Connecticut State Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development

Press Releases

Governor Dannel P. Malloy

08/26/2014

Gov. Malloy Announces Unprecedented Investment in Brownfield Remediation Projects Around the State

$27 Million Awarded in Funding For Round 5 of Remediation and Redevelopment Program


(BRIDGEPORT, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy, joined by state and local officials in Bridgeport, today announced that the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has awarded a total of $27 million in grants and loans to 20 brownfield remediation and redevelopment projects in cities and towns around the state.

"Many of Connecticut's brownfield sites have been abandoned or under-utilized for decades because the costs of redeveloping these properties are too expensive for municipalities or private developers to take on by themselves," said Governor Malloy. "That's why my administration has not only allocated the funding necessary to return dozens of unused and blighted properties in every corner of the state to productive reuse, but also taken significant steps to attract private investment and increase participation in our brownfield programs."

Governor Malloy continued, "Just for comparison, since 1995, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has invested $190 million nationally in brownfield cleanup. Since 2011, we've allocated nearly $90 million in state money. This is the largest round of brownfield remediation funding ever in the state's history and we will continue making these investments because we know doing so will generate significant returns for our state and local economies by getting these properties back on the tax rolls, improving the quality of life in these areas, cleaning up environmental contamination and, most importantly, creating jobs for our residents."

In May 2014, Governor Malloy announced that DECD would be accepting applications for up to $20 million of brownfield remediation and redevelopment funding in the form of loans and grants to municipalities and developers, with applications due on June 30, 2014. Based on an extremely strong group of applications and available funding, DECD awarded $27 million to 20 remediation and redevelopment projects.

"Revitalizing Connecticut's cities and downtowns is critical to continuing the State's economic momentum, and with the announcement of today's investments we are taking a significant step toward reactivating priority brownfield sites in every corner of the State," said DECD Commissioner Catherine H. Smith. "These 20 projects represent outstanding opportunities to activate long-stalled sites, create economic opportunity and remove blight from our communities."

"Investments in the cleanup of contaminated lands pay real dividends to our state in the form of reduced public health and environmental risks, economic growth, and job creation," said Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Robert Klee. "The new round of grants announced by the Governor will go a long way toward putting hundreds of acres back into productive reuse. DEEP is supporting this effort by partnering with DECD and other parties to streamline the cleanup process - making certain cleanups can go as fast as possible while maintaining the highest environmental and public health standards."

"Most of the 20 properties awarded funds for remediation include housing as part of their redevelopment plans," said Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne Klein. "This includes not only market-rate housing, but much-needed affordable housing, which will contribute to long-term economic revitalization of these communities."

Since FY 2012, the Malloy administration invested $62.6 million in 37 projects to remediate contaminated sites in 27 cities and towns statewide. These investments have funded completed or ongoing remediation and redevelopment of 608 acres, and have generated significant additional leverage. For every dollar invested by the State, $3.43 has been or will be invested by non-State partners.

"Bridgeport's investing in the future," said Mayor Bill Finch (D-Bridgeport). "We're doing so in part by revitalizing run down properties. But without the leadership of Governor Dan Malloy, revitalization projects like this wouldn't be possible. Governor Malloy is giving us an opportunity to turn this run down property into a new mixed-use residential development that will include hundreds of apartments, commercial space, and public waterfront access. He's helping Bridgeport become a place where more companies want to invest and hire people, and where more families want to live and work. Thanks to Governor Malloy for his unwavering support of our state's largest city."

"This grant award is a direct result of the focus, hard work and due diligence by the office of economic development and other pertinent town staff," said Mayor John Harkins (R-Stratford). "These funds will allow the Town to clean up a long-vacant and contaminated property without placing an additional burden on the property taxpayers of Stratford. I'd like to thank DECD for its continued support of economic development in Stratford."

Awards made under this round of funding may be used for a range of brownfield remediation and redevelopment activities, including abatement, demolition, site investigation and assessment, groundwater monitoring, installation of institutional controls, and professional services fees associated with redevelopment including attorney's fees, and planning, design and consulting fees. All projects were rated and ranked by an inter-agency committee based on ranking criteria which evaluated the applicant's financial need, the feasibility of both the remediation and redevelopment project and the project's consistency with responsible growth and livability initiatives.

"Under Governor Malloy's leadership and in partnership with the state legislature, the State of Connecticut has made an historic commitment to investing in the redevelopment of brownfield sites across the State," said State Director of Waterfront, Brownfield and Transit-Oriented Development Tim Sullivan. "This round of funding was extraordinarily competitive, leading to an exceptional set of projects selected for funding. Along with our colleagues at DEEP and other state agencies, we are looking forward to partnering with the private sector and municipal leaders to see these investments through from vision to reality."

The projects awarded funding today are as follows:

  • Berlin - Town of Berlin: $406,057 grant to the Town to complete the remediation of a 1.7 acre site at 889 Farmington Avenue for mixed use / TOD development at the site, located directly adjacent to the commuter train station that will benefit from the ongoing expansion of the New Haven - Hartford - Springfield line.

  • Bridgeport - 60 Main Street, LLC: $2,000,000 loan to 60 Main Street, LLC to remediate and rejuvenate a 12.2 acre parcel in the South End/Seaside; the project includes 1,200 proposed residential units in the Park/University of Bridgeport neighborhood.

  • Bridgeport - 1136-1162 Main Street: $1,000,000 loan to 1136-1162 Main Street Managers (POKO/Spinnaker) for the remediation and revitalization of a 0.8 acre parcel in the downtown historic district for mixed use, mixed-income redevelopment; the project includes 50 residential units.

  • Bridgeport - Bhagya Realty Holdings: $1,176,300 loan to remediate and redevelop a 3 acre parcel to be repurposed for 156 residential units, retail and a charter school.

  • Hamden - Hamden Economic Development Commission: $350,000 grant to remediate and redevelop the 3.1 acre former Newhallville Community Center (school facility) into the Hamden Business Incubator.

  • Killingly - Town of Killingly: $2,017,204 grant to the Town to advance the development of the Mill at Killingly Apartments, which will rehabilitate the former 4.1 acre site of the Powdrell and Alexander Textile Mill. The project will create 32 units of supportive, affordable and market rate rental units.

  • Meriden - City of Meriden: $597,000 grant to the City to remediate a 1.24 acre site that will replace distressed public housing with a mixed use, mixed income development located nearby the Meriden Transit Center; the project includes 75 residential units.

  • Middletown - City of Middletown: $350,000 grant to the City to remediate a City-owned former auto repair/gas station, to be redeveloped into a commercial development.

  • Montville - Town of Montville: $355,560 grant to the Town to remediate a 1.1 acre underutilized site for redevelopment led by expansion of an existing business and development of future commercial rental spaces.

  • New Britain - Grace CME Church: $350,000 loan to Grace CME Church to remediate a 4.3 acre site to enable development of a state of the art community center to be used by the New Britain community.

  • New Britain - City of New Britain: $2,717,000 grant to the City to remediate a 4.8 acre parcel (the former police station) that will encourage a mixed use/TOD development at the terminus of CTFastrak.

  • New Haven - Science Park Development Corporation: $4,000,000 grant to Science Park Development Corporation to remediate a 9.4 acre parcel to facilitate adaptive reuse of the historic Winchester Repeating Arms Facility. Abandoned buildings will be redeveloped into a 200-unit residential complex in the Dixwell/Newhallville Section of New Haven.

  • New Haven - Housing Authority of New Haven: $833,386 loan to the Glendower Group (an affiliate of the Housing Authoring of New Haven) to remediate 1.7 acres in order to create 32 units of new affordable housing, retail/office and community space for residents and the surrounding neighborhood. This project is a component of the larger redevelopment of the Farnam Courts public housing complex.

  • Norwalk - Trinity Washington Village: $1,338,555 loan to Trinity Washington Village to remediate and facilitate the redevelopment of a 0.8 acre parcel to include 80 mixed income rental units including community space. This project is a component of the larger redevelopment of the Washington Village public housing complex.

  • Shelton - Shelton Economic Development Corporation: $1,019,470 grant to the Shelton Economic Development Corporation to demolish and remediate the 0.9 acre former Chromium Processing parcel to enable mixed use development and parking capacity in the revitalized downtown area.

  • Stratford - Town of Stratford: $2,850,000 grant to the Town to demolish and remediate the 10.5 acre Contract Plating site which lies within Stratford's Transit Oriented Development District (TOD) for mixed use / TOD development.

  • Torrington - City of Torrington: $1,000,000 grant to the City to remediate a 2 acre site to spur future redevelopment in the area. This site will incorporate a section of the Naugatuck River Greenway and a needed parking lot to encourage pedestrian traffic to the downtown.

  • Vernon - Town of Vernon: $2,000,000 grant to the Town for the remediation and reclamation of the former 10.6 acre Amerbelle Mill property, to be converted to a state of the art facility anticipated for potential use by a large commercial tenant.

  • Waterford - Town of Waterford: $525,000 grant to the Town for the completion of the remediation and rehabilitation of the 28.3 acre former Cohanzie School. The project will create approximately 150 market rate rental units.

  • West Haven - City of West Haven: $2,000,000 grant to the City to remediate a 5.6 acre former coal and bulk oil terminal site into a waterfront commercial development and a revitalized gateway to West Haven. The sites will be redeveloped as a destination retail center featuring brand name outlet shopping, restaurants, and public pedestrian elements.

    For more on DECD's state brownfield redevelopment programs and additional information on the rating and ranking criteria for this funding round, visit www.ctbrownfields.gov .

** Download : Map of Round 5 Remediation Awardees