Gov. Ned Lamont announced today that he would be releasing $18.8 million in grants for the purpose of brownfield assessment and remediation. The funding will target 23 properties across 19 municipalities.
“Old, polluted, blighted properties that have sat vacant for decades do nothing to stimulate our economy, grow jobs, and support housing growth,” said Lamont. “With these grants, we are partnering with towns and developers to take unused, lifeless properties and bring them back from the dead, rejuvenating land that can be used for so much more and can bring value back to these neighborhoods.”
The state anticipates that these funds, released through DECD’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program, will attract $218 million in private investment and create 450 housing units. About 52% of the funding will be disbursed to distressed municipalities.
Hartford and Windsor Locks are the two highest recipients of grant funding, receiving $4 million each. Shelton will receive $2.98 million, New Britain, $2 million, and New Haven $1.83 million. West Hartford will receive $888,000, Torrington, $800,000 and Danbury, $400,000. Ansonia, Bridgeport, Derby, East Lyme, Redding, Naugatuck, Winchester and Redding will each receive $200,000. Stonington will receive $177,000, New Milford, $150,000, and Monroe and Norwich will each receive $100,000.
Hartford’s $4 million will be used to demolish and abate a former data center located at 150 Windsor St., in downtown Hartford. Plans for the property include the potential development of an AI data center, as well as the creation of apartments.Â
Windsor Locks will use its $4 million for the abatement, demolition and remediation of the former Windsor Locks Commons located at 255 Main St. The property, located near the town’s railroad station, will be the site of a 120-unit mixed income apartment complex.
In Shelton, the Naugatuck Valley of Council of Governments will receive approximately $2.98 million for the purpose of groundwater and soil cleanup, excavation and disposal at 113 and 125 Canal Street. Remediation of the former industrial sites will allow for the development of two mixed-use complexes, including over 120 housing units, retail space and a parking garage.
New Britain’s $2 million will be used for abatement and clean-up of the New Britain Business Park. The approximately 55-acre property was used in the past as a commercial and industrial park. The city has adaptive reuse plans for 123,000 square feet of existing building space, for the purpose of housing new manufacturing, research and development, warehousing and office spaces.
New Haven will be receiving a total of $1.98 million for two separate projects. $947,500 will be used to demolish and abate three blighted buildings located on a 1.34-acre plot on Front St., as well as excavate oil-soaked soil. The area was historically used for industrial purposes, home to a coal yard, fuel tank farm, and metalworking shop. The remediation will allow for 70 new apartment units, retail spaces, and a 29,000 square-foot green space and boardwalk.
New Haven will use the other $880,000 in funds for the remediation of a 1.13-acre lot at 275 South Orange St. The city plans to use the site for a multi-use development that will include over 7,159 square feet of amenity and retail space and 120 residential units.
West Hartford’s $880,000 will be split among two projects; $688,000 will demolish a property at 579 New Park Avenue, for the creation of a mixed-use property containing 70-residential units, and $200,000 will be used for assessments at 240 Park Rd, to hopefully enable the expansion of nearby businesses.
Of the remaining municipalities, most redevelopment plans remain in their earliest phases, as several municipalities plan to use the funds for assessments or remedial action plans. A full-breakdown of the uses of funding and the potential redevelopment plans that follow, can be found here
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