Articles from Connecticut News

English Station Cleanup To Resume; Mayor Elicker Defends Plan

United Illuminating is preparing for six months of new remediation work addressing PCBs, petroleum hydrocarbons, and arsenic-contaminated soil at the old English Station site at 510 Grand Ave. Mayor Justin Elicker continues defending his controversial proposal to convert the contaminated 8.6-acre former coal and oil-fired power plant into a public park and outdoor pool.

Rally Sunday Against UI Monopole Project

A rally is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at Shiloh Baptist Church in Bridgeport to protest United Illuminating's proposed monopole project. The controversial plan calls for installation of 195-foot tall monopoles carrying power lines through Bridgeport and Fairfield, potentially taking one-third of the church's property. The grassroots group Empowering Fairfield is calling on UI to come to the table with solutions acceptable to affected communities and businesses. Source: patch.com

The Fairfield County Monopole Battle, Explained

The Connecticut Siting Council's consideration of United Illuminating's monopole project has sparked over two years of bipartisan opposition from lawmakers and Fairfield County residents. After a Superior Court judge ruled in April that the council wrongly approved the project without community input, the council voted again in September via straw poll to support the same plan.

Danbury Officials Highlight $100 Million In Downtown Development Projects

Mayor Roberto Alves and city officials announce over $100 million in public and private investments reshaping downtown Danbury. Projects include the $24.5 million Ives Bank development bringing 100 professionals to Main Street, Catholic Charities' 20 workforce housing units at 68 Main Street, and 79 senior units on Boughton Street by Connecticut Institute for Communities. The city is also advancing a $9 million state-funded Streetscape Renaissance Project adding fiber optics, underground utilities, and pedestrian-friendly enhancements.

$6.75M Teed Up For Armory Conversion

New Haven won approval from the Community Investment Fund 2030 board for $6.75 million to help convert the vacant 155,000 square foot Goffe Street Armory into a new vocational-technical school. The State Bond Commission must still approve the funds before they become final. Mayor Justin Elicker says the grant, years in the making, will fund rehabilitation work including exterior brownstone stabilization, roof repair, asbestos removal, ADA compliance upgrades, and reactivation of the historic drill hall. The project also includes plans for new housing units and other community uses.

171 More Apts Planned For 9th Square

The Elicker administration plans to sell George Street parking lots to a public-private partnership between Glendower Group and NYC-based developer LMXD for construction of 171 new apartments in New Haven's Ninth Square. The seven-story, 156,000-square-foot building will include 51 affordable units with income limits ranging from 30 to 80 percent of area median income, ground-floor retail space, and rooftop solar panels powering amenities including a fitness center and co-working area. The developers aim to secure financing by Q2 2026 with full completion projected for 2029.

New Haven Lands $50.5M For Quantum Leap

Governor Ned Lamont announced a $50.5 million state investment in downtown New Haven's Innovation District to boost the life sciences industry and position the city as a national hub for quantum technologies. The investment includes $32 million in public infrastructure improvements and $17.2 million for a third lab-office building at 101 College Street to be built atop the never-completed Route 34 connector.

RFPs Coming Soon For Ex-School Buildings

New Haven is preparing to issue Requests for Proposals for two former school buildings transferred from New Haven Public Schools to city ownership, including the former West Rock STREAM Academy and a Fair Haven Heights property at 311 Valley Street. Mayor Justin Elicker expressed optimism about receiving responses that will satisfy community needs while the school district expects to save approximately $74,000 annually in utility and maintenance costs.

Hartford Land Bank Opens New Chapter With Construction Build

The Hartford Land Bank is embarking on a new phase by undertaking new construction projects rather than exclusively focusing on rehabilitation of existing properties. This strategic expansion represents a significant shift in the land bank's approach to addressing Hartford's housing and development needs, creating additional opportunities for construction contractors and building trades. The new construction initiative demonstrates the land bank's evolving role in urban redevelopment and its commitment to comprehensive neighborhood revitalization through diverse development strategies.

Brownfield Remediation and Development

East Hartford is actively pursuing brownfield remediation and redevelopment projects to transform contaminated or underutilized industrial sites into productive properties for new construction and economic development. The brownfield program addresses environmental contamination while creating opportunities for commercial, residential, and mixed-use development on previously unusable parcels.

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