New England 24 November 19, 2025

When Donna LaFata describes A&D Equipment, she speaks not just as a president, but as someone who has lived and breathed excavation for more than 20 years.

“Our background is in excavating and site work,” she said. “My husband’s family started an excavating company over 50 years ago — it’s a second-generation company. Over time, we looked for technologies to improve our own jobs, and there was a natural progression to start selling them. That’s how A&D Equipment was born 13 years ago.”

Headquartered in Guilford, Conn., A&D Equipment has become a trusted name in excavator attachments. The company specializes in products that make contractors’ job sites more efficient, more profitable, and more self-contained, according to the company.

“We sell a variety of attachment lines — Rotastar, Steelwrist, Indeco, Werk-Brau and MB Crushers,” LaFata said. “But our flagship is definitely the Rotastar screening bucket.”

Work Begins to Rehabilitate Portions of

Hartford’s 19th Century-Era Sewer System

Construction began the first week of November 2025 in Hartford, Conn., to rehabilitate the city’s downtown sewers, a portion of which was originally built in the 1800s.

Crews started the first of three phases of the sewer rehab project on Nov. 4, a process that the Hartford Courant noted was expected to last three weeks.

Hartford’s Metropolitan District (MDC) said that the city’s historic Central Row is closed eastbound from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the weekdays and vehicular traffic is being detoured around the job site; however, adjacent businesses and sidewalks are remaining open for pedestrians. Normal traffic will return following each construction shift.

The city’s MDC is a non-profit municipal corporation chartered by the Connecticut General Assembly to provide potable water and sewerage services.

The agency and its contractors, VMS Construction of Vernon, Conn., and Insituform Technologies, are working on all three phases of the sewer improvements, which are expected to be completed by spring 2026.

During that time, crews will work in downtown Hartford on Central Row, Market Street and Main Street, but the Courant reported that no sewer service interruptions are expected.

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MassDOT Firms Up Plans for Mystic River Pedestrian Bridge

A virtual hearing was hosted by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Oct. 21, 2025, to provide an update on its planned bike and pedestrian bridge over the Mystic River between Draw Seven Park in Somerville and the Northern Strand Trail in Everett, which it expects to complete by the end of 2029.

The online presentation unveiled the bridge’s “25 percent” design — a conceptlevel plan that, if approved, will allow the project to advance into its final phases of permitting and preparations of detailed construction blueprints.

William Conroy, MassDOT’s project manager of the car-free bridge, told attendees that the agency had already made “extensive … leaps and bounds since the last public information meeting.” He also noted that progress had been made on the Mystic River project’s environmental permitting process, a necessary step before the construction begins sometime next year.

The broad details of the design remain unchanged from versions that MassDOT had presented earlier in 2025. The bridge will be 18 ft. wide, with gentle slopes that allow it to be fully accessible under Americans With Disabilities Act standards.

But project designers also were able to

share some new details during the virtual presentation. For instance, the Mystic River bridge will have lighting integrated into its railings to illuminate the bridge deck at night.

In addition, the state transportation agency offered a look at how the new bridge will connect to existing riverfront public spaces in Everett and Somerville, StreetsblogMASS noted.

On the Somerville side, the bridge will thread under the existing Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) regional rail bridge near that city’s riverbank and above the existing river trail in Draw Seven Park before touching down at an oval plaza next to MBTA’s Assembly Orange Line station.

Mystic River Watershed Association render

The broad details of the design remain unchanged from versions that MassDOT had presented in 2025.

That plaza is already being constructed as part of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) ongoing renovations to Draw Seven Park.

“We have been coordinating with DCR and the park designers to fully integrate both of these projects together,” said Dirk Grotenhuis, an engineering consultant for the bridge project.

During the Oct. 21 meeting’s question-

and-answer session, Rep. Mike Connolly asked about plans to provide a direct connection between the proposed bridge and the Assembly Orange Line station.

Currently, the station is only accessible from Great River Road, west of the rail tracks. A connection to Draw Seven Park would require the construction of a new station entrance and elevator on the east side of the tracks.

Conroy answered by saying that MassDOT has completed preliminary designs for that new station entrance, but the

MBTA needs additional funding to build it.

“[It] is not funded at this time,” he said.

Without that entrance, Orange Line riders will need to take an eightto 12-minute detour by walking north to cross under the rail tracks at Artisan Way, then head south again across Draw Seven Park to the bridge landing.

On the Everett side, plans call for the pedestrian bridge to touch down at the end of the peninsula where the Northern Strand Trail meets the Encore Casino Harbor Walk.

MassDOT plans to pursue a “design-build” contract for the bridge’s construction. The agency aims to solicit construction bids next spring to begin construction by the fall of 2026.

Under that building method, MassDOT would establish technical requirements for the new bridge, but contractors would be allowed some flexibility in design details and construction techniques in hopes of delivering the bridge on a faster timeline and/or at a lower cost.

The state agency has estimated that the project will cost $62 million to build. 

Vt.’s Train Station Renovation Begins With Asbestos Removal

Asbestos removal at the Bellows Falls train station in Vermont began Oct. 9, 2025, in what is expected to be a multi-million-dollar clean-up, restoration and renovation of the facility, the Brattleboro Reformer reported.

The Amtrak intercity rail station is in the Bellows Falls village of Rockingham, Vt. Rockingham purchased the 102-year-old station in late March 2025 after several years of often tense negotiations with both Vermont Rail Systems, the owner of the station and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), which owns the railyard and surrounding land on which the station sits.

The town negotiated a long-term lease of the station’s land from the state, while purchasing the building outright for $285,000. Rockingham town officials had voted overwhelmingly in favor of buying the station in 2022, and since then have appropriated additional funds for the complicated project, the Reformer noted. As a result, it has received several major state and federal grants to fund most of the environmental clean-up and renovation work.

Scott Pickup, Rockingham’s town manager, told the Brattleboro newspaper that the three contracts totaling $2.1 million the

Select Board approved and signed Oct. 7 were a major step forward in the effort.

The contracts will start the clean-up and renovation process by installing a vapor barrier in the station’s basement, allow crews to perform additional environmental cleanup and make exterior building renovations, and add design work which will allow the town to apply for funds to pay for the third phase of the project.

Stone Environmental Inc. in Montpelier was awarded a $789,000 contract for the vapor barrier, which will contain the infiltration of hazardous gases into the building from the polluted railyard. In addition, Middlebury-based Breadloaf Construction was awarded an “up to” contract of $1.189 million for cleanup and exterior improvements.

restoration of its historic windows and doors.

Pickup and Fox said the restoration work is being coordinated, as best as possible, with the state’s plans for building a new ADA-compliant platform for the Amtrak train, which stops in Bellows Falls two times a day. Rail passengers currently must use a small stepladder to reach the train’s steps.

The final contract will be available in early November, Rockingham Development Director Gary Fox told the Select Board. Stevens and Associates, an architecture and civil engineering firm in Brattleboro, received a $130,000 contract to do 30 percent of the Phase 3 design work, which will allow Rockingham to apply for another

round of grants.

“All of that is funded,” said Pickup. “The money is available and on hand.”

Pickup said he expects the contractors will start mobilizing for the project throughout the rest of October, with visible work likely to occur at the site in November.

Fox characterized the asbestos abatement project as being on “a really tight timeline.”

Following its completion, masonry work would begin on both the inside and outside of the brick building, and eventually the

According to Pickup, the awarding of the contracts was a big milestone in the town’s effort to buy and restore the train station, a major component of Rockingham’s overall effort to redevelop The Island, which is that portion of central Bellows Falls that is cut off from the rest of the downtown by the Bellows Falls Canal.

Fox presented the three different contracts to the Rockingham Select Board, and each were approved unanimously. He also provided an update on the town project, including the rail station, which itself replaced an earlier, larger station that burned down.

When the town bought the station earlier this year, Rockingham officials set the stage for it to possibly be the home of a cafe or restaurant. 

Repairs Begin On R.I.’s Damaged Charlestown Breachway

A long-term repair project of the Charlestown Breachway in Rhode Island will begin in mid-October 2025 with an initial mobilization of equipment and materials. The state’s Department of Environmental Management (DEM), the town of Charlestown and the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) announced the effort on Oct. 7, 2025.

The human-built channel connects Charlestown’s Ninigret Pond to the Atlantic Ocean.

In October 2024, town officials and the DEM announced emergency repairs to the west wall of the breachway after having warned boaters of passing through the channel due to damage from several winter storms in 2023.

Funds totaling $8.4 million have been allocated for the latest project, with $5 million contributed from a DEM request and allocated by the state through the CRMC. In addition, the latter agency will contribute $2 million for dredging and $1.4 million will be provided by the town of Charlestown.

The work is designed to restore the Breachway’s structural integrity, improve safe navigation, stabilize the coastline and preserve essential water flow to maintain ecological balance and water quality.

To do so, granite boulders will be added to raise the breachway’s western wall, while

dredging in Ninigret Pond will remove stormdeposited sand to rebuild the beach and dunes. These repairs will safeguard coastal infrastructure, the environment and the community, according to the Rhode Island DEM.

Construction at the Charlestown Breachway site is expected to be completed by April 2026 ahead of the camping and beach seasons, with vegetation restoration slated to be finished later that fall.

“This project is the result of strong collaborative planning between state agencies and the Town of Charlestown to improve the long-term resiliency of the breachway,” said Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee. “Charlestown, like many of our coastal communities, is on the frontlines of climate change impacts, and by working together we’re making the necessary repairs to this critical infrastructure.”

In a news release from his agency, DEM Director Terry Gray said, “[We appreciate] the collaborative efforts of the town of Charlestown and CRMC to work together to make long-term repairs and upgrades necessary to protect this important coastal infrastructure from climate change impacts.

“The Charlestown Breachway, Ninigret Pond and the beachfront are important for our environment, recreation and coastal resiliency,” he said. “We recognize the Breachway area is popular year-round, and we’re committed to minimizing disruptions whenever possible.”

Major Work Gets Under Way in November

The repair work is a three-part project with RMA GeoEnvironmental of Wickford, R.I., providing engineering oversight, CAB Construction, located in Foster, R.I., handling the breachway, beach and dune reconstruction; and LaCrosse, Wis.-based J.F. Brennan conducting the dredging for the channel’s west side restoration.

During the construction, a portion of the nearby Blue Shutters Town Parking Lot will serve as the breachway repair’s pre-staging area and may have restricted parking, but there will still be pedestrian access to the beach.

The required boulders will be delivered and stored in the lot in early November before being transported along East Beach to the breachway site. Stone wall repair work also will begin in November 2025 and is expected to continue until spring 2026.

Due to the construction equipment needed for the work and the limited space available, there will be additional traffic and possibly temporary driving access restrictions on the East Beach barrier section during parts of the project. This activity may result in additional traffic along East Beach Road.

A coastal habitat restoration project is also under way at Ninigret Beach led by DEM in partnership with Save The Bay, a local nonprofit.

Heavy equipment will be operating on the beachfront between the Blue Shutters Town Beach and the Charlestown Breachway, causing increased traffic and potential temporary driving access restrictions on the East Beach barrier section and roadway. Portions of the CRMC-permitted sand trail will also close, and new traffic patterns will be in place during the project.

“CRMC is proud to continue supporting our coastal communities through the upcoming dredging and restoration work at Charlestown Breachway,” said Jeffrey Willis, CRMC executive director. “The improved structure has been designed to account for sea level rise and coastal storms and should hopefully benefit coastal users of all types — from the aquaculture farmers to the boaters to the beach goers — for decades to come.”

Charlestown Town Administrator Jeffrey Allen noted the importance of the breachway to his community and the connectivity it provides to the coastal environment and the town’s economy.

“Restoring the Breachway and dredging Ninigret Pond will improve water quality, protect aquatic habitats, enhance our local and state economy and ensure public safety,” he said. “This project safeguards not only Charlestown’s natural heritage but also the recreational and economic vitality that benefit the entire State of Rhode Island.” 

Two Conn. Housing Agencies to Finance 15 Developments

The Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) and the state’s Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) announced Oct. 30, 2025, that they had signed financing agreements for 15 developments in 13 cities that will contribute to the creation or preservation of 1,105 housing units.

The developments will include 816 affordable units for low- and moderateincome renters, of which 63 will be designated as permanent supportive housing. Plans call for building new housing in Bridgeport, Colchester, Danbury, Enfield, Meriden, Naugatuck, New Haven, Norwalk, Southington, Stamford, Uncasville, West Hartford and Windsor.

DOH is handing out more than $71 million in loans and grants, while CHFA is providing low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) that will generate more than $123 million in private investment along with $26.2 million in financing.

The affordable units will be earmarked for residents making up to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI).

In addition, CHFA signed financing agreements totaling $7.125 million for 178 units to be funded by the Build For CT program, a collaboration between DOH and CHFA to support the creation of apartments designed to be affordable for middle-income renters.

These financing agreements mean the planned developments are now ready to begin construction.

“We know our residents need and deserve high quality housing they can afford as soon as possible,” said Seila Mosquera-Bruno, the state’s commissioner of housing. “We’ll continue to accelerate development of all types of homes from supportive, to senior, to entry-level and help create sustainable, multi-generational communities throughout Connecticut’s cities and towns.”

“These developments reflect the full spectrum of housing need in Connecticut — from middle income and senior housing to supportive and deeply affordable homes,” said Nandini Natarajan, CEO and executive director of the CHFA. “Each one demonstrates the power of creativity, flexibility and partnership in responding to the housing challenges facing our communities.”

Following are the 15 housing developments that will be created by the state funding and the 13 cities in which they will be located:

810 Boston Ave. in Bridgeport

At this project, DOH is providing up to $3.4 million for the acquisition and rehabilitation of one building comprising a total of

Enfield Manor in Enfield

Originally built in the 1960s as elderly housing, Enfield Manor will be demolished and replaced with 99 new one-bedroom apartments for older adults. The three-story buildings will feature community space and improved design, while modernizing Connecticut’s State Sponsored Housing Portfolio (SSHP).

“We know our residents need and deserve high quality housing they can afford as soon as possible.”

Seila Mosquera-Bruno Connecticut Commissioner of Housing

In addition to $4.3 million in funding from DOH, CHFA is providing 4 percent LIHTCs that will generate $19.7 million in private investment, $5.21 million in taxexempt bond permanent financing, $18.6 million in tax exempt bond construction financing and $337,921 from the state’s Housing Tax Credit Contribution program.

72 & 78 East Main St. in Meriden

24 residential units, 23 of which will be subject to the affordability restrictions of 30 percent AMI or below. The development is further supported by project-based rental assistance through the Bridgeport Housing Authority for all the affordable units.

Park City Place in Bridgeport

Nearby, DOH also is granting $22 million in funding to Connecticut Housing Partners to acquire the Holiday Inn that was converted into residential units in Bridgeport. The building consists of 97 one- and two-bedroom units serving households earning between 30-80 percent AMI. The acquisition of this property preserves the affordability for its current and future residents.

203 Amston Rd. in Colchester

Situated on an 8.5-acre parcel less than a mile from Connecticut Highway 2, this new

development will include 30 apartments with access to major job centers in Hartford, Norwich and Groton. Through the Build For CT program, CHFA is providing a $1.25 million loan to support the creation of 12 middle-income units affordable up to 80 percent AMI.

Kimberly Place Apartments in Danbury

Located at 19 Main St., Kimberly Street Apartments in Danbury is a 10-story senior housing community built in 1981. All 116 units, reserved for low-income residents age 62 and older, are supported by project-based Section 8 assistance.

The renovation, supported by CHFA through 4 percent LIHTCs that will generate $15.8 million in private investment, will modernize systems and preserve long-term affordability.

“These developments reflect the full spectrum of housing need in Connecticut — from middle income and senior housing to supportive and deeply affordable homes.”

Nandini Natarajan

Connecticut Housing Finance Authority

This redevelopment will transform a centrally located building into 46 rental apartments and six ground-floor commercial spaces in downtown Meriden. With $1.875 million in financing from the Build For CT program, 15 units will be affordable to middle-income households earning 60 percent AMI. The site is adjacent to public transit and Meriden Green.

Parcel B, Phase I in Naugatuck

The first phase of Parcel B will deliver new housing within walking distance of the Naugatuck train station, including 12 supportive units for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Public green space also will be incorporated for community use. In addition to $6.6 million in funding from DOH, CHFA is providing 9 percent LIHTCs that will generate $12.2 million in private investment, along with $875,000 in taxable bond financing and $1 million from its Opportunity Fund.

10 Liberty in New Haven

To be built at the site of a former industrial building, 10 Liberty will bring 150 mixedincome apartments to New Haven, including studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The five-story development will use a geothermal heating and cooling system.

In addition to $16.5 million in funding from DOH, CHFA is providing 4 percent LIHTCs that will attract $29.6 million in private investment, along with $16 million in tax exempt bond financing and $1 million from CHFA’s Opportunity Fund.

Work Begins On Science Center at Maine Botanical Gardens

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (CMBG) in Boothbay plans to break ground on its new Edward and Gwendolyn Asplundh Horticulture and Plant Science Center.

The facility will be built by Landry/French Construction in Scarborough, Maine and is slated for completion by the beginning of 2027.

When it opens, the center will support two important parts of the Gardens’ mission: furthering plant science and horticulture. In addition, it will establish a hub of plant cultivation, research, propagation, plant conservation and collaboration unlike any other facility in New England, according to an Aug. 18 news release from CMBG.

St. Louis, Mo.-based Christner Architects, and Lavallee Brensinger Architects, with offices in Portland, Boston and Manchester, N.H., make up the project’s team of designers.

CMBG noted that it has responded to the increased environmental impact of climate change by planning for substantial growth in its plant science teams. As its gardens have grown, so has the need for more plant-growing space.

With that in mind, the new building will provide greenhouses, labs, offices and storage spaces to enable plant science and horti-

culture teams to increase CMBG’s program scope and mission impact.

“We know that plants are essential to the health of the planet, and we continue to research, educate and inspire people to take action to mitigate the impacts of climate change,” said Gretchen Ostherr, the president and CEO of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. “By fostering curiosity, deepening understanding, encouraging stewardship and teaching ecological horticulture practices, we are helping to shape a more sustainable future.”

The Horticulture and Plant Science Center will house new ecology and microbi-

ology research labs, allowing investigation into conservation techniques, plant migration and plant responses to climatic changes. Furthermore, a new and expanded herbarium will facilitate the study of Maine’s plants and document changes in their distribution over time. A larger seed bank and a new tissue bank to store seeds and other plant material for future research and restoration will also be housed at the facility.

Two glass greenhouses, three hoop houses and a head house will be constructed to support the growth of native and ornamental plants for display, conservation, restoration and sale to the public. Essential storage and

office space will facilitate collaboration among interns, graduate students and researchers, according to CMBG.

Plans call for the building to be a sustainable addition to the landscape by leveraging solar power and collecting rainwater for watering and non-potable water usage. In addition, the planned landscaping at the science center will provide trial gardens and outdoor gardening space as well as support the beautification of what is currently a storage area for soil and rocks.

“We are so grateful to the Asplundh family for their catalytic gift to this project, along with many other individuals and foundations who helped fund it,” Ostherr said. “Additional thanks go to local and state elected officials for elevating our project to ensure its success and the continued impact of our mission.”

At more than 325 acres, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is the largest of its kind in New England. Home to thousands of different types of plants and visited by hundreds of thousands of guests each year, the gardens are an inclusive place of learning, with beauty around every corner.

Its mission is to inspire meaningful connections between people and nature and promote plant conservation through horticulture, education and plant science.

A&D’s ‘Dirt Tech 2025’ to Feature Attachments, Demos, More

Built From the Job Site Up

A&D’s story stands apart because it’s built on real-world experience.

“We don’t just sell these attachments — we use them,” LaFata said. “We understand how they perform in the field, what saves time and what makes sense for a working contractor.”

That approach has fueled A&D’s success. The company’s best-known product, the Rotastar screening bucket, offers portable, onsite screening that replaces traditional stationary plants.

“Screening plants often require two people to operate; they get gummed up and they involve trucking material back and forth,” she said. “We replaced ours entirely with a giant Rotastar bucket that screens 125 tons per hour. It stages materials for our entire week’s work.”

For job sites, she said, the smaller Rotastar models are a game-changer.

“You can haul it on a pickup or a trailer with your machine. It screens bedding for pipe, recycles rocky or debris-laden material and makes beautiful fill right on site. It eliminates trucking, which saves time, money and energy.”

Alongside the Rotastar, A&D also has been focusing heavily on MB crushing buckets —especially the compact MB-L140 model that fits skid steers and appeals to hardscapers.

“It’s perfect for patio or driveway replacement,” LaFata said. “You can crush old concrete or stone right there and reuse it for base. Between crushing, screening and tilt rotators, contractors can keep their work self-contained.”

Return of ‘Dirt Tech’

That spirit of hands-on practicality is what inspired A&D’s signature event, Dirt Tech, returning this year for its fourth edition on Dec. 4, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be held at SiteOne Landscape Supply, 899 Marshall Phelps Rd. in Windsor, Conn.

“We’ve done Dirt Tech three times before, but it’s been a few years,” LaFata said. “We finally secured a location that really lets us show what these machines can do. It’s a 10plus-acre site with trees and open space, so you can demo attachments in real conditions.”

Unlike indoor expos or trade shows with limited demo areas, Dirt Tech allows manufacturers and contractors to push their equipment to its limits.

“You can actually cut trees, move material and test drive attachments in person,” she said. “It’s about seeing, feeling and touching the products — and talking to the people who know them best.”

A&D Equipment partners with a trusted network of manufacturers and dealers to make the event happen.

“We’ve worked with this group of partners before. Everyone gets a large area to showcase their attachments and machinery. We all believe in giving contractors a real, handson experience.”

Exhibitors, Featured Equipment

Among the companies appearing this year is Huddig, a Swedish manufacturer making its mark on the U.S. market.

“We met the Huddig team at the Equip Expo in Louisville,” LaFata said. “It’s an impressive machine — kind of a tractor loader backhoe on steroids. It’s designed to handle multiple attachments, travel anywhere and even set power poles in hard-to-reach places.”

Huddig will join the event alongside leading brands represented by A&D, including Rotastar, Steelwrist, Indeco United Ag, Lorusso Heavy Equipment and MB Crusher. Each brand will be running live demonstrations throughout the day, giving attendees a close-up look at how modern attachments can transform productivity.

The event also includes a dose of New England hospitality.

“We’ll have coffee and pastries in the morning in a heated tent,” LaFata said. “For lunch, we’re bringing in the Big Green Pizza Truck — thin-crust, New England-style pizza. It’s a great way to feed a couple hundred people fast and it’s always a hit.”

Registration isn’t required but is encouraged to help organizers plan for parking and food. Visitors can pre-register at aanddequipment.com by following the link at the bottom of the homepage.

“It just helps us prepare,” LaFata said. “We want everyone to have a smooth experience from start to finish.”

Bringing Contractors Together

For A&D, Dirt Tech isn’t just an event — it’s a community gathering.

“We want to bring together local contractors, operators and crews who love what they do,” LaFata said. “It’s about learning what’s out there, seeing what fits your fleet and connecting with other professionals who are passionate about their work.”

As A&D continues to expand its reach across the United States — with exclusive national rights to the Rotastar line — the company remains grounded in the same values that launched it: practical innovation, family roots and respect for contractors.

“We started as contractors ourselves,” LaFata said. “That’s why everything we sell and everything we do comes down to one question — will this make your job easier, faster and better? If the answer is ‘yes,’ it belongs at Dirt Tech.”  CEG

New Developments Total 1,105 Units Statewide Across 13 Cities

HOUSING from page 10

24 Belden Ave. in Norwalk

As part of a mixed-use redevelopment, 24 Belden Ave. will add 102 apartments and two ground floor retail spaces in Norwalk. The new building also will be constructed above existing covered parking. Through the Build For CT program, CHFA is providing a $4 million loan to support the creation of 32 units affordable to middle-income renters who earn 60–80 percent AMI.

Leonard Street Apartments in Norwalk

This five-story senior housing development includes 53 affordable apartments, 52 of which receive project-based Section 8 assistance. Originally built in 1977, the building will undergo renovations to enhance its quality and preserve affordability for older adults through CHFA-issued 4 percent LIHTCs that will attract $8.5 million in investment and $408,000 from CHFA’s Opportunity Fund.

Pulaski Terrace in Southington

Constructed in 1968, Pulaski Terrace is the oldest of the Southington Housing Authority properties. DOH is providing $2 million for upgrades to the complex, including a comprehensive security system and installation of a generator for the community building to supply an emergency power supply. The preservation of these units is imperative for Southington to achieve its goal of maintaining affordable housing options within the community.

Augustus Manor in Stamford

Augustus Manor is located in downtown Stamford and provides 105 units of affordable senior housing with a long-term Section 8 HAP contract. The property will be renovated with support from CHFA-issued 4 percent LIHTCs, which will generate $18.6 million in private investment. Among its improvements are full unit renovations, ADA accessibility, upgrades to or replacement of critical building systems and free Wi-Fi for residents.

Village Apartments in Uncasville

DOH is providing $8.2 million in funding to Eastern CT Housing Opportunities Inc. to

Plans call for building new housing in 13 cities that will contribute to the creation or preservation of 1,105 housing units.

acquire a pair of existing residential buildings in Uncasville. The two buildings consist of 54 units with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedrooms serving households earning between 50-120 percent AMI. The acquisition of this property will ensure the preservation of long-term affordability for its current and future residents in the New London area.

West Hartford Fellowship Housing II

Phase II of the West Hartford Fellowship Housing redevelopment will add new affordable homes for seniors as part of a larger effort to redevelop 300 apartments in the city. Located near transit and community amenities, this phase will include 77 units. In addition to $6.2 million in funding from DOH, CHFA is providing 9 percent LIHTCs that will attract $19 million in private investment, along with $1.7 million in taxable bond financing.

Shad Run Terrace Housing Modernization in Windsor

The state DOH will allocate $2 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program funding for the renovation of 52 units to address the installation of new energy-efficient windows, exterior doors and hardware, as well as the replacement of storm and screen doors, the installation of new vinyl siding, the replacement of asphalt shingle roofing and gutters and unit heat pump/mini-split systems.

Windsor municipal officials have already invested $60,000 in architectural design, along with $14,000 for environmental testing at the site. The complex is part of the State Sponsored Housing Portfolio. 

UMaine Athletics Unveil Plans for New Morse Arena

Thanks to a $10 million gift from 1964 University of Maine graduates Phillip and Susan Morse, the school is moving forward on building Morse Arena, a new 2,660-seat basketball venue on the Orono, Maine, campus.

Detailed plans for the arena were unveiled Oct. 22, 2025, by officials with the UMaine Athletics program.

The project is part of a $320 million investment from the Harold Alfond Foundation, including a $170 million investment to fund the university’s Athletics Facilities Master Plan as part of ‘UMS TRANSFORMS’.

Located near the south end of Alfond Stadium and Morse Field, the facility will extend from just behind the south end zone of the football stadium through the North Gym parking lot to the edge of Long Road.

Construction is set to begin after the 2025 fall semester and the new arena is expected to be completed and in use during the 202728 basketball season, according to a news release from UMaine Athletics.

The facility will serve as the new home court for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, but also will host youth and community events, reinforcing UMaine’s role as a statewide hub for sports and engagement.

“Morse Arena reflects the power of partnership and investment in our students,” said university President Joan Ferrini-Mundy.

“This facility will not only strengthen our athletic programs but also serve as a source of pride and [a] great gathering venue for the university and the state of Maine.”

As the new home of Maine’s only NCAA Division-I program, Morse Arena should help attract top student-athletes and position

the Black Bears to compete for America East Conference titles and NCAA tournament berths.

“We are excited to provide our programs with the high-caliber basketball facility that this state deserves,” said Jude Killy, UMaine’s director of athletics. “We believe that we are putting all the pieces in place to make sustained runs at postseason play in college basketball, and Morse Arena is right at the center of that. We are incredibly grateful to the Harold Alfond Foundation and Phil and the late Sue Morse for helping to make this vision a reality.”

New Arena Big Boost to Black Bear Athletics

The new basketball venue will offer UMaine fans an intimate game-day experience with chairback, bleacher and courtside seating, the school noted.

In addition, a 4,000-sq.-ft. club area for hosting events, groups and premium seat holders will be created to further enhance the fan experience and support student-athletes during competition. That area also will include gameday viewing options for football and basketball games as well as a dedicated kitchen space, food service area and bar service.

With a capacity of 300 guests, the club area also will have the capability of serving as a flexible space for community events, meetings and celebrations.

UMaine Athletics officials listed a number of other features that have been designed for the new Morse Arena, including:

• New locker rooms and lounges with modern lighting and the latest technology for the men’s and women’s basketball squads, which holds the promise of creating one of the premier home team spaces in the Northeast.

• A new film room and dedicated dining and nutrition areas for each of the school’s basketball programs.

• New offices for the men’s and women’s head coaches, assistant coaches and support staff that will further UMaine’s mission to become one of the top five Division-I athletic programs in New England.

• New visiting team locker rooms that will provide updated space for opposing teams as well as high school and youth programs that will use the spaces for special events and tournament competitions.

• Sports performance spaces, such as a student-athlete support area for sports medicine featuring hot and cold recovery plunge pools as well as a dedicated area for rehabilitation. It will feature more than 6,000 sq. ft. dedicated to speed, strength and agility. Plans call for it to serve not only basketball, but also football and other varsity programs.

Combined with existing facilities at the Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Latti Fitness Center, UMaine Athletics will one day offer more than 12,000 sq. ft. of training space for more than 450 student-athletes.

In addition, Morse Arena will house the university’s new football operations center, which will include football staff offices on the building’s concourse level with direct stair access to Morse Field. Along with the individual office space, the Black Bear football program’s space within the arena will have access to a pair of large conference rooms to accommodate staff meetings and film breakdown.

Upon their entry to the arena, fans and visitors will be greeted by a spacious lobby featuring Black Bear branding and displays of UMaine Athletics’ history, in addition to significant individual and team accomplishments. The lobby also will feature a new box office and administrative offices.

WBRC Inc. of Bangor, Maine and Kansas City, Mo.-based Crawford Architects are the architects for the new Morse Arena. UMaine Athletics noted that the project’s construction management will be executed by Consigli Construction in Portland. 

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New Sewer System in Hartford Built Using Cured-in-Place Pipes

The MDC said the initial phase of rehabilitation work, along Central Row between Main Street and the Prospect Street intersection, is expected to take about three weeks. That includes “conducting test pits, lining manholes and replacing a portion of the existing sanitary sewer main,” according to the water and sewer agency.

The Metropolitan District coordinated with the city of Hartford, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and CT Transit for the project.

The second phase of the sewer rehabilitation work is scheduled to begin in early December on Market Street from Kinsley to State Street, while the project’s final phase is slated to take place on Main Street in front of the Connecticut State House Square and stretch south, just past the Travelers Building.

Hartford’s current sewer rehabilitation program is “an effort to reduce extraneous infiltration of groundwater into the sewer system and extend the longevity of the system.”

The Courant noted that the sewers being investigated and rehabilitated date back to 1865, an era in which the city’s sewer network was constructed with brick.

Using Cured-In-Place Pipe Method On Third Phase

Plans call for the third phase of the work to overhaul the sewer with curedin-place pipe (CIPP), a trenchless pipe repair method that creates a new, seamless pipe within an existing one without the need for excavation. Its curing process takes 16 hours, according to the Hartford newspaper, and the entire phase is only expected to last one week.

The MDC said it uses CIPP trenchless technology “in which a new pipe is installed within the older failing pipe — if the original pipe remains in good enough condition.”

“The liner is then inflated to match diameter and shape of the host pipe,” then cured’ by either steam or hot water, the MDC noted in a project description on its website. “When cured, this liner becomes a new pipe, similar in characteristics to a segment of plastic pipe. Once the curing process is complete, existing connections from buildings or catch basins are reinstated by ‘cutting’ the new cured pipe in the location of these connections.”

Hartford’s downtown sewer pipes are inspected by robotic cameras prior to attempting to install the pipe that is to be cured in place. If the infrastructure is failing, and that part of the pipe is excavated, it will be repaired before the curing can be performed.

When the CIPP method is used, crews will pull “a resin-impregnated felt-type liner through the host pipe.”

In the Central Row areas, the MDC added that there will be excavation to access CCTV within the utility vault underneath the streets to determine any damage.

The agency added that the total cost of the Hartford sewer project is $18 million for all three parts of the work, which will be paid through several sources. The first phase is to cost $3.5 million, the second is $4 million and the third is $10.5 million.