BERLIN, CT — A new public park featuring a small performance area, benches, and other amenities is planned for Steele Boulevard as Berlin continues improvements around the recently completed Steele Center development.
The Berlin Town Council voted 6-0 on Sept. 15 to authorize Berlin Town Manager Ryan Curley to enter into a contract with Stonehedge Landscaping Co. Inc. of Newington for construction of Steele Boulevard Park.
The authorization allows spending of up to $520,588, including a 15% contingency, pending approval of the project by the state Department of Economic and Community Development.
Curley told the council the park is part of the broader Steele Boulevard project. Barton & Loguidice LLC designed the park and prepared the specifications used to solicit bids.
Stonehedge Landscaping submitted the lowest bid, according to the meeting minutes.
The project will be funded primarily through a $500,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant previously accepted by the town.
The council's authorization also identified $20,588 from the Farmington Avenue non-grant account.
Newport Realty will contribute $11,300 for a clock planned for the park.
Berlin Town Planner Maureen Giusti told the council that plans for Newport Realty's building at 55 Steele Blvd. had originally included a clock element.
That clock will instead be installed in the new park.
The park project comes shortly after construction was completed on the four-building Steele Center, a transit-oriented development near the Berlin Train Station.
Newport Realty Group LLC received a certificate of occupancy for the fourth and final building, at 55 Steele Blvd., after construction was completed at the end of August.
That three-story building added 52 apartments, including studios and one- and two-bedroom units. The building includes both market-rate apartments and affordable units for households earning 60% and 80% of the area median income.
Across its four buildings, Steele Center includes 72 residential units, along with commercial and restaurant space.
The development includes mixed-use buildings at 9 and 10 Steele Blvd., as well as a roughly 1,650-square-foot coffee and bagel shop with an outdoor patio.
The council's approval allows the town to move toward construction of the adjacent public park once the required state approval is received.
For the minutes of the Sept. 15 Berlin Town Council meeting, click on this link.
From Sept. 14: 'Major Berlin Housing/Commercial Development Complete, Ribbon-Cutting This Week'
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