Renaissance Place Update – 7/20/2011
Posted by Bob on July 20, 2011 under Daily Blogs | 
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We are often asked for a status update on what is happening with the Renaissance Place Project. Given the significance Renaissance Place represents for Naugatuck’s future, it is important to convey this information in a detailed and comprehensive manner. Several activities on a variety of fronts are currently underway with regard to the Project. The following is a summary of recent and/or ongoing activities:
Parcel C
After two (2) previous, failed attempts spanning many years, the remediation of Parcel C (the approximate 2.3 acre parcel at the corner of Water Street and Maple Street) has been complete. While some environmental complexities challenged the process and increased the completion time, work was finished this Spring (2011). Despite the jokes resulting from the temporary water on the property, Parcel C is now ready for the development currently envisioned as part of the Renaissance Place Project.
Conroy Development Company / Saint Mary’s Medical Facility
Conroy Development Company is currently working with Saint Mary’s Health Services on the design of an approximate thirty thousand (30,000 ft²) square foot medical office complex that would be located on Parcel C. The building would consolidate existing Saint Mary’s facilities within Naugatuck and expand services and affiliated physician space within the the Borough.
Parcel C Parking Structure
A Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) is currently in the field to obtain a planning and engineering firm for a five hundred (500) space parking garage to support the private investment on Parcel C and increased ridership on the MetroNorth rail line. Funding for the planning and design of the structure is being provided in the amount of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND and 00/100THS ($500,000.00) DOLLARS by the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (“DECD”). In addition to meeting the parking demands of the rail line and the development, plans for the garage are likely to include such green initiatives as electric car charging stations, car (or “Zip Cars”) and bike (“Yellow Bike”) sharing facilities and solar panels that can generate power. Construction of the garage would be contingent upon appropriate investment from the private sector to generate tax revenue and job creation. It is anticipated that a firm will be selected in August, 2011, and that the design work will begin shortly thereafter.
Development Agreement
The Borough, Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation (“NEDC”) and Conroy Development Company are currently analyzing the development agreement executed by the parties in 2007. All parties are planning to meet and discuss any necessary clarifications to the agreement resulting from the national recession and ever-changing market forces. Any such changes would require approval by the appropriate boards of all parties to the agreement.
Parcel B / Parcel A (General DataComm Property)
Parcel B is predominately the parking area along Maple Street and Old Firehouse Road. Parcel A is the property containing the General DataComm building. Both are owned by General DataComm. Pursuant to a grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and in coooperationg with General DataComm, Phase I, Phase II and Phase III environmental assessments have been completed on both parcels. The Borough’s consultant is currently finalizing the draft report from the Phase III (commonly referred to as a Remedial Action Plan, or “RAP”), prior to submission to EPA for final approval.
Naugatuck Train Station
Pursuant to a FIFTY THOUSAND and 00/100THS ($50,000.00) grant from DECD, the Borough has engaged a consultant to perform a Phase I (report and document driven) and Phase II (test boring and samples) environmental assessment of the historic Naugatuck Train Station. The Phase I has recently been completed and Phase II will begin shortly. It is anticipated that the train station, which is owned by the Borough, will ultimately present an opportunity for commercial development. Preliminary discussions with Conroy Development Company have focused on the potential reuse as a restaurant with ancillary uses to support the MetroNorth train station.
MetroNorth Train Station Platform
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (“ConnDOT”) has been completing a study of improvement to the Waterbury/Bridgeport branch line. In addition to the recommended upgrades to the line for signalization and side-tracking (which would allow multiple trains to pass for more flexible scheduling), recommendations have been discussed to ultimately upgrade the Naugatuck platform and move it to the South side of the building.
Building 25
Restoration of the last remaining building from the United States Rubber Company has been discussed for almost two (2) decades. While a FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND and 00/100THS ($500,000.00) DOLLAR grant from the State of Connecticut was procured in the mid-1990′s, funding has always been insufficient to completely restore the vacant building. The overwhelming majority of such state funds remain less dollars expended to stabilize and/or winterize the structure. The Borough, in conjunction with the NEDC, will be submiting a grant application to the federal Economic Development Agency (“EDA”) in August of 2011. The submission will propose (i) the restoration of Building 25 for use as a medical incubator building to support the adjacent medical office complex, (ii) improvements to infrastructure to Parcel C, and (iii) the creation of a new home for the Naugatuck Historical Society and NEDC. Incubator space allows new and emerging entrepreneurs in a particular field to share resources and common space as their respective businesses grow. Utilizing a renovated Building 25 in this capacity will not only create jobs and improve the surrounding infrastructure on Parcel C, but will free space in the Naugatuck Train Station for commercial use as discussed above. A decision on the Borough’s EDA application will likely be made by early Fall, 2011.
State Traffic Commission Study and Fly-Bridge Design Grant
The State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (“OPM”) recently announced funding for transit-oriented development (“TOD”) projects, which are to be administered through the regional planning organizations. The Borough is in the process of submitting a Renaissance Place-based application next week to the Council of Governments, Central Naugatuck Valley (“COGCNV”). The application seeks THREE HUNDRED FIFTY FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE and 00/100THS ($354,375.00) DOLLARS worth of funding to complete the following two (2) tasks: (i) a State Traffic Commission (“STC”) study of the local impact of the Renaissance Place Development; and (ii) the planning, design and engineering of a fly-bridge connection between the proposed parking garage discussed above and the MetroNorth train platform across Water Street. STC approval will likely be required due to the potential for significant traffic changes resulting from downtown revitalization. Applying for funding for this task fits perfectly with the TOD focus of the grant opportunity. In addition, the fly-bridge across Water Street would enhance the connection between the parking spaces desired by ConnDOT in the garage to the actual train platform property.
General
None of the above initiatives will ever be as satisfying as seeing the initial shovel enter the ground followed by the perpetual sight of cranes in the air. Notwithstanding, all are necessary prerequisites to the complex project that is Renaissance Place. The amount of work that continues to be done in preparation is significant by all parties involved. Complaining about a sluggish economy, a cautious investment community and the significant time it takes to make Renaissance Place a reality will do nothing to benefit the Borough or our future tax base. This is not an option. The alternative to this carefully planned approach is to seek sporadic, unconnected development in a distressed economic climate where even national, big box retailers are waiting carefully before investing in new projects in markets similar to Naugatuck. All stakeholders remain committed to working through the issues presented by the recession, planning the details of the multifaceted Renaissance Place Project and taking advantage of all opportunities and resource that become available.
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