[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6633161,"mediaKeyId","2665938-9dc3d3e225f9a9962cdc397d1a4890ca","parentId",2665938,"title","Council approves sale of Adelaide Street parcels to Habitat for Humanity after heated public hearing over Riverside Community Garden","audioSeconds",3040,"startMs",1576000,"endMs",4616000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665938-9dc3d3e225f9a9962cdc397d1a4890ca&start=1576&end=4616","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665938-9dc3d3e225f9a9962cdc397d1a4890ca/thumbnail_1576000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6633161/New-London/New-London-County/Connecticut/Council-approves-sale-of-Adelaide-Street-parcels-to-Habitat-for-Humanity-after-heated-public-hearing-over-Riverside-Community-Garden","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633161-c37744d0f4b46ca119cbcf39f9feab39/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176499&Signature=Os22s4JVhEYo2unOXOgnzyd~CM2RhXA5CGo~ARanTC~gj0By7pMEgSm5PKM2e1U2zVDUXcgULF78HkFVQGearA~hIXWywgwwMdG729m~Gx5xD3xktF44DLOxH6fJ2TyTu7ENOjRMAJMzFMa~y7FHLQuXwrZGklYOth4VTD8uOtX9BJGNtKxLwa4gaZVCr-fDv3UALE283Sn8sLTF4Th5d3tN~7PJEYWRr6LYc2Y8q96aQDPvpyd5-dGiN~yDx1NUX-lEd8XE2Qi5fdADH1cwUtAAEq~i6Bitn7XgUZAaFmryObXhbbLGXWhU8xIPC43UQNrIdF1Hu-h1pItBJrd20Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New London","date","2025-03-18T03:11:23.787Z","article","The New London City Council approved the direct sale of three city-owned parcels on Adelaide Street to Habitat for Humanity for $1 on Monday, concluding a public hearing in which residents urged the council to deny or postpone the sale and to guarantee funding and a timeline for relocating the Riverside Community Garden.

At a public hearing that began March 17, residents and gardeners described 12 years of work at the Riverside Community Garden and pressed the council for written assurances on relocation funding, a lease or long-term site, and a clear timetable. \"The gardens have been there for 12 years,\" said a longtime gardener, noting the volunteer hours and food the site produces for neighbors. Erin Walker, who lives at 97 Adelaide Street, told the council the garden saved her about 16 percent on groceries last year and said the current Adelaide site has uncontaminated soil and room for expansion. \"Moving the community garden would prevent our community from total loss of the valuable resource,\" Walker said.

Speakers described specific relocation expenses they have estimated: water service tie-in to the street (cited by speakers at about $4,400), raised beds and lumber (about $3,000), deeper soil needs, fencing removal/reinstallation, moving a shed and mature trees, and other site work. One resident said the total moving cost could be \"probably upwards of $20,000.\" Several speakers urged the council to postpone the sale or place it on the November ballot rather than transfer the property for $1.

Mayor Michael Paso and Director of Development and Planning Felix Reyes stressed the administration’s position that selling the city parcels to a mission-driven developer is a tool to leverage outside funding. Reyes told the council that the city’s intent was to supply land that a nonprofit could use as part of a capital stack to secure additional grants and financing and that the city values residential development that will return property to the tax rolls. \"The value to us is the developed property,\" Reyes said. \"When a property is sold for a dollar, put back on the tax roll as tax generating and producing dwelling units, that's when it's valuable to us.\"

Council debate focused on two themes: whether a direct sale without an RFP disadvantaged other nonprofit developers and whether the garden’s volunteers would receive concrete relocation support. Council members said Habitat had committed time and predevelopment investment and that Habitat and the administration had met with garden representatives. Councilor John Saddy, who said he had previously supported a private sale of the parcel to build housing, asked that proceeds or private funds be used to help pay the gardeners’ relocation costs. Several councilors asked for written, enforceable commitments from Habitat or from the city guaranteeing relocation support.

After debate the council adopted the public-interest findings required by the purchasing ordinance and then approved the sale and authorized the mayor to sign documents transferring title. The sale ordinance passed on the council floor; the motion carried. The resolution directs the mayor to execute necessary documents to effectuate the transfers of title to Habitat for Humanity.

Council President Dominguez and several councilors said they expect the city and Habitat to work with garden volunteers on a relocation plan and to limit taxpayer exposure by seeking private funding and volunteer labor for the move. Gardeners said they will seek written commitments and said they are prepared to petition for repeal or a referendum on the sale if adequate assurances are not secured.

The council’s action followed public testimony from more than a dozen speakers and more than an hour of citizen comment specifically on the Adelaide parcels. The city clerk closed the hearing before council action and the council voted later in the meeting to approve the sale.

What happens next: Habitat for Humanity will proceed with required predevelopment work and pursue funding to build three two-family dwellings on the parcels. Council members and the administration said they expect follow-up meetings with gardeners and Habitat to define relocation timing, costs and responsibilities.

Speakers during the public hearing included gardeners and residents: Janna (garden volunteer), Erin Walker (97 Adelaide Street), Joe Parzic (13 Terrace Avenue), Bob Seller (community gardener/compost advocate), Sue Weintraub (672 Williams Street), an Evergreen Avenue speaker, and Councilor John Saddy (27 Woodlawn Road), among others. Administration participants included Mayor Michael Paso and Director Felix Reyes.

Sources and authorities cited at the hearing included General Statutes cited for the public hearing notice (General Statute section 7-1(63)(e)) and references to the city’s Plan of Conservation and Development and CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) and other typical housing funding programs.

Ending: Council members said they will insist on working-level follow-up with gardeners, Habitat, public works and parks staff to develop a relocation plan and to identify private or philanthropic funding to cover moving costs. Garden volunteers said they will continue to press for written assurances and, if needed, pursue referendum or legal options to preserve community garden access.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03-17-2025 City Council","oneSentenceSummary","The New London City Council approved the direct sale of three Adelaide Street parcels to Habitat for Humanity for $1 after a contentious public hearing in which gardeners and neighbors urged the council to deny or postpone the transfer and demanded firm funding and timeline commitments for relocating Riverside Community Garden.","taxTitle","New London, New London County, Connecticut","taxId",70139,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6633153,"Votes at a glance: lead service-line funding, community center contracts and motor-vehicle assessment ordinance",3403,5528000,8931000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665938-9dc3d3e225f9a9962cdc397d1a4890ca&start=5528&end=8931","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665938-9dc3d3e225f9a9962cdc397d1a4890ca/thumbnail_5528000.jpg","/articles/6633153/New-London/New-London-County/Connecticut/Votes-at-a-glance-lead-service-line-funding-community-center-contracts-and-motor-vehicle-assessment-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633153-bb8c6bdeeb8d4ff685c6ae91d0c488e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176499&Signature=C0gzSsXm6GnKhYZpgh2~2ekJszlDWfgFMmOvjog8h-OQgIlZjIAU9vccStQANugJGdWw00SGNMAMtiX~5VVBo8rZ7e~5I9YVCkgprX0wplyG9fW0ebDTC7gRmGVAaNrIffKzs8rBPjEEk6xzOJAD~SBlh0g3HLUYKhc24YkCBp83wIgJIeuFRFdH5c2b71j9YZw7N1kS8qCXMG2GM2JVJ34S4vSCtN6776Ytsjrh14zEfOFt8WqBllE~mvuCzkfsPIpXsBOM~Knk4vR1hSZHUhOl7Aofnb4tmsvobc1pEZBdomsDBB0f7JOdXlVl8VGjcA06GKExdQSPY5ZOpCCb2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At Monday’s meeting the New London City Council approved several routine but consequential items in addition to higher-profile agenda items. The council adopted funding for lead service-line replacement, approved change orders and equipment purchases for the new community recreation center, and adopted an ordinance adjusting the city’s motor-vehicle assessment approach following recent state legislation.

Key approvals

- Lead service-line replacement funding (Agenda item 8.5): The council approved an ordinance and associated orders to accept and appropriate State Department of Health funding for lead service-line replacement (documented amount in the packet: $5,952,090). Staff reported less lead service line coverage than originally estimated and said investigative work would be increased; most construction costs will be covered by state and federal grants while ratepayer responsibility is expected to be about 25 percent. The council amended the item on the floor to include related phases and then approved the package.

- Community center construction and equipment (Agenda items 8.10–8.13/8.11): The council approved a change order with the general contractor (Downs Construction, change order 125, $110,968.81), purchase of sports equipment for the facility (BSN Sports, approximately $29,480.33), and an audio-visual equipment package bid (approximately $479,000) for rooms and rentable spaces in the center. Staff said these purchases were included in the adopted capital budget and would not increase the center’s approved total construction or first-year operating budget.

- Motor-vehicle assessment ordinance (Agenda item 8.6): Following state action on motor-vehicle depreciation schedules that would have reduced municipal motor-vehicle assessment revenue, the council approved an ordinance to adjust the city’s assessment approach consistent with the state's amended option. Finance staff told the council the city stands to recover about $183,000 of the original shortfall; the larger change in state law would have otherwise reduced New London general fund revenues more substantially. Council adopted the ordinance by roll-call vote.

What the votes mean: The lead service-line funds will allow the city to replace hazardous lead pipes at lower net cost to residents because a large portion of the program is grant-funded. The community center purchases are part of the capital plan for the new facility; the administration said those purchases do not require additional appropriation beyond previously approved project budgets. Adjusting the motor-vehicle assessment method is a revenue-preservation measure in response to state legislative action; staff said the city still faces a significant revenue gap in the coming fiscal year and will present a balanced budget proposal in April.

Votes and procedural notes: Most of these items passed by voice or consent roll call; the motor-vehicle assessment ordinance was approved on a roll-call vote. Several councilors asked for more detail on timing and procurement contracts; staff said competitive procurement or qualification processes were used where required.

Ending: Staff said they will return to the council with implementation details, procurement notices and updated budget figures as necessary.

","The council approved a set of mostly procedural and budget items including lead service line replacement funding, multiple community center equipment and construction items, and a municipal response to a state motor-vehicle assessment change. Most items passed with routine votes; the motor-vehicle assessment ordinance passed on roll call.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6633156,"Council approves New London community center rates, administration outlines scholarships and access plan",3345,7951000,11296000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665938-9dc3d3e225f9a9962cdc397d1a4890ca&start=7951&end=11296","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665938-9dc3d3e225f9a9962cdc397d1a4890ca/thumbnail_7951000.jpg","/articles/6633156/New-London/New-London-County/Connecticut/Council-approves-New-London-community-center-rates-administration-outlines-scholarships-and-access-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633156-58f45fd360631a644b4ba3975c7cdac7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176499&Signature=FMyUn6nxdp-E0cBsrkDZZAtGFO3E31g2UB~KYh5ACoGT5qOVseQMW9VtmMPXVx8nta-SfQv7cMtfkc4J8VFqggAUQXHqOlLMCbWTNUe22r1JWa21sMGTdZKyn~VgWs64pSUL~k7sfHXSUFq6FYdEaJCaelJu0BjnKPZbZSu86m9FFi4QLluiYvAQE9-KkgoDk2cC6kzMtRctlc-qJpOsEBqZUKpCjRLVuaePlyQY-cRe3W0y7c2Fyt1HXh0MCc9LZ1A-7OXZ2kgjB5SrJfDjVAX5rR4vI5UTiKUrthjTJldi80PLx07sAGvxgQu5fqhWwoTvI10ToarZ9kcyDxlQpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New London City Council approved membership rates and the first-year operating budget for the new municipal community recreation center on March 17, after a presentation by the city’s director of development and planning and more than an hour of council and public comment.

Director Felix Reyes and Recreation officials laid out a sliding-scale rate structure that distinguishes residents from nonresidents, incorporates HUD-based income tiers for financial aid, and includes special provisions for young children, veterans, students and seniors. Reyes said the city has set a policy goal that \"no one will ever be denied access to a community center,\" and described a mix of scholarship funds, sponsorships and a $1,000,000 council-approved subsidy to support the first year of operations.

The administration outlined several access measures to reduce barriers for low-income families: a simple one-page scholarship application using HUD guidelines, case-by-case discretionary support for exceptional situations, guest passes, monthly \"community days\" when membership will not be required to enter, and free membership for children under 3. Director Reyes said the recreation department will handle scholarship applications and noted that the department already runs similar assistance for summer programs.

The meeting also included a corporate contribution announced from Breezeline Communications. Natasha Merchant, a Breezeline community engagement specialist, presented a $10,000 donation to launch the community center scholarship fund. \"That $10,000 represents up to 85 scholarships for our kids,\" Merchant said.

Councilors and community members raised concerns about transparency and ease of access. Councilor Patrick Sheehan Gomer recommended clearer income bands so families can immediately see what they would pay without submitting paperwork; others urged the city to allow library-card verification or a brief walk-in process so young people can obtain free or low-cost access without burdensome forms. Director Reyes said membership enrollment will begin in April, the recreation department will have an on-site office inside the Innovation Center beginning in April, and the center’s operator will be introduced to the council at the April 7 meeting.

Council members also discussed other operational details included in the plan: monthly guest passes for members, discounted rates for college students and veterans, an annual-payment discount and modest day-pass and childcare fees for short visits. The council voted to approve the rates and the operating budget for the community center; the motion carried.

What happens next: Enrollment will open in April; the recreation department and the third-party operator (Power Wellness) will finalize scholarship procedures and outreach. The administration expects to open the facility to the public in mid-summer.

Speakers in the discussion included Director Felix Reyes, Natasha Merchant (Breezeline), Mayor Michael Paso, Councilor Patrick Sheehan Gomer, Councilor Pro Tem Peck, and several public commenters who asked that scholarship paperwork be simplified and suggested library-card or other low-friction identity proofs for youths.

Ending: Council members emphasized the facility’s long-term aim to be self-sustaining while retaining multiple access paths for lower-income residents. The council asked the administration to report back after the first year of operations with enrollment, scholarship utilization and recommended rate adjustments.

","After a long presentation by city staff and public comment, the council approved membership rates and an operating plan for the new New London Community Recreation Center, including a scholarship program, resident discounts, free access for children under 3 and outreach plans. Breezeline donated $10,000 to a scholarship fund at the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves sale of Adelaide Street parcels to Habitat for Humanity after heated public hearing over Riverside Community Garden

Votes at a glance: lead service-line funding, community center contracts and motor-vehicle assessment ordinance

Council approves New London community center rates, administration outlines scholarships and access plan