Grant will be used to remediate and rehabilitate former Record-Journal building
WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 15, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Senator Danté Bartolomeo (D-Meriden) joined Governor Dannel P. Malloy in announcing that the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) will award a grant for the remediation and redevelopment of a blighted site in downtown Meriden. The $1,725,000 grant will be used to rehabilitate the former Record-Journal building at 11 Crown Street.
“Downtown Meriden is undergoing an exciting transformation that will end the flooding that has plagued the area and attract new families and businesses to our community,” said Senator Bartolomeo. “The project on Crown Street will establish 81 residential units and new space for businesses. This private development will complement the new train station and downtown park projects that are already underway and will help make downtown Meriden a hub for economic growth.”
Funding will be awarded through the Connecticut Remedial Action and Redevelopment Municipal Grant Program, which provides grants to municipalities and economic development agencies to support remediation, abatement, and demolition activities prior to redevelopment and to conduct environmental site assessments. Goals of the program include augmenting the state’s investment by leveraging the maximum amount of private funds, reactivating long-stalled sites, and encouraging job creation.
“Remediating and redeveloping these sites helps jumpstart local economies by rehabilitating areas, putting them back into use for development, and creating jobs for residents,” Governor Malloy said. “Over the last few years we’ve made historic investments in remediating contaminated properties for redevelopment, and these additional projects further demonstrate our commitment to our cities and towns.”
The remediation of 11 Crown Street is one of 12 state-wide brownfield redevelopment and assessment projects announced today. The projects will help clean up and assess a combined total of 462 acres of commercial, industrial, and municipal properties.
“Advancing Connecticut’s brownfield agenda has been a top priority of Governor Malloy’s since taking office because this kind of support represents an investment in the state’s long-term economic health and the revitalization of our communities,” DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith said. “In fact, since 2012, DECD has invested $138 million in brownfield redevelopment, which is one of the smartest ways to create jobs and invest in our urban centers.”
“Today’s announcement is the latest example of the extraordinary level of commitment by Governor Malloy and Commissioner Smith to the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields throughout Connecticut,” Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Rob Klee said. “Brownfield redevelopment is an investment that helps to protect human health and the environment and grow our economy. These grants will help turn sites that have been a blight on many communities into assets that communities can once again be proud. The continuing success of Connecticut’s brownfields redevelopment program would not be possible without the strong partnership between state and local government, local communities, and private developers.”
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