THE SUZIO STORY 125 YEARS OF FAMILY ENTERPRISE PHILANTHROPY AND SERVICE

The Meriden Historical Society is hosting an exhibit entitled "The Suzio Story - 125 Years of  Enterprise, Family, Philanthropy, and Service" at its Museum and History Center, at 41 West Main Street in Meriden every Sunday in October from 11:00 to 3:00

Featuring memorabilia and photographs from Suzio headquarters on Westfield Road as well as videos of interviews with past and present employees

Capturing the remarkable story of a 21 year old Italian immigrant, Leonardo Suzio, who grew Suzio York Hill into one of the most successful and enduring family-owned businesses in Connecticut history starting in 1898 

Including the role of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation Suzio members and Henry Altobello in the evolution and growth of the business from building (1910's) to road construction (1930's) to building materials (1955 - today)

Highlighting Suzio loyalty to its origin city Meriden, its employees, its vendors, and its community.

New Canaan Police Department might start renovations in November, in project that could cost $29M

Shantel Guzman

NEW CANAAN — The renovation and relocation of the New Canaan Police Department is expected to begin around Thanksgiving, members of the Police Department Building Committee told the Town Council during a Sept. 20 meeting. 

Last month, the committee approved a guaranteed maximum price for the project of $29 million, which was then approved by the Board of Selectmen. 

For the renovation, the town has a contract with architecture group SLAM Collaborative and Turner Construction Company. 

During the recent Town Council meeting, members of the Police Department Building Committee gave an update on the progress, cost and timeline of the police station renovations. 

"As far as timing…we've been saying 18 months, (but) you should be aware that Turner's schedule is 13 months," said Bill Walbert, chairman of the building committee. "Things happen in this business, as you all know, so we've been saying 18 (months)." 

The renovation, which has been in the works for years, means the police station will be temporarily housed on Locust Avenue, in the former Board of Education building. The Board of Education has since moved its central offices to 220 Elm St.

Almost $2 million of the project's budget is going toward renting and construction for the Locust Avenue property. 

"(The) construction is basically to have Locust Avenue able to have the police department there for… almost two years (while) the construction will be going on," Walbert said. 

Walbert expressed his enthusiasm for the project to the Town Council, noting that the planning phase of the project is wrapping up. While he said he's  optimistic about the project's progress, he also acknowledged that things tend to go awry during construction projects.  

"So far so good, but the last thing I want to do is a victory dance," Walbert said. "We haven't been punched in the nose yet. We know that's going to happen. This is a very old building…We know something will happen that makes things not go exactly according to plan."

CT OKs $101M for projects such as Bloomfield's center, a Windsor park and public housing in Enfield

Emily DiSalvo

BLOOMFIELD  — The state Community Investment Fund Board approved $101 million in funding Tuesday for projects that would allow Bloomfield to draft plans for its downtown, create a new park in Windsor, a public housing development in Enfield, and a range of other projects across the region and state. 

In the Hartford region, the CIF funded projects in Bloomfield, East Hartford, Enfield, Hartford, Windsor and Windsor Locks. CIF is a statewide funding program available to eligible towns and nonprofits within those towns based on determined need. Applicants, whether it be the municipality or the non-profit, can submit applications multiple times a year. 

The board, chaired by House Speaker Matt Ritter and Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, includes a variety of state senators and representatives as well as the state treasurer, state comptroller, the secretary of state and other leaders. While many of the project allocations are above $1 million, Sen. Douglass McCrory shouted out the smaller applicants. 

"It is supposed to be community investment and transformational projects, but smaller projects can transform a community in a way that can be more impactful than a $2 million project, downtown or in another community," McCrory said Tuesday. 

In Bloomfield, a grant for $250,000 will allow the town to create a plan for redeveloping the town center. 

"It's a great day for Bloomfield," said Town Councilman Kenneth McClary. "Our state partners, they see the vision and they want to make sure that we're successful. And so I appreciate everybody who had a hand in it."

Bloomfield's town center, which has been in the news for ongoing conflict and litigation between the town government and the landlord at the Wintonbury Mall, will be reimagined with the state funding, according to Mayor Danielle Wong. 

"It does include Wintonbury Mall, but it's not just for Wintonbury Mall," Wong said. "It's really, how do we connect with each other? It's about biking. It's about walking safely. It's about reimagining our sidewalks and where we park and what that looks like in the future, and how to interact with our municipal buildings such as our new library that's going to break ground at the end of October."

Justin LaFountain, Bloomfield's director of building and land use, said his town hopes to hire a consultant to complete the plan and engage the community within six to 10 months. Over time, LaFountain said the idea is to redevelop other corridors in town as well.

"We are looking at the other areas of town too," LaFountain said. "We're not just focused entirely on the town center. But what we're thinking right now is the the economic development really has to start in this area, and then it can branch out further."

Bloomfield also applied for two other grants according to LaFountain, which were not accepted. The CIF board received 177 applications requesting just over $620 million, only 21 of which were approved.

In a second win for Bloomfield, the Hartford-based non-profit "Advocacy to Legacy" received a planning grant as well for its "one stop shop" for minority-owned businesses on Cottage Grove Road in Bloomfield. 

"I know there was a threshold for a million dollars, but projects like this to support small community-based organizations are going to be transformational," McClary said. 

Other Hartford-region projects that received funding: 

Town of Windsor - $4 million

The Town of Windsor received $4 million to create Wilson Park in what is a currently vacant plot of land next to the on-ramp for I-291.

The CIF application describes the park as "multi-dimensional" and it is expected to provide a variety of amenities to people in the Wilson and Deerfield neighborhoods of Windsor.

Ritter called the plan for the park "really organic."

"They had a whole planning session around these renovations to Wilson Park — community engagement, community meetings — and they just came up with this plan that was really organic," Ritter said. "And that's exactly what this was meant to be. And I just think it's really great when you see communities buying into the process."

Enfield Manor - $11.3 million

CIF funding will allow for the demolition of the existing Enfield Manor, a housing authority facility for the elderly and disabled population. It will also allow for the construction of 99 new one-bedroom units and community space for residents. 

The relocation plan for residents is a phased approach that will advance as construction continues. 

East Hartford Homes - $3 million

East Hartford Affordable HOMES received $3 million from this round of funding to construct a community facility for a 150-unit "Veteran's Terrace" housing project.

Two Hartford projects totaling $13.3 million

The CIF Board approved two Hartford-related projects in this round of funding. 

The first was $9.1 million in funding for expansion of Real Art Ways. The money will go toward additional cinema screens, live arts and educational spaces, renovated galleries and elevator and roof repair.

A second applicant, the YWCA, received $4.2 million to renovate the The Center for Racial Justice and Gender Equality and create a new Racial Justice and Gender Equity Center. This will help prepare women for careers in tech industries, provide financial literacy training and entrepreneurship programs. 

Town of Windsor Locks - $4.8 million

Windsor Locks received $4.8 million to fund the first two phases of a plan to restore the historic train station on the Hartford Line.

Phase 1A will complete a restoration of the train station, including public restrooms for Hartford Line passengers and those connecting to
Bradley International Airport.

Phase 1B involves acquiring the property at 255 Main St, adjacent to the train platform, to provide a path for redevelopment into 75 units of transit-oriented and mixed-income housing. 

Bridgeport gets $22.5M boost as CT funds demolition of shuttered PSEG coal-burning power plant

Brian Lockhart

HARTFORD — State officials are committing themselves to a massive $22.5 million investment in the economic development of Bridgeport's waterfront — the razing of an industrial landmark, the closed coal-fired power plant.

"Every major project in the city starts with a big step," Thomas Gaudett, Mayor Joe Ganim's deputy chief-of-staff, said in response. "This is a first big step. ... And we're very happy and excited."

But any eventual payoff is likely years, and a lot more money, away. There are currently no plans for redeveloping the still privately owned harborfront site at 1 Atlantic St. in the South End. And even after the structure comes down, the soil will require extensive and costly environmental remediation.

"It's ugly (but) it's too much money for one project that's not going to bring any fruit anytime soon," City Councilman Jorge Cruz of the South End said. "They can knock (it) down and clean it up, but we're talking years down the road before it gets developed." He said he would prefer fellow Democrat Ganim focus on smaller blighted properties in the area. 

On Tuesday members of the board of the Community Investment Fund voted without debate to spend over $101.3 million on nearly two-dozen projects around Connecticut. By far the largest amount on the list is the $22.5 million to demolish the PSEG-owned plant.

Recognizable from Long Island Sound, the highway and train line by its red-and-white striped smokestack, the facility was decommissioned in 2021 as part of a deal initiated under former Mayor Bill Finch's administration to allow PSEG to construct a new gas-fired plant nearby. 

As reported this past July, the local regional planning organization — the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments — has hired a consultant to conduct a 12 to 15 month analysis of potential redevelopment scenarios for the prime waterfront property.

In the meantime current Mayor Joe Ganim's administration and Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont's office were in talks about how to cover the costly demolition. Ganim defeated Finch in 2015's Democratic mayoral primary and is running for a third consecutive four-year term.

The city submitted a formal application to the CIF, which the state legislature established two years ago to target dollars specifically for projects/needs in under-served and marginalized Connecticut communities. The requests are reviewed by a 21-member board of legislators and other state officials. Like other state borrowing, that group's recommendations, including those issued at Tuesday's meeting in Hartford, have to be approved by the governor-chaired state bond commission.

"The governor is making a huge bet on Bridgeport," Gaudett said.

Given all of the complexities involved not just in getting rid of the plant, but dealing with underground contamination there, Gaudett also acknowledged, "There are plenty of details to be worked out still."

One of the details is the true cost of demolition. He said the $22.5 million figure was based on a "rough estimate" provided by an unidentified company with experience razing coal-fired power plants. However, Gaudett noted, that company did not have access to the actual property.

But, Gaudett continued, with the CIF funding secured, the next step is for the city, state and PSEG to enter into a three-party agreement "and we will figure out the next steps to take the building down."

PSEG in a statement said, "We welcome the Community Investment Fund’s announcement and look forward to continuing to work with the State of Connecticut, the Lamont administration, the state legislative leadership and the City of Bridgeport."

But the company did not clarify if and when it intends to sell. It sold the new gas-fired plant which came online in 2019 last year.

"We are evaluating best future use of the property," PSEG said.

In contrast Gaudett made it clear it is the city's desire to figure out "how do we get to that point where we could hand off this property to someone" to be re-purposed for a combination of housing, commercial and retail uses. 

In order for future ground to be broken, however, that soil needs to be free from any contaminants that have accumulated on the land over the decades. Across the harbor on the formerly industrial Steelpointe redevelopment, for example, work on a 1,500-unit luxury apartment complex was recently delayed because of federal requirements requiring a more extensive clean-up of pollution than initially thought. 

And on top of that work, any future plans also need to take into account existing utility-related infrastructure owned by other companies besides PSEG on or in the vicinity of the 1 Atlantic St. property, as well as the new gas-fired power plant.

Some of those questions should be answered by the mostly federally funded MetroCOG re-use analysis. Matthew Fulda, that organization's executive director, said Tuesday it was not involved in the city's application for the $22.5 million.

"We're going to continue the study work that we're starting right now," Fulda said. "Obviously the funding for demolition is going to play into that. (And) we're still going to do a significant community engagement process to ensure the public is part of the planning."

There was little specific mention of the power plant demolition when the CIF board met Tuesday.

But at one point member House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora, R-Branford, said he would like in the future to be provided more details about individual projects, their local impacts and whether they are ready for construction.

"It's not to be critical of these projects. By and large the bulk of them have been great," he said. "(But) how 'baked' are these projects? We want to make sure they are 'shovel-ready.'"

Bridgeport has two legislative representatives on the CIF board, Democrats state Sen. Marilyn Moore and state Rep. Antonio Felipe, whose district includes the South End. Felipe Tuesday told his colleagues he was thankful for the $22.5 million investment.

"If you look at PSEG in Bridgeport ... for a lot of us that's represented sickness going on in our neighborhoods," Felipe said, referring to the coal-fired plant's adverse environmental and health impacts. "And we're now able to see that come down. This is the beginning of a project. Obviously cleanup is going to be a lot more expensive. But this is how you begin to rebuild neighborhoods."

$26M affordable housing project approved for State Street in Hamden

Austin Mirmina

HAMDEN — A New York-based developer has won approval to build affordable housing on State Street, bringing much-needed assistance to renters amid a statewide shortage of low-cost units.

The $26 million project, submitted by Regan Development Corp. and approved at the Hamden Planning and Zoning Commission's Sept. 20 meeting, includes the construction of 64 units divided among three buildings at 2980 State St. and the addition of infrastructure improvements aimed at making the roadway more pedestrian-friendly.

"Statewide we have a shortage of affordable housing units and I’m really glad to have Hamden as part of the solution in building more affordable housing," Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett said Tuesday.

Ken Regan, vice president of Regan Development, did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment Tuesday.

Thirty of the rentals will be one-bedroom units, 32 will be two-bedroom units and two will be three-bedroom units, according to the developer's proposal. The application also states that 63 of the complex's units will serve households making 60 percent of the area median income or less. The other unit would be reserved for a superintendent who maintains the facility.

For fiscal year 2023, Hamden's AMI for a family was $111,900, according to the Department of Housing & Urban Development's income limit database. 

According to the application, a tenant making 60 percent of the town's current AMI can expect to pay a monthly rent of $1,290  for a one-bedroom apartment, $1,549 for a two-bedroom apartment and $1,635 for a three-bedroom apartment.

To help offset the cost of the project for the developer, town officials applied for $8 million from the state Community Investment Fund, Garrett said. Gov. Ned Lamont launched the CIF last year to foster economic development in historically underserved communities across the state.

But Garrett said officials learned Monday that the town's $8 million request would not be included as an item for consideration on the CIF Board's Sept. 26 meeting agenda. Despite being left off the agenda, Regan Development still has "multiple opportunities" to resubmit its funding request, according to Garrett.

Other funding sources also are available, both through the state Department of Economic Community Development and Department of Housing, the mayor added.

Garrett said the town will be "as supportive as possible" and continue to work with the developer to identify funding sources for the affordable housing project.

The State Street property currently is occupied by a single-family home and is located near the Skiff Street intersection.

With the project's approval, Garrett said the town's affordable housing stock is "very close" to the state-mandated threshold of 10 percent. The number was 9.33 percent when the town adopted its affordable housing plan in June 2022.

With help from state, Cheshire transforming West Main St. area

Peter Prohaska

CHESHIRE — The town is continuing efforts to transform the West Main Street corridor into a more walkable, “town center” environment, and the state of Connecticut is helping move the planning process along.

With thriving restaurants and businesses, access to the Farmington Canal Linear Trail, and Ball & Socket Arts continuing to show its viability, some positive changes are already happening, Economic Development Coordinator Andrew Martelli informed the Town Council at its Sept. 19 meeting. Those successes include the relocation of Sweet Claude’s ice cream to Ball & Socket Arts in 2022.

A Brownfield Area Revitalization grant from the state Department of Economic and Community Development is a key part of the corridor’s continued growth. Martelli said Cheshire provided a 10% match in order to secure $100,000 in funding from the state, to be used primarily for planning purposes. A separate BAR grant, in the amount of $925,000, is being used for remediation and renovation at Ball & Socket Arts.

The West Main District runs roughly from Cornwall Avenue on the south to West Main Street, with Willow and Warren Streets on the eastern border and Ives Row to the west. According to Town Historian Diane Calabro, the District was first established as a commercial area in 1827.

The trail, Martelli said, “is really the centerpiece of this entire plan.”

Martelli mentioned that 207,000 people used the crossing at West Main last year, making it “the busiest trail crossing in the state of Connecticut.”

Providing flexibility to residents and business owners within the district is also part of the town’s vision. One regulatory step in making that plan a success is the adoption of a “form-based code.”

“At the end of this process, Planning and Zoning will adopt a new code for this district. (It’s) a way to regulate development that controls building form first and building use second, with the purpose of achieving a particular type of ‘place’ or built environment based on community vision,” explained Martelli, who has worked closely with Town Planner Michael Glidden on the project.

He distinguished form-based code from traditional zoning, which is generally meant to prevent “the most negative impacts of siting, size and use of buildings.”

“Form-based zoning codes regulate building design and scale, allowing a variety of uses within individual buildings and next to each other within neighborhoods,” Martelli said. This means that, instead of strict division between commercial and residential uses, “it’s going to allow for a mixture of uses on specific properties within this overall district.”

Hamden, Windsor, Canton, Hartford and Simsbury are among the Connecticut towns using form-based code, Martelli said.

The changes give the town the ability to control “building size, scale, what it looks like, how everything interacts with one another, signage, landscaping.”

Martelli also described a “visioning and scoping” process as central in the process. A steering committee that includes town staff and representatives of SLR Consulting, the project consultants, has met with “over 17” property owners within the district and will continue to do so. He noted that the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission will have a public hearing on the subject at a future date, perhaps as soon as the first few months of 2024.

Martelli stated that the town is “not trying to take anybody’s property through eminent domain, we’re not trying to remove their uses of what they can currently do on their property.” He mentioned that the town is being “mindful” of the businesses operating there and their economic importance to Cheshire.

“There’s all these things the community would really like to see, it’s just that we have to give them a framework to do that,” Martelli explained to the Council.

“The property owners that we met with have been enthusiastic about it,” he added.

New London proposes $65M plan to raze, rebuild three aging housing complexes

John Penney

New London ― The New London Housing Authority is seeking professional guidance as part of an estimated $65 million plan to demolish and rebuild the three 60-year-old state-subsidized housing complexes it owns and manages.

The authority this month began soliciting requests from architectural firms to prepare plans for the razing and reconstruction of the George Washington Carver Apartments on Colman Street and two other senior and disabled apartment buildings at Gordon Court and Riozzi Court. The authority expects to hire a firm by Nov. 15.

“This is the first step in the process of a larger plan to remove all those buildings and construct more and larger units on the properties,” Housing Authority Executive Director Kolisha Kedron said on Tuesday.

The authority also oversees the federally subsidized Williams Park Apartments on Hempstead Street, which is not part of the new plan.

The preliminary design documents being solicited now are required before the New London Housing Authority submits an application to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority and the state Department of Housing by fall 2024.

Kedron estimated it will take up to seven years and about $65 million to complete the entire three-building project. She said the project’s start date – each complex will be handled as an individual project, with Gordon Court likely first in line – heavily depends on how quickly the architectural firm can complete its analysis.

The funding is expected to come from a variety of sources such as state and federal monies, project-based vouchers and grants obtained by the city. Kedron said her team expects the funding streams will be modified to best fit the project’s progress.

“That might mean using one source for demolition and another for new construction,” she said.

City and housing officials for years have struggled to keep up with deteriorating conditions at the three complexes. Roof holes have been patched with emergency state funding, as were antiquated boilers, door frames and electric panels.

Kedron said the massive project, which has garnered support from DOH Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno, will necessitate relocating tenants as their buildings are flattened and replaced.

By the end of the work, Kedron hopes to have added up to 30 more units to the authority’s current housing stock of 309 apartments, 209 of which are located in the three buildings slated to come down.

“And all the units will be double the size we have now,” she said. “Instead of mostly studios, every apartment will be one-bedrooms.”

While the monthly rent for most of the units is expected to remain less than $450, some apartments will feature higher rents.

“That revenue will enable us to properly address upkeep and operations for years in the future, something we could not do if all the rents stayed the same,” Kedron said.

Mayor Michael Passero said project talks began before the COVID-19 pandemic erupted but gained steam this year after Mosquera-Bruno visited one of the dilapidated complexes as part of a city tour.

“The conclusion that was reached was these buildings are just too old and not able to be adequately renovated or remodeled,” he said. “To do that would just be putting lipstick on a pig. They need to be ripped down and replaced with better and higher quality designs.”

New interest in Anamet factory site being shown

LIVI STANFORD

WATERBURY – City officials expressed optimism about the future of the former Anamet factory site at 698 South Main St. after a national and local developer expressed recent interest in the site following the city’s decision to terminate negotiations with Ideal Fish – an aquaculture company that raises branzino fish.

“I am very confident because of the size of the parcel and the work that has been done to get the parcel ready for development, there will be significant interest in the parcel,” said Mayor Neil M. O’Leary.

City officials said Anamet, the 17-acre brownfield site, including a 180-square-foot High Bay building, is crucial to revitalizing the city’s South End.

On Sept. 6, city officials terminated negotiations with Ideal Fish concerning Anamet after city officials expressed concerns that negotiations were not progressing the way officials had hoped.

Tommy Hyde, interim director of the Waterbury Development Corp., has said things are more complicated because Anamet is a 17-acre brownfield site.

Hyde said when the city first put out its request for proposals last year, it had yet to complete all the environmental investigations at the site.

With significant unknowns about the property at the time, Hyde said this may have deterred some developers from applying.

But since last year, the city has utilized $1.5 million to demolish three buildings, abate the High Bay building, map the underground utilities, and conduct additional sampling of the site to understand the extent of the contaminants fully, Hyde said.

As a result, Hyde said, “we are optimistic the broader development community will be enticed to the building after an understanding of the environmental conditions and the cost.”

Hyde said there will still need to be further remediation of the site.

The Anamet site is owned by 698 South Main St. Inc., which was set up to hold the property.

The Waterbury Development Corp. oversees the grants and remediation of the site.

To date, $9.5 million has been received for work toward rehabilitation of the site, most of which has been spent, according to Hyde.

O’Leary said he expects the city will put out its request for proposals in December.