Waterbury Among Recipients Of State Grants To Support Redevelopment Of Blighted Properties In CT

WATERBURY, CT — Governor Ned Lamont recently announced his administration is releasing $15.2 million in state funding to support assessment and remediation activities at 12 blighted properties in communities across Connecticut, including Waterbury.

According to a news release provided Wednesday by Lamont's office, the state funding will help cover the costs of cleaning up these unused, polluted parcels so they can be redeveloped and returned to productive use, including for the creation of new housing and other economic development and job growth opportunities.

The grants are being distributed through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development's Brownfield Remediation and Development Program, according to the release.

This round of funding will support investigation and cleanup activities on 267 acres of land and are expected to leverage more than $81 million in private investments, according to the release.

"By partnering with towns and developers, we can take unused, blighted properties that have sat vacant for decades and bring them back from the dead, rejuvenating these parcels and bringing life back to these neighborhoods," Lamont said in a news release. "Through the remediation of these properties, we are creating new opportunities to transform otherwise unusable lots into new spaces that support housing growth and new business opportunities."

According to the release, the assistance announced last week under this funding round includes:

• Waterbury: $200,000 grant to the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments for assessment of the 2.75-acre site at 389 Meadow Street. There are numerous areas of concern already identified for further investigation at this landmark site, and these new funds will supplement these efforts. The assessment activities and subsequent remediation action plan will facilitate the redevelopment of the property, which will include 40 residential apartment units.
• Waterbury: $4,000,000 grant to the Waterbury Development Corporation (WDC) for Phase 3 of the abatement and remediation project of the 17.46-acre site at 698 South Main Street. This grant request is part of an ongoing endeavor to remediate the former Anamet site. Since Phases 1 and 2 of the project, the WDC has completed assessment work, finalized the remaining cleanup costs, and identified a partner developer. These continued Phase 3 remediation activities will prepare the site for long-term leasing for a commercial warehouse, distribution facility, and office complex.

Other Connecticut towns set to receive state funding include Shelton, Norwalk, East Hartford, Enfield, Hamden, New Britain, Plainville, Thomaston, Ansonia and Seymour, according to the release.

"Connecticut's economy is strong and getting stronger. We are making targeted, strategic investments that turn these underutilized, often blighted properties into attractive investment opportunities," DECD Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe said in a news release. "Our brownfield redevelopment programs successfully leverage the private dollars needed to turn compromised properties into centers of economic growth and community revitalization."