Ground Broken on Colony Street Development in Meriden

Gov. Dannel Malloy announced that ground has been broken for a mixed-use complex on Colony Street in Meriden.

The plan is to establish a Transit-Oriented Development district in the city.

Construction was funded by the state

Department of Transportation, Meriden Housing Authority and Westmount Development Group.

“With this investment, we are revitalizing an area of downtown Meriden that will be a catalyst for further growth and private investment and will connect residents to increased transit opportunities, increased economic activity, and increased job opportunities,” Malloy said. “The commuter rail line that we are creating from New Haven to Hartford and ultimately to Springfield will connect our cities up and down the I-91 corridor, building transit corridors that will transform Connecticut and our economy - and this location in Meriden will be a key hub of that activity.”

Construction is expected to generate $36.67 million in regional economic activity and create 259 new jobs.

More from Malloy’s office:

MHA and Westmount are overseeing work on the mixed-income apartment and commercial complex, and are partnering with CTDOT for the construction of a 275-space parking garage that will dedicate 225 spaces to commuter parkers. The new 71,000 square foot complex will contain 63 apartments and more than 11,000 gross square feet of commercial/retail space.

The Colony Street joint development project is part of Meriden’s larger plans to create a TOD district in the city’s downtown area in order to address outdated transportation deficiencies, encourage additional economic development, make the infrastructure more pedestrian friendly, and increase access to employment, education and housing, leading to additional economic development.

Meriden’s new Intermodal Center will contribute to the revitalization of the city’s downtown area by offering a new station that was designed to accommodate the expanded functions and space requirements associated with the enhanced passenger rail service on the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail corridor. The City of Meriden was identified as a key hub for enhanced passenger rail service along the line, which will lead to an increase in ridership and intermodal transportation options, improvements to the state’s passenger rail system, the creation of more livable and sustainable communities, and additional economic development in the areas along the new rail corridor.