Town of Wethersfield

898 Silas Deane Highway - Pelton's

On June 18 a grand opening was held at the new Pelton's location at 898 Silas Deane Highway.

638 Silas Deane Highway - Prosthetics Business

This space has been renovated and reopened for a new prosthetics business.

Verizon - (Former Frame Shop) - Silas Deane Highway - Next to Max Bibo's

Interior renovations are complete to accommodate the relocation of this business.

850 Silas Deane Highway - National Health Care Assoc.

Building permits have been issued to renovate this office space for this new tenant.

640 Silas Deane Highway - J and L Medical

This space was recently renovated to accommodate a new medical supply business.

217-233 Main Street - Façade Improvements

On July 9 a closing was held to fund a series of 7 storefront awnings for this building.

30 Jordan Lane - Prime Health Care

Space has been recently renovated to accommodate this health care concern.

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 CO is anticipated shortly.

Former Amici's Restaurant - Pal's Pub - 672 Silas Deane Highway

Approval has been granted for the renovation of this building and for the use of an outdoor patio for a new restaurant/café in this building. Construction is now underway. A CO is anticipated next month.

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

An interior demolition permit has been issued to conduct some interior work to this building. An application has been approved by Design Review and a building permit application has been approved. Construction is now underway.

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. Construction is now underway.

Lot 4 Progress Drive - Office Building

A PZC application and plans have been submitted for site plan approval for the construction of a 2 story medical office building at this site, the building is roughly 20,000 s.f. and will be known as the Connecticut Center For Cosmetic Enhancement and Young Pharmaceuticals.

Liberty Bank - 171 Silas Deane Highway (Former TD Banknorth)

Plans for the renovation of this space have been submitted.

Progress Drive - CREC - Soundbridge School

On April 1 the PZC approved plans for an expansion to the school which would double the size of the building.

1370 Berlin Turnpike - Little Caeser's Pizza - Jordan Lane Shopping Center

On June 3rd he PZC approved plans to renovate this storefront.

Cottone Field - Sports Lighting

An application has been filed for a Special Permit to install sports lighting at Cottone Field. An August 5 public hearing has been scheduled.

1260 Silas Deane Highway - Hartford Hospital

A revised inland wetlands application has 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. A PZC application is pending and scheduled for an August meeting.

322 - 334 Silas Deane Highway

A zone change application has been filed to rezone various properties in anticipation of an mixed use office/retail building of approximately 10,000 s.f. The hearing is scheduled for August 5.

295 Ridge Road - Church Homes

A CO has been issued for the renovation of this building to accommodate 13 condominium units. A preliminary plan has been submitted for the second phase of this project which would change the approved plans and include an assisted living facility. The PZC has reviewed preliminary plans and a zoning regulation amendment application will be herd on August 5.

Comstock Ferre and Co. - Main Street

An application to the HDC has been resubmitted 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.

• Continue to discuss development related issues and feasibility of redevelopment of property on the Berlin Turnpike.
• Continue to monitor and support property owner negotiations with potential redevelopers of potential redevelopment site and building.
• Met with owner of possible redevelopment site on the Silas Deane Highway regarding potential town assistance with project.
• Talked with local developer regarding interest in redeveloping Silas Deane Highway property.
• Discussed possible tenant interest and site improvements with owner's representative of Silas Deane Highway shopping center.
• Discussed possible tenant interest with tenant representative at Silas Deane Highway Shopping Center.
• Discussed potential tenant reuse of vacant space with owner of Silas Deane Highway Shopping Center.
• Discussed potential space needs for small business owner looking for space in Old Wethersfield.
• Met with business representative looking at building in Old Wethersfield for new business.
• Responded to site search request for restaurant chain.
• Responded to realtor looking for 6-7 acre site for business relocation.
• Received inquiry from manufacturer looking for 10,000 s.f. for business relocation.
• Responded to developer representative looking for site for a Transit Oriented Development opportunity.

• Work continues to progress on the Church Street streetscape project as paver sidewalks, ornamental walls and stairs are constructed.
• A draft mixed use zoning regulation is presently being reviewed by a subcommittee consisting of representatives from Design Review, PZC and the Redevelopment Agency.

• 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 on STEAP contract for an additional $200,000 to be used for properties in Old Wethersfield and the Berlin Turnpike.

Economic Development and Improvement Commission

• Continue to work with Keiler & Co. on marketing and promotion of the Town. A press release was developed promoting some of our new business starts this year.
• Discussing with the Chamber future opportunities for partnerships.
• The Commission has initiated a process to review and revise the 2001 Economic Development Strategic Plan.
• Several members are working with the Tourism Commission to organize for a Farmers Market.
• On June 5 staff attended a training workshop at North East Utilities presented by the Community Builders Institute on community marketing to discuss web site design, web site contents, marketing and site selection. We discovered that Wethersfield is one of the top 10 most viewed towns through the CERC site selector website.

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. Rides have been held in July and the hours have been adjusted to later in the day to avoid the heat of the day. A heavier schedule of rides are planned throughout the Fall.
• We were informed by the Historical Society that we have received a $5,000 grant from the State Commission on Culture and Tourism. A grant was filed for funds to conduct a strategic marketing plan.
• The 3 Historic Wethersfield billboards have been installed on I-95 and I-91 in the New Haven area. The effective circulation of each site is over 90,000 adults/day.
• On June 4 the Commission hosted a booth at an Open House at the CT Convention Center.
• The Commission has signed up with both the Connecticut and Massachusetts versions of the Staycation programs to encourage local residents to visit attractions closer to home this summer and Fall. We will be tallying web site hits in response to this new initiative.
• The Commission has recently coordinated a discount coupon program with local merchants and is making it available through the Staycation program.
• The Commission recently mailed out a promotional package to approximately 125 group tour operators in the Northeast, Eastern Canada and the Midwest to promote the community for future tour operators.
• The Commission continues to monitor present and future advertising opportunities. The recent ad campaign in AAA Journeys magazine generated approximately 450 visitor requests for information.

Redevelopment Agency

• On June 11 at 7 pm at the Silas Deane Middle School the Agency held a public forum to discuss the Town's present development climate.
• The agency is presently researching the procedures necessary to initiate a redevelopment plan.
• The Agency continues to meet with property owners to discuss potential for redevelopment opportunities and partnerships.
• The Agency is working on plans for the second community forum to be held in the Fall.

Preserve America

• A public hearing on the draft plan was held on May 20 and the Committee is waiting for revisions to the plan based upon the public comments. It is anticipated that the revised draft will be presented to the Council in August.
• We have heard that we have been awarded $90,000 to be used for a wayfinding signage program. Official notification has not yet been received. We will shortly begin a process to review and detail the final design and locations with the various stakeholders.
• We have been advised that the state will be awarding an additional $115,000 towards the gateway project. We are working on plans in anticipation of putting the project out to bid in the near future.