Thompsonville Redevelopment

Governor Malloy’s announcement that Department of Transportation projects may be postponed indefinitely, due to budget cuts, will not impact Thompsonville redevelopment initiatives. Although the news could present a challenge to the Town’s plans in already challenging times, growth and revitalization efforts in Thompsonville will continue. The transit station is just a catalyst to the Riverfront Access and North River Street project which will continue as planned.

The River Access project is being funded through a $3.4 million Federal Highway Administration grant. This for safe passage across the “high-speed” Amtrak line to get people to the Connecticut Riverfront. The bulk of this money is being used for riverfront improvements including the construction of a multi-purpose path, i.e. bike or walking path from Freshwater Pond to the Riverfront, utilizing the existing underpass. A contract was signed in December to develop construction plans for the project. Archaeological surveying and geo-tech drilling and wetlands delineation is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks.

In addition, last summer, Eversource signed an “Access Agreement” with the Town to allow Environmental Site Assessment work to be done to determine the extent of contamination on the North River Street project. A contract has been signed with TRC Solutions who will begin performing the work. Once complete Town officials will meet with Eversource and the Federal Transit Administration to discuss the best way for the Town to acquire the property and address the contamination issues. This piece of the project is funded through a Federal Transit Administration Grant, therefore not affected by the Connecticut State budget.

The Enfield’s Thompsonville Community Garden, established in 2008 by the Town of Enfield, the University of Connecticut Master Gardener Program and a grant from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and has been a continued success year over year. Recently, the North Central District Health Department awarded a $2,000 grant for the 2018 season as they are happy to be supporting the garden in the new year.

Residents will be kept up-to-date on the progress of these projects as work gets underway.