House
Republican Press Release
November
20, 2006
Press
Office: 860-240-8700
HARTFORD-
Representative Selim Noujaim today announced that development of the former
Mattatuck Manufacturing site in the East End of Waterbury would be proceeding
soon thanks to funding which has been awarded by Governor M. Jodi Rell. The
Governor approved the funds last Friday in the amount of $2.4 million for
brownfield remediation.
The eight-acre parcel of land
located at the corner of East Main Street and South Main Street in Waterbury was home to a 150,000 square foot industrial building which had long ago been
abandoned and had become an eyesore to East End residents. Representative
Noujaim worked successfully with the Governor and the Department of Economic
and Community Development to obtain state funding and assistance in demolishing
the building, and initiating the process of reclaiming the site for a suitable
use.
The site, divided into an
Eastern and Western portion by a sewer easement, was in need of remediation of
industrial contamination. To date, the Western portion has been remediated at
a $2.11 million expense to the current landlord, while the Eastern portion has
yet to be. The current owner, Mattaco Inc., cannot afford the cost of
completing the remediation.
“For more than
seven years we have been working toward knocking down the building,
decontaminating the property, and developing it to support the tax base of our
city as well as the Waterbury community,” said Representative Noujaim. “All of
us in the East End are grateful to Governor Rell’s leadership and vision which
made this project a reality. Now we can move forth to build a community center,
as well as commercial development as decided by the task force that studied the
need of the neighborhood. The task force commissioned by the mayor was made up
of community volunteers who held public hearings and sought opinions from the
neighbors.”
“It is important for future
generations that we clean up and reuse contaminated properties instead of
developing pristine green space and farmland,” Governor Rell said. “Is it
absolutely crucial that we remediate these sites in cities like Waterbury. Doing so moves us forward in the urban revitalization process and plants the
seeds for new jobs. This project is a prime example of our efforts to
create new business growth opportunities in Waterbury and throughout Connecticut. Rep. Selim Noujaim has been a strong voice for Waterbury on this issue,
and I thank him for his advocacy.”
The Naugatuck Valley
Development Corporation will take title of the land as an agent of the City of Waterbury, and will appropriate approximately $500,000 of state funds to remediate the
site, remove foundation, and provide environmental insurance.
The NVDC intends to utilize
the property for the construction of a 14,000 sq. foot banquet hall, a 22,000
sq. foot funeral home, a neighborhood recreation center.
