A drive to demolish a monolithic data center on a property behind Hartford’s Dunkin’ Park stadium got a $4 million boost Thursday, as Gov. Ned Lamont announced environmental cleanup grants for 23 properties across the state.
The administration will release $18.8 million in state grants from assessment or remediation of 227 acres of contaminated land across Connecticut, in projects aimed to unlock their redevelopment potential.
In Hartford, the funding will be pooled with other sources for a $9 million demolition of the long-empty concrete bunker of a data center occupying 3 acres next to the stadium. That’s a necessary first step for the city’s aspiration to replace it with a new artificial intelligence hub, hotel and parking garage.
The administration estimates these grants will spark $218 million in private investment, and create 450 housing units.
“Old, polluted, blighted properties that have sat vacant for decades do nothing to stimulate our economy, grow jobs and support housing growth,” Lamont said, according to a release. “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.”
Other grants include:
- Ansonia: $200,000 for assessment of the 4.2-acre former Farrel Ansonia facility at 35 and 65 Main St. The site has been vacant since 2018.
- Bridgeport: $200,000 planning grant to the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments for planning activities on the western bank of the Yellow Mill Channel along Waterview Avenue. The project will help advance a plan for a waterfront pathway.
- Danbury: $200,000 for environmental assessment of the former Fairfield County Courthouse, enabling its future uses as municipal office space.
- Danbury: $200,000 for assessment activities for a former hat manufacturing site at 13 Barnum Court.
- Derby: $200,000 for additional assessment of O’Sullivan’s Island, a 17.25-acre peninsula of land south of downtown, at the confluence of the Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers. The assessment will advance plans for additional recreational activities.
- East Lyme: $200,000 for assessment at 278 Main St. to identify contamination and evaluate the cost of remediation.
- Monroe: $100,000 to complete assessment of the 7.74-acre site of the former Saint Jude School located at 709 Monroe Turnpike, which is being considered for use as a community center and town offices.
- Naugatuck: $200,000 for assessment of the 36.2-acre former Hershey & Peter Paul Cadbury manufacturing site. The borough hopes to return the site to productive use following 18 years of inactivity.
- New Britain: $2 million for abatement and clean-up activities at the 54.91-acre New Britain Business Park at 221 South St., once home to the New Britain Machine Co. Cleanup will support reuse of 123,000 square feet of existing building space, promote new manufacturing, research and development, logistics and office spaces.
- New Haven: $880,000 for remediation of a 1.13-acre parking lot at 275 South Orange St. that was formerly attached to the New Haven Coliseum. This work will allow construction of 7,159 square feet of amenity and retail space and 120 residential units, part of a multiphase redevelopment effort.
- New Haven: $947,500 for demolition of blighted buildings and excavation of petroleum-impacted soil at 185, 212 and 213 Front St., a 1.34-acre stretch along the Quinnipiac River with a history of industrial uses. This will pave the way for the construction of 70 residential units, retail spaces and a 29,000 square foot green space and boardwalk to improve pedestrian access.
- New Milford: $150,000 grant to the New Milford Economic Development Corp. for assessment of the Former East Street School, a 4.63-acre site located at 50 East St. The building is slated to become a cultural center for arts and community hub. That may involve affordable apartments for creative professionals.
- Norwich: $100,000 to the Norwich Community Development Corp. for assessment of the former Norwich State Hospital. The funding will further remediation planning for the development corp., which aims to redevelop the property in concert with a neighboring riverwalk development.
- Redding: $200,000 for assessment of 19 North Main St., the former wastewater treatment facility of the Gilbert and Bennett Wire Mill.
- Shelton: $2.97 million to the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments for cleanup at 113 and 125 Canal St., sites formerly used for electroplating and other manufacturing operations. This supports plans for construction of two, mixed-use complexes mingling more than 120 apartments with retail space and a parking garage. The project also will extend a walkway along the Housatonic River to Veterans Memorial Park.
- Stonington: $177,000 grant for assessment of the former Campbell Grain Facility, a 1.86-acre project site located at 27 West Broad St. and 15 Cogswell St.
- Torrington: $600,000 for abatement and demolition of two buildings at a 9.4-acre site at 70 North Main St., clearing room for new commercial and industrial development.
- Torrington: $200,000 to the New Colony Development Corp. for the completion of assessment and planning activities at 100 Franklin Drive. City officials expect this funding to allow them to identify a developer to repurpose the former manufacturing site.
- West Hartford: $200,000 for assessment of the 1-acre former AC Petersen Ice Cream plant site at 240 Park Road. This will allow expansion of existing businesses on the site, including performing arts theater Playhouse on Park.
- West Hartford: $688,000 for demolition and remediation of a 1.21-acre site located at 579 New Park Ave., enabling construction of mixed-use, 70-unit apartment building.
- Winchester: $200,000 to the Northwest Hills Council of Governments to study blighted industrial properties along the Mad River.
- Windsor Locks: $4M for cleanup and demolition at 255 Main St., a site next to a proposed passenger rail station. This will facilitate construction of a 120-unit, mixed-use development.
