CT Construction Digest Tuesday April 16, 2024
Naugatuck’s Rubber Avenue project rolls on
ANDREAS YILMA
NAUGATUCK – Borough delegates praised the teamwork between themselves and local officials to secure funding for the enhancement of the Rubber Avenue corridor and highlight some details of the funds.
The borough was awarded last month a $5.7 million in a Community Investment Fund grant to improve a section of Rubber Avenue. The CIF grant will be used for the Scott Street and Nettleton Avenue area to address stormwater issues and improve the development of the Risdon property, a 12-acre former manufacturing site at 0 Andrew Avenue. The funds will also supplement the borough’s current Rubber Avenue project that is underway.
Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess alongside state Reps. Seth Bronko (R-70) and David Labriola (R-131) as well as state Sens. Jorge Cabrera (D-17) and Joan Hartley (D-15) held a press conference on Monday at the site of the former Risdon Property located 1 Andrew Ave. They were all grateful to the CIF board awarding the funds.
“These funds will go a long way towards the Naugatuck Renaissance which so ably has been advanced by Mayor Hess and his entire team,” Labriola said as a portion of Rubber Avenue behind officials was closed due to construction.
Bronko said the grant is going to revitalize the Rubber Avenue corridor.
“This was a full team effort. This project is going to really connect Rubber Avenue, our Rubber Avenue. corridor to our downtown transit oriented development,” Bronko said. “It’s going help improve safety for our residents with sidewalk repair and help with drainage.”
Hess the borough is an industrial town that started with the river and after the industry left, officials are looking to remake Naugatuck.
“The land that I’m looking at is going to be a new municipal area with a new street department,” Hess said.
Hartley said this major infusion into the borough is all thanks to when CIF was first initiated by legislation in 2021 and eventually kicked off in 2022. where after the completion of four rounds, the borough has been predominant in two.
“This program is about unlocking untapped economic potential and Rubber Avenue is a prime corridor in the borough of Naugatuck and so with this infusion of state dollars, it will leverage significant private dollars and businesses will want to come here,” Hartley said.
Cabrera said this was a real group effort across regardless of partisanship
“It shows what can be done when you work across party lines, when you work with the state and the local elected officials to make sure that Naugatuck gets the funds that it needs.” Cabrera said.
In an effort to upgrade the area, the current Rubber Avenue project calls for a reconstruction of about two-thirds of a mile of Rubber Avenue from the intersection of Melbourne and Hoadley streets to Elm Street. That project will include drainage improvements, new sidewalks, landscaping along the road and a new modern roundabout at the four-way intersection of Rubber Avenue and Meadow and Cherry streets.
“With this CIF infusion, we will be able to put in place the infrastructure that is so important to really make this a key stone project. So this is a great project and I’m very pleased to be with my colleagues and Mayor Hess and his vision and being the renaissance man of Naugatuck,” Hartley said.
It’s a very unusual Connecticut situation for drivers.
When Route 9, a high-speed freeway, hits the center of Middletown, drivers can suddenly run into two red lights.
“We don’t have any others on any freeways in the state,” said Stephen Hall, the state Department of Transportation’s project manager for the project that will remove the signals. “It’s a very surprising situation if you’re not familiar with it either. A lot of crashes, a lot of injuries, and then a lot of congestion as well.”
Backups go as far north as Cromwell on weekdays, Hall said.
The safety issues with the signals at Washington Street and Hartford Avenue are so bad that there’s a crash on average every other day and an injury every week, Hall said.
There’s another safety issue too.
“The signals also make it far too easy to get on the wrong lane on the freeway,” he said. “Unfortunately, we’ve had fatalities that are caused from cars getting on the wrong way, and these signals create situations that can be difficult at 2 in the morning, especially for an impaired driver.”
The solution of removing them will make other improvements to the roads outside of downtown Middletown, including a roundabout at River Road south of downtown and a raised section of highway to allow for a northbound entrance at Hartford Avenue.
The signals are 0.36 miles apart and “don’t just congest Route 9, but actually cause a lot of the congestion on Main Street, because cars are kind of trapped with these signals, and they can’t get into or out of Middletown efficiently,” Hall said.
While the project to remove them won’t begin until 2027 and take four years, there will be a public informational meeting April 30 at Wesleyan University’s Beckham Hall (Fayerweather) at 45 Wyllys Ave.
“However, one of the benefits … is a lot of that work can happen off the highway,” Hall said. “So that entire new exit, that entire roundabout, can be fully constructed without impacting the traveling public, so it does help out with our construction operations quite a bit.”
That roundabout is going to be what drivers come to when they leave Route 9 at a new exit at Walnut Street, bringing them to River Road and into the city without having to take the highway into downtown at all, Hall said.
Harbor Drive access closed
The access to Route 9 at Harbor Drive will be closed, he said.
“And this ties in very well with the city’s riverfront redevelopment,” he said. “I know they’re putting in NoRa Cupcakes and Eli Cannon’s Tap Room down there, so it’ll change the nature of Harbor Drive from an on ramp to a nice low-speed and urban street to provide access to the riverfront.”
The traffic flow into downtown would be changed:
“Union Street to DeKoven Drive would be the decision points,” Hall said. “They can stay on DeKoven Drive, still passing Washington Street onto Rapallo … And then Rapallo at Main Street is where they would turn right onto Main Street to go over the bridge, that’s the primary access over the bridge.”
A new turn lane will be added to Rapallo Avenue to accommodate northbound traffic.
Washington Street exit gone
At Washington Street, Exit 23C, there will be no more access to Route 9 North and South. “Left turns to Washington Street are being removed to get rid of the signal on Route 9,” Hall said. “It’s a little bit counterintuitive, but that access actually caused a lot of problems with Washington Street and work significantly better if we remove the access at Washington.”
At Washington Street and DeKoven Drive, “it’ll be a much simpler intersection than what we have today,” Hall said. “Much shorter rail crossing, much simpler operations and significantly less traffic on Washington Street.
“It’s very challenging to get into Melilli Plaza at most times of the day because Washington Street backs up with so many vehicles,” he said. “That’s going to be gone by removing that access from Route 9 South to Washington Street.”
Farther north, at Exit 24, Hartford Avenue, “that northbound left turn to Hartford Avenue is being removed,” Hall said. “The other movements remain the same that are still accessed from Route 9 South free flow to Hartford Avenue. There’s access from Hartford Avenue onto Route 9 South and from Hartford Avenue onto Route 9 North.”
Those accesses to and from Hartford Avenue will be normal highway exit and entrance ramps, Hall said, eliminating the intersections with the signals.
New lane on to Cromwell
“Now once you get past St. John Square, that’s a free-flow acceleration lane and this left lane from Hartford Avenue continues all the way to Cromwell,” Hall said. “So we’re actually going to have three lanes north of the city to help get people out of the city as well.”
Another feature will be a wide pedestrian bridge to Harbor Park. “The city maybe a couple years ago started doing a lot of work with Cooper Robertson, an architectural firm for their Return to the Riverbend development,” Hall said.
The city of Middletown is planning to redesign Harbor Park, which is located along the Connecticut River.
“We met with them a few times, they had some ideas for a pedestrian bridge that’s really more of a destination than just a means of getting over Route 9.”
The bridge would connect with a raised platform planned behind Main Street. It’s actually part of a different DOT project that “would likely ride on the coattails of the removal of the traffic signals,” Hall said.
The traffic signal project’s $115 million cost will be paid for with 80% federal funds and 20% state funds.
The public meeting will begin at 5 p.m. with an open house, with a formal presentation at 7.
2 Wilton developments refine plans for hundreds of apartments on Route 7
Monica Salazar
WILTON — Two housing developments located on Route 7 are seeking approval from Wilton’s Planning and Zoning Commission to advance their proposed projects.
As both AMS Acquisitions and Fuller Development refine their plans, they are approaching the final approval stage, promising a future with more housing options in Wilton. The projects are among a handful of developments proposed or underway in the area that would add hundreds of apartments.
At 131 Danbury Road, AMS Acquisitions, a housing developer, has put forth plans for a four-and-a-half-story apartment building that would provide 208 apartments. Following their third public hearing on April 8, the applicants addressed adjustments made in response to feedback from the Planning and Zoning Commission.
During the previous meeting, concerns were raised regarding a waiver request aiming to reduce the 10-foot green buffer between the property and its northern neighbor. Following discussions with the owners at the 173-unit apartment building nearing completion at141 Danbury Road, AMS withdrew its waiver application and committed to preserving the 10-foot buffer zone, recognizing its potential to create a diversified four-season landscape. This adjustment required a reduction in the building’s size and the elimination of a proposed retaining wall. Additionally, three speed bumps were incorporated into the site plan to mitigate speeding in the parking lot.
Although public concerns were voiced about potential traffic impacts, a conducted traffic study, peer-reviewed by experts, concluded that the development would not significantly affect traffic conditions, as stated by Neil Olinski of SLR Consulting during the April 8 meeting.
In the days leading up to the April 8 meeting, the Wilton Police Department expressed traffic safety concerns regarding the proposed separate entrance and exit driveways, given the existing curb cuts along Danbury Road. While the traffic engineers supported separate driveways for the property, AMS Acquisitions approached their neighbors at 141 Danbury Road regarding a joint driveway, which was ultimately declined. The developers pledged to engage with the Wilton police to address traffic safety concerns.
“It is always our nature to incorporate comments and concerns to the extent that we can,” said Craig Flaherty, attorney for AMS Acquisitions, at the April 8 meeting.
At 64 Danbury Road, Fuller Development, LLC, is proposing the construction of 93 apartments near Wilton Corporate Park. The project consists of eight, three-story colonial buildings and a 2,683-square-foot amenity building, along with various recreational facilities.
Throughout the application process, Fuller Development has made design modifications based on input from the Planning and Zoning Commission to enhance the project’s aesthetic appeal. Similar to the 131 Danbury Road development, traffic engineers have approved the traffic impact assessment for the 64 Danbury Road project.
Due to its proximity to Wilton Corporate Park Common Interest Community, one of the proposed buildings falls within a DE-5 zone which would prohibit multifamily residential development. Fuller Development seeks to rezone this unit to the DE5R overlay, allowing for multifamily residential development, and has also requested an amendment to zoning regulations to permit construction on steep slopes in DE-5 and DE-5R Zoning Districts.
While the developers wait on the commission to approve their waiver, Fuller Development is also anticipating the completion of a peer review of the wetland report.
The Planning and Zoning Commission will convene for another public hearing on April 30 to assess whether AMS has addressed the safety concerns raised by the police department and to review progress made by Fuller Development.
Danbury school roof, classroom walls and more capital projects proposed in $10.17M construction bill
DANBURY — State lawmakers later this month will act on a request from the local legislative delegation to provide grant funds that would support a series of school infrastructure improvements, including new classroom walls at King Street Primary, air conditioning system upgrades at multiple schools and a partial roof replacement at one building.
The funding is requested in a proposed bill, No. 5183, which was introduced by state Reps. Bob Godfrey, D-Danbury, Rachel Chaleski, R-Danbury, Farley Santos, D-Danbury, Raghib Allie-Brennan, D-Bethel, Patrick Callahan, R-New Fairfield, and state Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, totals $10.17 million. The bill was referred to the legislature’s Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding.
The funds, if approved, would support 20 proposed projects, which include a $3.5 million project to install walls at King Street Primary, $1.45 million to replace air conditioning systems at multiple schools, a roof section replacement at Ellsworth Avenue School, an elevator replacement at Rogers Park Middle School, among others, according to a list of school district capital project needs that Godfrey shared with Hearst Connecticut Media.
Godfrey, who has taken the lead on the funding request, told Hearst that the local delegation is waiting to hear from state legislative leaders to find out which parts of the request will be included in the state’s final school construction bill.
The district’s list of capital needs also includes a $1.05 million request that would fund the replacement of windows and blinds at Pembroke School, $800,000 for the construction of new playgrounds across the district and another $600,000 for the installation of new security vestibules in 10 school buildings.
“We’re fighting for every single dollar that Danbury should get,” Santos said, adding that Mayor Roberto Alves “has been very active in that fight.”
“The needs are there,” Santos added, saying those needs have mounted “because of neglect over the years.”
Local leaders will not find out whether the funding will be approved until May 8, the last day of session, said Santos, who also serves as the city's community relations and constituent services advisor.
Board of Education Chairperson Gladys Cooper, when reached, said the board backs the projects that are proposed.
“We’re in favor of making sure our schools are safe. That’s what it adds up to be,” Cooper said.
Cooper said she hopes the bill will be approved.
If that happens, Cooper said, the board’s Sites and Facilities Committee and Interim Superintendent of Schools Kara Casimiro will review the next steps.
SOUTH WINDSOR — The mysterious "Project Fin" development could take a major step forward Monday, as the Town Council will vote on a proposed seven-year tax abatement for a $71 million renovation of a Talbot Lane facility.
A previous Town Council agenda listed the location of "Project Fin" as 30 Talbot Lane, but the final resolution to be considered Monday night is for a potential development at 50 Talbot Lane, the 19.85-acre property that includes the former Carla's Pasta food production facility.
The resolution on the Town Council's agenda states that the development, to be conducted by an out-of-state company named Project Fin, includes an estimated $71 million of investment for "significant upgrades to the existing building, equipment, and a planned expansion of approximately 28,000 square feet." The developers, in the proposal, say it is expected to create 210 jobs.
The resolution provides no specific numbers or percentages for the proposed tax abatement beyond the length of seven years, beginning on the grand list after a certificate of occupancy is obtained. A condition in the tax abatement would require Project Fin to refund all tax benefits to the town if it does not meet the estimated $71 million construction cost and continue to pay real estate taxes for at least seven years after the certificate of occupancy is issued.
Mayor Audrey Delnicki did not return a request for comment Friday.
South Windsor officials granted Carla's Pasta a seven-year, 70 percent tax abatement in September 2016, as a way to help keep the company in town as it considered a move to Utah. The company finished construction of a 70,000-square-foot expansion in the spring of 2018, nearly doubling the facility's floor space to roughly 153,000 square feet.
Carla's Pasta filed for bankruptcy in February 2021, citing losses due to the pandemic and debt liabilities between $10 million and $50 million. The company was purchased at auction for $26.3 million by Wisconsin-based Tribe 9 Foods in April 2021. In May 2021, the 50 Talbot Lane property was purchased for $13 million by NFP Real Estate LLC, a company sharing a Wisconsin business address with Tribe 9 Foods.
Director of Planning Michele Lipe said in 2015 that Carla's Pasta was approved for a larger expansion than the company had ever completed. She said future development of the property could use those existing approvals to build out the facility further.
Town Manager Michael Maniscalco declined to comment on Project Fin and the proposed tax
Assistant Town Manager Scott Roberts discussed "Project Fin" with members of the Economic Development Commission at a January meeting. Roberts said he met with the MetroHartford Alliance and the state Department of Economic and Community Development to discuss a company's plan to "invest between $85 million and $185 million" at the 50 Talbot Lane building.
Roberts and representatives from the DECD and the MetroHartford Alliance did not return a request for comment Friday.