- Details
- Category: Past Issues
Acquisition
of 64 acres
part of new
I-park model
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- Work is progressing on several fronts, with an eye toward creating a modern high-tech industrial park with a modern new business model.
Town officials are in talks with Wheelabrator of Putnam to acquire 64 acres of Wheelabrator property near exit 95 of I-395 and Kennedy Drive. The acquisition would allow Putnam to construct a new bridge over the Quinebaug, replacing the one-lane bridge closer to downtown that serves Wheelabrator's ash landfill. Once that is accomplished, the acquisition would also give Putnam ownership of part of the proposed 123-acre high tech industrial park. Of 229 available acres, 123 are buildable, said Town Administrator Douglas M. Cutler.
Currently the Beta Group of Rhode Island is working on a marketing and feasibility analysis of the proposed industrial park. The company has a real estate firm working on feasibility and marketing models that would work and an attorney's office is working on recommendations for the best business model since the town will not own all 123 acres. "The models would address 'How would it be implemented without the town owning the property?'" Cutler said. It may be that the group will recommend the economic development commission marketing the high tech park or a non-profit may be set up to market and maintain the park.
Cutler added that recommendations would also be made on how many lots total would be best for the acreage. Originally town officials leaned toward 13 lots, but Cutler said the group may recommend 10 lots instead. The target companies for the park would be clean energy and high tech industries and "those might need larger lots."
He added the town hopes to hear the recommendations from Beta's groups by the end of the year.
Part of the 64-acre parcel the town of Putnam hopes to acquire may be the home for the proposed Regional YMCA.
In the meantime, the town Department of Public Works will be lightly clearing both sides of the Quinebaug River in anticipation of borings being done by CME of Woodstock. That firm has the design and construction contract for the proposed two-lane bridge off Kennedy Drive, across from the ramp from I-395. It would tie into existing roadways on the other side, give access to the proposed industrial park and to Wheelabrator and would also provide alternate access to Day Kimball Hospital for emergency vehicles. The current Wheelabrator one-lane bridge would become a pedestrian and bicycle access to a future trail system.
The town has $2.97 million in state money earmarked for the design and construction of the bridge.
Also in the meantime, the town is working on winning federal economic development money for the park. The Northeast Connecticut Council of Governments this summer joined with the Windham Region Council of Governments to create a "super" regional entity that stands a better chance of winning federal funds. Cutler said the Putnam project is already considered a "priority" project under the new model.