For Immediate Release: December 6,  2024

Contact:
Ricardo Rodiguez
Brownfields Program Director
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
203-982-0797
rrodriguez@nvcogct.gov

Connecticut Brownfield Land Bank Secures Grants to Revitalize Key Sites in Waterbury and Hartford

(Waterbury, CT) – The Connecticut Brownfield Land Bank, Inc. (CTBLB) has been awarded significant funding through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Brownfield Remediation and Development Program. These grants will fund key remediation activities to prepare properties in Waterbury and Hartford for productive reuse, transforming them into vibrant community assets that will foster economic growth and address critical housing shortages.

On December 4, 2024, Governor Ned Lamont announced the approval of $20 million in state grants to remediate and redevelop 21 blighted properties across Connecticut. This round of state investments is projected to attract approximately $530 million in private funding, generate 1,392 new housing units, and drive local business growth. The Connecticut Brownfield Land Bank (CTBLB) will receive $1,137,320 to facilitate the remediation and redevelopment of two major projects:

  • Hartford: A $987,000 grant to CBLB will support the abatement of hazardous materials and the removal of an underground storage tank at the former state-owned properties located at 20 and 30 Trinity Street. These sites are set to be repurposed for a 104-unit mixed-income residential and transit-oriented development, which will provide much-needed housing and contribute to Hartford’s ongoing revitalization.
  • Waterbury: A $150,320 grant to CBLB will fund the environmental assessment of the 2.37-acre William V. Begg Building site at 1106 Bank Street. The project aims to restore this high-rise building into affordable housing, providing additional housing options in Waterbury’s downtown district.

“We are proud to partner with the state and local developers to transform these blighted properties into thriving, sustainable spaces,” said CTBLB President Rick Dunne. “The General Assembly showed great wisdom in creating Brownfield Land Banks to shield innocent investors from liability and help our towns reclaim properties that would otherwise remain a blight and hazard to our communities. By addressing these environmental concerns, we are opening the door for economic growth and addressing the state’s pressing housing needs.”

The Connecticut Brownfield Land Bank, Inc. is dedicated to facilitating the remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites throughout Connecticut. By working with municipalities, developers, and environmental experts, CTBLB helps transform contaminated properties into valuable assets, creating economic opportunities and improving quality of life for local communities.

“This round of funding not only addresses critical environmental cleanup needs but also demonstrates Connecticut’s ongoing commitment to building vibrant, sustainable communities,” said Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe. “By leveraging private investments, we are creating jobs, fostering economic development, and providing much-needed housing for residents. These projects are prime examples of how brownfield remediation can serve as a catalyst for change, revitalizing neighborhoods and improving quality of life for all.”

The grants announced are part of a larger effort by the Lamont administration to promote economic development, environmental sustainability, and housing growth throughout Connecticut.

For more information on the Connecticut Brownfield Land Bank, Inc. and its projects, please visit ctblb.org.