Town of Wethersfield

580 Silas Deane Highway - Wild Rover Restaurant and Pub (Bunker Café)

A CO has been issued for the renovation of this building into an Irish Pub to be known as the Wild Rover.

462 Silas Deane Highway - Roche Service Co.

An electronics service/repair shop has opened in the former Victorian Gallery space.

Marsh Street - Olsen House

Renovation of this building is now underway.

Stillman Walk - Nott Street - 55+ Housing

Additional permits have been approved.

Folly Brook Commons - Folly Brook Boulevard

Completion of the first building and occupancy is anticipated in the next few weeks.

9/11 Memorial Sports Center - 30 Greenfield Street

PZC approval was recently issued for the renovation and remodeling of the Pitkin Community Center.

974 Silas Deane Highway - New England Patio and Hearth

Plans have been submitted to expand showroom space into vacant rear space of this building.

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. A building permit has been approved. The project was delayed as additional State funds were pursued to cover budget overruns. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 1 at 11 am.

506 Silas Deane Highway - Art and Frame Options (Next to Belleza Salon)

Interior renovations are underway to renovate this space for the business relocation.

512 Silas Deane Highway - Former Acme Auto

Interior renovations are underway to renovate this space for a retail flooring showroom.

251 Main Street - The Bean and Grape (Former Crown and Kringle)

The PZC has approved plans to reopen this space as a coffee house which will also sell select foods and wine.

740B Silas Deane Highway - Take out Restaurant

The PZC has approved plans to convert this vacant space into a take out restaurant specializing in chicken wings.

Former Amici's Restaurant - Pal's Pub - Silas Deane Highway

On January 2 the PZC granted approval for the renovation of this building and for the use of an outdoor patio for a new restaurant/café in this building.

Town Line Road - KFC/Hines Sudden Service

The PZC has approved plans for the demolition and reconstruction of buildings on this site to accommodate 2 new buildings, a new restaurant and larger office building.

Former Fire House Grill - 1151 Silas Deane Highway - Humphrey's

An interior demolition permit has been issued to conduct some interior work to this building. An application has been submitted to Design Review and a building permit application has been filed.

943 Silas Deane Highway - Tranquil Moments Massage Therapy

Plans have been approved for use of this second floor space for a massage therapy business.

1380 Berlin Turnpike - Jordan Lane Shopping Center - Little Caesar's Pizza

Waiting for permit application's to renovate former Fashion Bug space for Little Caeser's Pizza Restaurant.

Cottone Field - Sports Lighting

An application has been filed for a Special Permit to install sports lighting at Cottone Field.

1260 Silas Deane Highway - Hartford Hospital

An inland wetlands application and a PZC application have been approved for plans that include an expansion of 13,000 s.f. to the existing building and parking lots to accommodate the growing needs of this medical facility. Applications to the DEP and Army Corps will need to be approved before construction can commence. Army Corps has requested additional information to justify the wetland activity.

61 Arrow Rd. - Phase 3

The PZC has a pending application for a new free standing cold storage building of approximately 5,000 s.f.

580 Silas Deane Highway - The Flower Box

Plans are being reviewed for a 20 x 89 foot addition on the south side of the building.

Progress Drive - CREC - Soundbridge School

Applications have been filed for an expansion to the school.

Comstock Ferre and Co. - Main Street

An application to the HDC has been approved for the demolition of the rear portion of the building to accommodate the creation of a mixed use retail-office and residential project and a new building fronting on Church Street is also planned. The HDC decision has been appealed. A meeting was held with the CT Trust For Historic Preservation to investigate the possible reuse and renovation of the buildings and we have received some sketches with recommendations as to which portions of the barn they believe should be incorporated into the design. Met with developer and he indicated that a PZC application will be submitted in the next few weeks.

Lot 4 Progress Drive - Office Building

Plans have been submitted for pre application review for the construction of a 2 story medical office building at this site, the building is roughly 20,000 s.f. an will be known as the Connecticut Center For Cosmetic Enhancement.

295 Ridge Road - Church Homes

A CO has been issued for the renovation of this building to accommodate 13 condominium units. Met with the developer on February 20 to discuss plans for the second phase of this project which might include an assisted living facility.

1000 Silas Deane Highway - Former Weight Watchers

Continue to discuss potential redevelopment potential of this site with an out of state interest.

Arrow Road/Berlin Turnpike

Preliminary Plans were submitted to the PZC for several small buildings that would accommodate retail/restaurant and office space at this corner site.

Jordan Lane/Silas Deane Highway - Former Porter and Chester School

Have been contacted by engineering firm preparing plans for new retail and restaurant site.

Silas Deane Highway - Office/Retail Building

Working with developer who has acquired several properties and is interested in tearing down buildings to accommodate larger office/retail building.

Berlin Turnpike Property

Met with engineers and developer looking at development feasibility of property on the Berlin Turnpike.

Fun Zone

Met with developer representatives investigated existing conditions at this site. Test borings have been performed as part of this research.

638 Silas Deane Highway - Natalia's European Deli

Plans have been submitted to convert this vacant storefront into a takeout deli restaurant.

Webster Bank - 1160 Silas Deane Highway

Met with bank representatives to discuss possible building renovations, façade improvements and the construction of a stand alone ATM.

Arby's Restaurant

Met with representatives interested in possible site for free standing restaurant building.

Office Building - Silas Deane Highway

Discussed the prospects of the construction of a 15,000 s.f. office building.

• Continue to meet with property owners interested in the façade program. Have committed funds to 10 business/property owners to date totaling $256,212.
• Working with Colassale Construction on the streetscape project and are presently waiting to hear on the final details of our State Bonding of additional funds.
• Submitted Federal grant application through Congressman John Larson's office for an additional $1,000,000 for traffic and streetscape improvements for the Silas Deane Highway.
• A subcommittee has been formed consisting of representatives from Design Review, PZC and the Redevelopment Agency to discuss the establishment of an overlay commercial zone on the Silas Deane Highway and the refinement of our design standards. The sub committee met on February 15 and will meet again in early March.

• On November 30, 2007 we closed on the façade loan for property housing the International Institute of Cosmetology at 626-632 Silas Deane Highway in the amount of $50,000.
• On January 25 we closed on a façade loan for Richard LaGana for property at 965 Silas Deane Highway in the amount of $18,449.80.
• On February 15 we closed on a façade improvement loan for the renovation of the building at 7 Railroad Place in the amount of $22,511.02.
• Plans have been approved to renovate the exterior of this office building at the corner of Maple and Silas Deane Highway at 912 Silas Deane Highway. Façade improvement funds in the amount of $50,000 have been committed towards this project. Spring construction is anticipated.
• Interior demolition is underway to renovate the building at 898 Silas Deane Highway for the new headquarters of Pelton's. The Town has agreed to provide $50,000 in façade funds and a tax incentive towards this project.
• Construction is nearing completion for the façade improvements at 683-689 Wolcott Hill Road.
• The Town has committed $6,232 towards the installation of window awnings on the façade of the building at 217-233 Main Street.
• The Town has committed funds for $16,565 for new signage, lighting and site improvements at 222 Main Street - J. Michael's Tavern.
• 286 Silas Deane Highway - Express Dental Lab - The Town has agreed to fund $10,000 towards the façade and site improvements at this site.

Economic Development and Improvement Commission

• On February 1 staff attended a workshop in New Haven sponsored by the CT Main Street Downtown Revitalization Institute entitled "The Municipal Partnership."
• Continue to work with Keiler & Co. on marketing and promotion of the Town.
• Working with the Chamber of Commerce on a breakfast meeting with the business community focusing on energy and conservation.
• Participated in a webcast on Feb 13 sponsored by Governing Magazine entitled "Competing For Retail and Winning."

Tourism

• We continue to work with Allegra Farms from East Haddam to operate the Horse and Carriage rides in Old Wethersfield through our recent State grant. The effort has been very successful and we intend to continue to operate this program throughout the rest of the year on select weekends. We ran the rides on the weekend of Feb 16 and 17 and are discussing holding them again during the school vacation week in April.
• Met with representatives from the Webb Deane Stevens Museum and the Historical Society to discuss possible cooperative marketing grant applications to the State Commission on Culture and Tourism. A grant was filed for funds to conduct a strategic marketing plan.
• Working with the Town's IT Department to activate a new online database of all the properties in the Historic District. Through a grant with the CT Trust For Historic Preservation the Town has developed and electronic searchable database for use by citizens and the historic district commissioners. We expect the system to be online soon.
• Met with representatives from the Webb Deane Stevens Museum and the Historical Society to prepare a grant application that would provide assistance with Billboard advertising on the major highways in Connecticut during the months of June and July. We have been advised that we have received this grant and we are waiting for a contract.

Redevelopment Agency

• Will be working with the Agency on a public information strategy to solicit additional public input on the Bond issue. Tentatively set date for early May and second session in early June.
• The agency is presently researching the procedures necessary to initiate a redevelopment plan.

Preserve America

• The next Committee meeting will be held in early March at which time we expect to receive a draft report.
• A grant application was filed to request $150,000 to be used for gateway improvements and a wayfinding signage program.

Planning and Zoning Commission

• The Commission approved plans for a new little league and soccer field at Mill Woods Park.