time is running out to save the Timex Group headquarters, considered by some as a gem of 21st-century corporate architecture but by others, a property that has left a small western Connecticut town divided over its place in future economic development. In the face of unfolding plans for demolition and redevelopment for warehousing and distribution, preservationists fighting for the building’s survival view one of the structure’s greatest attributes being the physical incorporation of Timex’s identity as the iconic watchmaker into the main floor. Timex, which is downsizing its space and is expected to relocate to Shelton this spring, sold the building and grounds in 2023 to a development partnership for $7.5 million. The developer — Southford LLC — plans to construct a warehouse and distribution facility of 670,000 square feet in two buildings, nearly 10 times the size of Timex.

CT company’s iconic headquarters targeted for demolition. Time running out for effort to save it