Funding Approved for Somersville Mill Cleanup

The site of the former Somersville Mill, which has been a pile of rubble since a 2012 fire, will be cleaned up thanks to a $1.8 million grant from the state.

The grant to abate, demolish and remediate the former mill, which was substantially destroyed in the fire, was announced by the office of Gov. Dannel Malloy Wednesday.

In a written statement, First Selectman Lisa Pellegrini said:

“This is an unprecedented amount awarded to the Town and I take this moment to personally thank Governor Malloy for this funding and most importantly for his faith in Somers and his belief in such a worthwhile project. I would also like to express heartfelt thanks and appreciation to DECD Deputy Commission/Brownfields Director Tim Sullivan, DEEP Commissioner Rob Klee and their staffs, especially Ned Moore and Mark Lewis for all of their help, assistance and support during this journey. We have been so fortunate to have access to such exceptional individuals. Thanks and appreciation also goes out to Congressman Joe Courtney and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman for their invaluable advice and support from the beginning. Congressman Courtney truly served as the catalyst in gaining support for this project and I thank him for his counsel.. Thank you to Senator Richard Blumenthal for his time in touring the site and for opening a window of opportunity in order to gain support. Many thanks to the Capital Region Council of Governments, Senator John Kissel and Representative Kurt Vail for their letters of support that were submitted to the grant application.

Such significant funding cannot have been possible without the hard work and dedication of my staff. Town Engineer Jeff Bord, Sanitarian Steve Jacobs, CFO Mike Marinaccio and Operations Manager Kim LaFleur were exceptional and played a crucial role in the final presentation for this grant. They never once faltered during this process and working together with them has been one of the highlights during my time as First Selectman. I am surrounded by outstanding minds and creative thinkers and am so thankful for the hard work by members of the Somersville Mill Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee. I refer to them as my Dream Team and they include Tim Keeney, Brad Pellissier, Erik Ness, Tim Potrikus and Ralph Williams. Working with them, as well as with our Town Attorney Carl Landolina and Environmental Consultants Martin Brogie and Steve Hawkins and Planning Consultant Glenn Chalder ensured that we had a wonderful application to submit.

My sincerest thanks, appreciation and respect go out to everyone involved. We have a day to celebrate but now the hard part begins and Kathy, Bud and I look forward to working with all of you on this project.”

In total, 16 municipalities across Connecticut are being awarded $8.7 million in state grants that will help the communities revitalize and remediate specific properties so they can be put back into productive use and attract new development that will benefit each town and city.

“In a new economic reality, transforming and remediating sites is so important. We’re on the cutting edge of taking otherwise unusable property and transforming it into new space for businesses and residents. These strategic investments help towns and cities take abandoned, blighted, and vacant properties, and bring them back to life in order to spur new investments, new development, and new jobs for those in the communities,” Malloy said. “Since 2012, we’ve committed more than $150 million to investigate, clean up, and revitalize hundreds acres of property in communities in every corner of our state. It’s an extraordinary amount – and it’s all designed to ensure that we are building for the future.”

The grants come under the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Brownfield Remediation Program. Under Wednesday’s round of allocations, a total of $7 million will go towards the cleanup and redevelopment of five former industrial sites, while $1.7 million will be put towards the assessment of twelve other sites around the state.

The Somersville site was the subject of a DECD assessment grant awarded in 2014.

“Cleaning up toxic and blighted properties is integral to creating attractive, livable communities,” Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman said. “These investments mean healthier cities and towns, but they also attract activity and help build neighborhoods, adding commerce, housing, retail, and greenspace. This funding is an important part of strengthening and expanding our economy, and inspiring smart growth.”

“DECD, through its brownfield remediation and redevelopment programs, works closely with cities and towns to help them properly plan for, and take full advantage of, future economic opportunities that brownfields present,” DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith said. “This round of funding will provide financial support for 17 projects across our state that encompass 190 acres of redevelopment.”

“Investing in the cleanup of Brownfields in Connecticut facilitates the conversion of degraded properties that pose a risk to human health and the environment to opportunities for reuse and redevelopment,” Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Robert Klee said. “This investment makes good sense, as brownfields are typically located near existing transportation, water, sewer and other infrastructure and their redevelopment will lessen pressure on open space and other environmentally-sensitive areas.”

“Governor Malloy has made Connecticut a national leader in brownfield redevelopment, with unprecedented investment in projects throughout the state. Working with our partners in cities and towns, state funding is acting as a catalyst to attract private investment to these formerly dormant sites, resulting in new jobs and revitalized communities,” DECD Deputy Commissioner Tim Sullivan said. “With this new round of funding, we are also excited to be partnering with several communities that have not previously received DECD brownfield funding.”

Wednesday’s round of state brownfield grants also includes:

Remediation and Redevelopment Projects

• Bridgeport: $2,000,000 grant to remediate a 2.2 acre site in the city’s Eco-Technology park to enable the construction of a permitted anaerobic digester facility.
• Meriden (144 Mills Street): $2,000,000 grant to abate, demolish and remediate a 3-acre former public housing site in downtown Meriden to be redeveloped as a mixed-use transit-oriented development in partnership with a city-selected developer. This site was the subject of a DECD-funded assessment grant awarded in 2014.
• Shelton (223 Canal Street): $875,000 grant to abate and demolish a vacant industrial building in the downtown development district for residential redevelopment.
• Southington (318 North Main Street): $400,000 grant to demolish and remediate the former Corbin and Beaton site for redevelopment as commercial office space.

Assessment Projects

• Beacon Falls: $78,000 grant for investigation of 100 Railroad Avenue.
• Berlin: $100,000 grant for investigation of 303 New Britain Road.
• Bristol: $50,000 grant for investigation of 273 Riverside Avenue.
• Bridgeport: $200,000 grant for investigation of multiple parcels related to the proposed Civic Block redevelopment project.
• Hebron: $95,000 grant for investigation of 459 Church Street.
• New Haven: $200,000 grant for investigation of multiple parcels to enable development of affordable housing.
• Plymouth: $60,000 grant for investigation of 142 Main Street.
• Stratford: $200,000 grant to continue the investigation of the former Stratford Army Engine plant.
• Westbrook: $200,000 grant for investigation of 88 Pond Meadow Road.
• West Haven: $200,000 grant for investigation of multiple parcels to enable transit-oriented development surrounding the West Haven Metro North station.
• West Harford: $200,000 grant for investigation of 25 Brixton Street.
• Windham: $120,000 grant for investigation of 1248 Main Street.

Photo credit: Megan Davis; YouTube video credit: timontube2012