Norwich votes to join Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority; city reports $4.9 million grant for Fontaine Field

The Norwich City Council voted 5-0 on March 17 to join the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority, a state program intended to help municipalities coordinate redevelopment projects and qualify for certain state grants. The council also heard its City Manager report that the State Community Investment Fund recommended $4,900,000 for upgrades to Fontaine Field and $250,000 for planning work on the Norwich State Hospital, with both awards requiring final approval from Governor Lamont and the State Bond Commission within the next 60 days.

The vote came after a public hearing and staff presentations describing downtown sites that city leaders have discussed as potential redevelopment priorities. A staff member highlighted several properties within a roughly half-mile radius of the intermodal transportation center, including the Hopkins Arms Mill — described in the meeting as a roughly 208,000-square-foot building that “could become a hundred units” — and other parcels near the YMCA, Courthouse Square and Summit Street. The staff member said joining the authority could expand the city’s ability to incentivize redevelopment in those areas.

Deanna Rhodes, director of planning and development, told the council she supports joining the authority and that the city is already rewriting zoning regulations. “Part of this program requires new zoning regulations. As the council is aware, we’re in the midst of writing them right now. So we’re hoping that we’ll get…