804 Silas Deane Highway Juniors Pizza

A CO has been issued to convert this vacant storefront into a pizza restaurant.

James Duquette - Kainan Restaurant - 1030 Silas Deane Highway

Interior renovations are complete the conversion of this former salon space into a 2,800 s.f. 48 seat restaurant offering Philippine food.

Lasik Plus Vision Center - 1206 Silas Deane Highway

A CO was issued for this vacant space.

Beazley Realty - 1202 Silas Deane Highway

A CO was issued for this new real estate office.

20-30 Beaver Road - Storm Tech

Interior renovation is complete the expansion of an existing tenant Storm-Tech.

58 Maple Street

DB Motorsports of New Britain has opened in this vacant space.

135 Main Street - Aegis, Inc.

A small environmental firm has opened in this office space.

Southside Partners LLC 82-86 Wolcott Hill Road

Construction is well underway on a new one-story multi-tenant office building on Wolcott Hill Road near the intersection of Jordan Lane. The buildings will consist of a 7,470 s.f. office and an 800 s.f. free-standing storage building at the rear of the site. The developer received approval for an additional 3,000 s.f. on the second floor.

Mozzicato Development, 38-46 Wells Road

Construction is nearing completion on this 6,428 s.f. addition to the existing building at the corner of Wells Road and the Silas Deane Highway has begun. The one story brick addition would also include the renovation of the exterior façade of the existing building resulting in consistent exterior treatment to the entire site. The proposed tenant is Sherwin Williams Paint..

The Hospitality Corporation - Best Western - 1330 Silas Deane Highway

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 1 and construction is underway for the Best Western - Camelot Inn on a one-story addition on the south side of the building to accommodate an indoor pool and jacuzzi.

Town of Wethersfield Moeller Home, Prospect Street

Construction is nearing completion on the renovation of the former Moeller Home for the adaptive reuse to a Nature Center. This 5,000 s.f. building footprint will accommodate the center's relocation from the Community Center. A grand opening is scheduled for June 11.

61 Arrow Road LLC

Renovations are nearing completion at the former Arrow Tool Building at the corner of Arrow Road and Russell Road. The project will be constructed in 2 phases with the first phase consisting of 25,000 s.f. of industrial space which could accommodate up to 12 tenants. The second phase will involve the renovation of 15,000 s.f. of Office space. The exterior façade of the building will be improved and additional on-site parking will be created.

505 Silas Deane Highway - Town Hall and Library Renovation

Construction has commenced on the renovations and handicapped accessibility improvements to the Town Hall/Library Building.

1390 Berlin Turnpike (Jordan Lane Shopping Center) Friendly Fitness

Interior demolition and improvements are underway to convert the vacant storefront (former Fashion Bug) 21,000 s.f. into a fitness facility which will be operated by Friendly Fitness out of Westwood, Massachusetts.

1855 Berlin Turnpike, Cumberland Farms Inc.

Demolition is complete and construction has begun on the site of the existing Cumberland Farms building on the Berlin Turnpike. The project would include a new 4,185 s.f building, new pump island canopy and new underground fuel storage tanks.

Baby Boom - 1303 Silas Deane Highway - Goff Brook Shops

Building permits have been issued for the renovation of this space to accommodate a new retail tenant Baby Boom.

Nextel - 250 Silas Deane Highway

A building permit has been issued for the installation of a small shelter and antenna to the cell tower at the Police Headquarters.

Jefferson X-Ray - 1260 Silas Deane Highway

A building permit has been issued and interior renovation has begun to convert this space into medical offices.

1290 Silas Deane Highway - Priority Care NEW

Interior renovations are underway to fit out this existing space for this new tenant.

Double A Veterinary Clinic - 106 Nott Street

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a small addition on the east side of this building and construction should start soon.

Nathan Hale Apartments, AHEPA, Inc. - Elderly Housing Project - 1532 Berlin Turnpike

An application was approved by the ZBA and the PZC to permit the construction of an addition to the existing building to accommodate 42 additional units. The project was delayed as additional State funds were pursued to cover budget overruns.

Folly Brook Boulevard - Age Restricted Housing

An Inland Wetlands application has been filed and a Zone Change Application for 12 units of age restricted 55+ housing units for a site located at the corner of Folly Brook and Spruce Street. Plans were reviewed on March 2 by the Design Review Committee. The PZC has continued the Public Hearing until June 21.

Old Reservoir Road/Back Lane - Harris Property - Age Restricted Housing

Conceptual Plans were submitted for preliminary review for the construction of 39 single family housing units under our new special residential development regulations. PZC reviewed the preliminary plans at their first meeting in January.

Cedar Hill Cemetery - Berlin Turnpike

A hearing is scheduled for June 7 for the construction of an additional mausoleum in the Cemetery.

Church Homes - Ridge Road

Preliminary plans have been submitted to renovate the existing brick building at this site and construct a complex of new town house style building for approximately 55 age restricted housing units. The plans were presented to the boards and commissions in early April.

Proposed Dunkin Donuts 416 Silas Deane Highway

Plans have been submitted for the construction of a new Dunkin Donuts restaurant at the site of Suny's restaurant. The plans include a 2,800 s.f. building with a drive thru window. A hearing is scheduled for June 21.

Proposed Tim Horton's Restaurant 486 Silas Deane Highway

Preliminary plans have been submitted for the construction of a 1700 s.f. restaurant with drive thru at the site of the Carnival Ice Cream shop.

Eblen's - Jordan Lane Shopping Center, Berlin Turnpike NEW

Façade plans were approved to carve out another retail space of approximately 5,000 s.f in the end unit of the shopping center.

Comstock Ferre - 253 Main Street NEW

An application was submitted to PZC to convert this office space in 253 Main Street into a Danish and coffee shop. The Hearing was continued to June 7.

1178 Silas Deane Highway - Fun Zone NEW

Met with a developer regarding the potential redevelopment of this site for a national retail tenant.

Silas Deane Highway Revitalization Committee

• The Council awarded the design contract to Fuss and O'Neill of Manchester, CT.
• John Simone of the Connecticut main Street Program presented the program to the Committee on May 17.
• On May 31 the kick-off meeting was held in Rocky Hill Town Hall with about 25 members of the public and commission members. The planning process is now under way.

Economic Development and Improvement Commission

• Working with Paul Montinieri of the EDIC and Tom Hemphill from the Town's Data Services Department on improved methods of getting a higher profile and more valuable information out of the Town's Web Site.
• The Finance Committee is working on the final details of the Loan program and expects to start the program in early June.
• On Friday May 27 a ribbon cutting was held at Hallmark's Ice Cream on Main Street.

Chamber of Commerce

• Thursday morning May 5 the Chamber and the Town hosted the annual State of the Town address at the Country Club which was attended by over 75 people.
• On Wednesday evening May 18 at 5:30 pm at the Country Club the Chamber of Commerce held it's Annual Meeting.

Tourism

• The Commission continues to work with their consultant R and R to develop a series of Tourism Strategies for the Town. The consultant plans to release the draft report on June 10.
• The Commission has heard that the grant for the brochure update was approved.
• The May edition of Connecticut Magazine featured the first of a series of ads promoting Historic Wethersfield and the website. Visits to the website showed a marked increase immediately after the ad was placed. Additional versions of the ad will appear in June and July.
• The Commission is reviewing a draft plan and report for a town wide wayfinding sign program and will be presenting the report to the Council before any public meetings are held.
• On March 25 at 5:30 pm the Tourism Commission in partnership with the EDIC held an event at the Tavern to familiarize the region's meeting planners with Historic Wethersfield. Tours of the Town's historic visitor sites and local businesses were offered to 20 meeting planners from throughout the region.

Assistant Planner

We are pleased to announce that on June 6 Denise Bradley will begin her duties as Assistant Planner. Denise was most recently the Planning Assistant/Residential Rehabilitation Specialist with the City of Middletown.

Bond Rating Presentation - May 23

Staff participated in the presentations made to Standards and Poor's and Moody's regarding the Economic Development Initiatives underway in Town and those planned for the future.