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Author: Devin James
Sen. Lesser, Rep. Belton Commemorate One Year Since Losing Quentin S. “Q” Williams
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ADVISORY: SEN. LESSER TO ATTEND ANNUAL HOMELESS MEMORIAL VIGIL
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SEN. OSTEN WELCOMES STATE FUNDING FOR BROWNFIELD STUDIES IN LISBON AND SPRAGUE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELESE
Thursday, December 21, 2023
SEN. OSTEN WELCOMES STATE FUNDING FOR BROWNFIELD STUDIES IN LISBON AND SPRAGUE
State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) today welcomed a third of a million dollars in state grants to conduct assessments at two brownfield sites in the 19th State Senate District that will eventually help get the properties developed and creating local jobs.
“Eastern Connecticut has a very strong and proud manufacturing history. But as technology changes, we need to change with it. These brownfield assessment grants will allow Lisbon and Sprague to do the groundwork necessary to create a remediation plan and determine what industries best suit these sites and the region. The result will be more jobs and economic development for a region with a lot of very skilled and hardworking people,” Sen. Osten said.
The two local brownfield assessment grants include:
• Lisbon: A $120,000 grant to conduct assessments of the former Lisbon Textile Prints company site located at 99 River Road. This assessment will allow Lisbon to rezone the property and enable future mixed-use and commercial uses. Funds will also be used to develop a remedial action plan at the site.
• Sprague: A $200,000 grant to conduct additional site investigations at a former paper manufacturing site located at 130 Inland Road in Baltic. The assessments will determine the extent of subsurface contaminants on the site to allow for future remediation and current waste treatment expansion and other potential uses.
Governor Ned Lamont said a total of $7.2 million in state grants are being released to support the remediation and assessment of blighted properties in nine municipalities across Connecticut, consisting of 713 acres of land.
The grants, which are being released through the state Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program, will leverage $229 million in private investment and are expected to create about 850 jobs.
“Nobody wants to live in a community that has old, polluted, blighted properties that sit vacant for decades when this land could be used for productive purposes, such as business growth and new housing,” Gov. Lamont said. “By partnering with municipalities and developers, we can clean up these lifeless properties and bring them back from the dead.”
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Duff Applauds State Bonding for Housing in Norwalk
TODAY – Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff applauded $500,000 in state bonding to the Norwalk Housing Authority to plan for the redevelopment of eight properties at three locations. Sound Communities, a nonprofit affiliate of Norwalk Housing Authority, has assumed control of these properties that it intends to redevelop with the goal of placing long-term deed restrictions to ensure their affordability for generations to come.
The funding will support the predevelopment of the project to assess feasibility and make progress towards submitting a zoning permit application to the City of Norwalk. Sound Communities will hire an architect and civil engineer to design a conceptual study and site plan for the sites, and prepare the required drawings for Planning & Zoning. It will also commission a property survey, geotechnical study, Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments, market study, and engage a zoning attorney.
The properties are located at:
- 72 & 74 South Main Street and 2 & 3 Hanford Place
- 79 S. Main Street, 6 & 8 Chestnut
- 25 Leonard Street
“Today marks a significant investment in our community’s future,” said Senator Duff. “The $500,000 in state bonding for the Norwalk Housing Authority’s redevelopment initiative underscores the critical importance of ensuring affordable housing for generations to come. I commend Governor Lamont for his unwavering support, recognizing that this funding is a pivotal step towards creating sustainable, affordable living spaces. We’re grateful for this partnership that will pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for Norwalk. Together, we’re making strides toward building thriving, accessible communities for all.”
“Our administration remains focused on increasing the availability of housing throughout our state, and this funding for Norwalk will strengthen these efforts,” Governor Ned Lamont said. “I am glad we can partner with Senator Duff and the Norwalk Housing Authority to get these state funds released.”
“In April of this year, the Norwalk Housing Authority (NHA) acquired Fairfield County Mutual Housing and Norwalk Mutual Housing in a bid to try and save 55 at-risk units of deed restricted affordable housing,” said Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director of the Norwalk Housing Authority. “This grant is a lifeline to the families that live in our Mutual Housing properties. It will serve a vital purpose, enabling NHA to develop essential financial, architectural, and engineering plans, ensuring that these homes will remain affordable in perpetuity and will allow us to expand the number of families served on these sites. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Governor Lamont, DOH Commissioner Mosquera-Bruno, Senator Bob Duff and the State Bond Commission for their unwavering support of affordable housing and their confidence in our agency.
“This investment reinforces our commitment to shaping a brighter future, one that fosters sustainable communities for all,” said Rep. Lucy Dathan (D-Norwalk/New Canaan). “Funding housing projects is always welcoming news and I am grateful to the governor and the State Bond Commission for working with our Norwalk delegation to prioritize this bonding allocation.”
“This funding will play a significant role in ensuring that our city continues to be accessible to all. I am thrilled that the Norwalk Housing Authority will receive the investment they need to continue building affordable housing units in our community. Thank you to Governor Lamont and the bond commission for including this project on their agenda, Majority Leader Duff and the rest of the Norwalk delegation for their work in securing this funding, and the Norwalk Housing Authority for their continued dedication to serving the residents of our city,” said State Representative Dominique Johnson (D- 143rd House District).
The Bond Agenda was approved on Friday, December 15.
SEN. FLEXER WELCOMES STATE BONDING FOR KILLINGLY PARK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
SEN. FLEXER WELCOMES STATE BONDING FOR KILLINGLY PARK
State Senator Mae Flexer today announced that the State Bond Commission has approved state bonding for improvements to a park in Killingly.
The State Bond Commission recently approved a $210,000 state grant for improvements to the 53-acre Owen Bell Park in Killingly, which features a track and trails for running and walking, playground equipment for children, basketball and tennis courts, a skateboard park, ball fields, and picnic areas.
Killingly Town Manager Mary Calorio said the state funds will be combined with other funds to erect a park pavilion, build a toddler-sized splash pad, dredge the park pond, and erect various shade structures to shield families from the summer sun.
“We’re super-grateful to Senator Flexer for this. I started working with Mae on this funding about a year ago,” Calorio said. “To make all of these investments as a small town, it’s difficult. We’re so happy about our partnership with the state.”
“This is an investment in the people of Killingly that I’ve been working on for about a year,” Sen. Flexer said. “I want to thank Governor Lamont and the State Bond Commission for their attention to eastern Connecticut and the recognition of what this project will mean to the quality of life for families living in Killingly and hundreds more across the region who love Owen Bell Park.”
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SEN. LESSER HIGHLIGHTS WETHERSFIELD, MIDDLETOWN AND NEWINGTON BEING NAMED IN ZILLOW’S TOP 10 MOST POPULAR MARKETS
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Looney, Winfield Welcome State Bonding for New Haven
HARTFORD – Today, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senator Gary Winfield (D-New Haven) welcomed over $10 million in state bonding to benefit New Haven. The funding will support improvements at Science Park and the Jenkin Waggoner Laboratory, infrastructure and housing development in Mill River, renovation at Edmund Cofield Preparatory Academy for Young Men, aid for the Glendower Union Square transformation, and downtown street improvements. The specific projects include:
- $700,000 grant to Science Park Development Corporation for the identification, investigation, containment, removal or mitigation at the New Haven Science Park Tract A parcel in New Haven
- $1 million grant for improvements to two greenhouses at the Jenkin Waggoner Laboratory in New Haven. Project consists of renovating the existing structures, address inefficient heating units, and for other repairs as needed.
- $5 million grant to the City of New Haven to support property acquisition, public infrastructure, and housing development as part of the Mill River Municipal Development Plan.
- $2 million grant to the Edmund Cofield Preparatory Academy for Young Men in New Haven for acquisition and renovation costs.
- $1.4 million grant to the Housing Authority of New Haven for the Glendower Union Square Transformation Plan.
- $500,000 grant to the City of New Haven to convert Chapel Street from York Street to Dwight Street into a 2-way street.
“We are deeply gratified to welcome this vital state bonding to New Haven, funding that serves as a testament to our commitment to economic development and social infrastructure,” said Senator Looney. “Governor Lamont’s support for these crucial initiatives underscores our collective dedication to enhancing education, housing, and community spaces to improve the quality of life for all New Haven residents.”
“The allocation of over $10 million in state bonding marks a significant investment in New Haven’s future,” said Senator Winfield. “This funding is instrumental in fortifying key areas like education, housing, and infrastructure, exemplifying our shared vision for a thriving community. Thanks to Governor Lamont for championing these essential projects that will positively impact the lives of many in our city.”
“These funds will go a long way in our ongoing efforts to strengthen New Haven and improve the quality of life for those who live in the city, including through increasing the availability of housing and supporting initiatives that boost economic development and job growth,” Governor Ned Lamont said.
“I would like to thank the New Haven delegation for its commitment to the projects approved by Governor Lamont and the Bon Commission today,” Rep. Robyn Porter said. “From the New Haven Correctional Center to the Housing Authority of New Haven to the Edmund Cofield Preparatory Academy for Young Men, the funding for these projects and several others will be of great benefit to our greater community.”
The Bond Agenda was approved on Friday, December 15.
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SENS. FLEXER AND GORDON WELCOME STATE BONDING FOR THOMPSON PLAYGROUND
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, December 15, 2023
SENS. FLEXER AND GORDON WELCOME STATE BONDING FOR THOMPSON PLAYGROUND
THOMPSON – State Senators Mae Flexer and Jeff Gordon announced that the State Bond Commission today approved $80,000 to create an ADA-compliant playground at the Mary R. Fisher Elementary School in Thompson, which is home to about 400 students.
Mary R. Fisher Elementary School PTO Treasurer Jessica Bolte, who is also a member of the Thompson Board of Education, said the playground has been closed to students for over a year, leaving them to play on blacktop and a soccer field with materials handed out on “recess carts” by teachers.
“This new playground will be fantastic and will allow our students to go out and play, and maybe make many of them want to go to school even more,” Bolte said. “Our kids need the ability to play. It’s good for motor skills and social development.”
“Mary Fisher students should never have gone this long without a functional playground in the first place. It’s hard to understand why local resources weren’t allocated. But after seeing the fenced-off former playground for myself, I knew something had to change,” Sen. Flexer said. “Thank goodness the Mary Fisher PTO and Thompson parents did a fantastic job of raising tens of thousands of dollars over the past year for this project, and now state money is putting it over the top. Thanks to these amazing volunteers, the community, and the state, these students will finally get the recess time that all kids want and deserve.”
“This funding will make the playground usable, safer, and more accessible,” said Sen. Gordon, who represents part of Thompson. “I have seen the playground firsthand. It definitely needs repair and upgrades. This improvement project has bipartisan support and will increase recreational opportunities for Thompson children and their families. I am very happy to have helped move things forward. It needed to be done for the kids! I thank Governor Lamont for recognizing the merits of this project. Thank you also to the Thompson PTO for raising money for this project. I will continue to work collaboratively with my legislative colleagues, state and local officials, and others in town, to help the people of Thompson.”
“On behalf of the students of the Mary R. Fisher Elementary School, I would like to thank Senators Flexer and Gordon for advocating for this much-needed funding to build a new outdoor play area that promotes exercise and healthy activities for young children,” said Thompson Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Melinda A. Smith. “I also have much appreciation for the PTO parents who have gone above and beyond to creatively raise money for this project. It’s inspiring to see what can be done for the community when you have state leaders and parents working together.”
Bolte said over the past year the Mary R. Fisher Elementary School PTO has raised $60,000 for the new playground. She said the new playground – which is currently accessed by a hill – will be re-graded to allow for easier access by children with mobility issues. The new playground will also feature various types of swings, slides, climbing cubes, and smaller components. She excepts it will be installed next summer.
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SEN. LESSER, NEWINGTON DELEGATION WELCOME $120K FOR LUCY ROBBINS WELLES LIBRARY
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