Council approves quitclaim deed and triple-net lease with Marina Holdings LLC after amendment

The Norwich City Council on Aug. 4 authorized the city manager to deliver a quitclaim deed and execute a lease with Marina Holdings LLC for a waterfront property, approving the measure after a brief exchange and a friendly amendment to correct the street name.

Alderman Hayes said she supported the lease but sought assurance "for the residents of the city" that any future waterfront development would not be impeded by the current lease. Mayor Aaron Nystrom and staff responded that the leased parcel and the adjacent property are clearly delineated and that without adoption of the measure the city could lose control of the subsequent land, limiting the city's ability to spend community investment funds on the site.

Alderman Swarnji Singh offered a friendly amendment that changed the street designation from "West Thames Street" to "West Main Street," which the council adopted on a unanimous roll call. Singh also noted the lease is structured as a triple-net lease, stating, "this lease that we are signing points out clearly that it's a triple net lease. So tenant will be paying the real estate taxes on the building itself." The amended resolution was then adopted by roll call, 7–0.

City staff and councilors indicated the deed and lease will be recorded and that follow-up will include confirming parcel boundaries and any constraints on future public investments affecting the adjacent land. No public comment was recorded on this item during the meeting.