State May Deny Grant for Brookfield Streetscape

BROOKFIELD, CT — The town may lose $260,000 of a state grant earmarked for the third phase of the downtown streetscape project, the News-Times has reported.

The reason? The project's not "downtown" enough.

The third phase of the project, which would install sidewalks and other amenities such as granite curbing down Old Route 7 and Laurel Hill Road, was scheduled to commence the summer of 2020.

But the State Department of Transportation, which earlier this year pledged to cover 80 percent of the $1.3 million price tag for the project, says it is pulling out because the third phase of the project "...appears to be outside of the established downtown area."

Brookfield officials are planning to argue against their decision at an upcoming meeting between the state and leaders from various surrounding towns.

For more, see the News-Times.