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City could receive $15 million for brownfields cleanup
Sep 25, 01:20 PM
Federal money would target contamination at Waterbury Industrial Commons BY ROBYN ADAMS REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
WATERBURY — The U.S. House of Representatives approved a big appropriations bill late Wednesday that contains money to clean up contamination at the Waterbury Industrial Commons.The House voted 370-58 to approve the measure, which includes $15 million to clean up the polluted site on Thomaston Avenue. If it passes the Senate and is signed by President George W. Bush, it will be one of the biggest grants for Waterbury from the nation’s capital, and would help clean up the roughly 20-acre complex.
Before a check is cut, the Senate must vote favorably. Then it is on to the president to sign. If the Senate approves, the president could sign the appropriations bill next week, said Rep. Christopher S. Murphy, D-5th District, during a telephone interview Wednesday from Washington, D.C.
The property at 1875 Thomaston Ave., in the Waterville neighborhood, is privately owned. All told, more than $3 million is owed in back taxes to the city, and to third party lien holders.
For past two years, Murphy has pushed to get the funding. “I’ve asked for a lot of things in my district and this is an unprecedented grant for brownfield remediation because, in
the end, Waterbury can only survive if it grows its tax base,” Murphy said.
Murphy said given the abnormally large number of brownfields in Waterbury, there aren’t many places for industry to grow.
“So, the old Chase Brass factory presents the largest opportunity to reclaim old industrial territory and turn it into new development,” Murphy said.
Mayor Michael J. Jarjura said the money is a boon to the city in many ways. Among the benefits is the city taking ownership of the property, cleaning contamination left by the former Chase Manufacturing Company, and renting out pads to business operations. Another benefit will be the creation of a city Public Works Department campus. The
campus would house the Street Department, Refuse Department and Central Vehicle Maintenance, which now work out of rented buildings on East Aurora Street.
The city will explore options to take over the property, including eminent domain. Jarjura said work at the site could begin almost immediately. “With acquisition and then final plans and bids drawn, cleanup and construction could take about two years,” said Jarjura, adding news about the funding is great for Waterbury.
