Connecticut
Housing advocates push for money, reforms
Karoline Ashford used to live in New London public housing and feels like she won the lottery when she was accepted into the Bayonet Apartments.
“It’s much better for your mental health. You feel better and you feel like a person,” Ashford said.
Bayonet Appartments is a 28-unit mixed-income development built by Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities.
CEO Julie Savin said she thinks it’s important that developers get away from traditional affordable housing and build more mixed-income projects.
“Economic diversity is the backbone to every single community,” Savin said.
But she said developers say they need help. They need money but they also spend much of their effort convincing towns to allow for these types of developments.
“It translates because it’s your kids, it your parents, or your brother or sister,” she said about building support.
Then there’s infrastructure.
The state Department of Housing tries to help towns support the construction of more multi-family homes, including funding for things like sewer and water.
The hurdles remain too high in some municipalities, though.
“Infrastructure both on the local level and the national level is important for the creation of any kind of housing,” Housing Department Housing and Community Development Manager Miguel Angel Rivera said.
Congressman Joe Courtney, (D-2nd District) said the federal government can help, including offering assistance to home buyers and grants for builders. He also supports tax codes to encourage more construction.
“The homebuilders know it, the realtors know, housing advocates know it,” Courtney said. “They’re lining up to really see if they can push a pro-housing agenda.”
Republicans like Mike France, running against Courtney, are also open to tax changes.
He says the real solution, though, is cutting spending to bring down inflation, including the jump in home construction costs.
“Putting a Band-Aid on it by throwing money at it, taking other people’s money and giving it away in grants and other things does not solve the problem and we need to do that,” France said.
Advocates also say they want more zoning reform, particularly in towns where local rules restrict the construction of multi-familiy homes.
Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration has tried to find ways to encourage zoning change, but he has so far rejected a push from Democrats in the legislature to mandate reform statewide.
Connecticut
Woman suffers life threatening injuries in Rocky Hill house fire
A woman was rushed to the hospital after being seriously hurt in a fire Saturday in Rocky Hill.
This all unfolded during the late morning hours at a home on Main Street.
Fire officials say they had to rescue the woman from the home and her injuries are considered life threatening.
Hoarding conditions did a play a factor in the fire, according to the fire department.
No other injuries were reported. Further details pertaining to the fire weren’t immediately available.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Connecticut
Twin Peaks Restaurant planning to open 3 locations in Connecticut
DALLAS (WTNH) — A New London-based group is partnering with a Texas-based restaurant planning to open its first locations in Connecticut.
New London Hospitality has signed a new area development agreement with Twin Hospitality Group Inc., the parent company of Twin Peaks Restaurant, for the development rights of three future locations in the state, according to a press release from Twin Peaks.
The release lists New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury and Stamford or Bridgeport as potential markets.
According to the release, New London Hospitality is run by Deepak Verma and Kam Singh, who have experience in the hospitality industry and have worked with major hotel brands including Hilton, Red Roof Inn and Choice Hotels.
“Deepak and Kam bring a powerful combination of hospitality expertise and operational discipline,” Twin Peaks CEO Kim Boerema said in the release. “Their experience growing multi-unit concepts makes them ideal partners as we enter Connecticut. We are confident they will help anchor Twin Peaks as a new favorite for sports fans throughout the state.”
Twin Peaks describes itself as “the ultimate sports lodge featuring made-from-scratch food and the coldest beer in the business, surrounded by scenic views and wall-to-wall TVs. At every Twin Peaks, guests are immediately welcomed by a friendly Twin Peaks Girl and served up a menu made for MVPs.”
“Twin Peaks delivers everything guests want in a sports bar — scratch-made food, 29-degree draft beer, and the best place to catch every game,” Verma said. “We look forward to introducing the brand’s signature lodge experience and welcoming Twin Peaks girls to Connecticut, establishing a new home base for local sports fans and food enthusiasts.”
Twin Peaks was founded in 2005 in Lewisville, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. There are 114 locations in the United States and Mexico. The closest location to Connecticut is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Connecticut
Road closures, crashes & flooding reported across Connecticut
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — As Friday’s stormy weather brings strong rains and damaging winds, the Connecticut Department of Transportation and local agencies are reporting the following alerts.
Stormy Friday Weather
RELATED
Note: Not every alert can be attributed to weather.
Current Traffic Alerts:
- NEW HAVEN – Two-vehicle crash on Route 15 southbound between Exits 46 and 42B. The right lane is closed. Reported at 3:28 p.m.
- OLD SAYBROOK – Route 154 (Main Street) closed in both directions between Willard Ave Ext. and Cromwell Ave because of tree down with wires. Reported Friday, December 19 at 2:20 pm.
- PLAINFIELD – Route 12 closed # 105 Norwich Road and Kinney Hill Road for tree in wires. Reported at 12:31 p.m.
- PLAINFIELD – Route 12 closed in both directions at Arbor Lane due to a pole down in wires. Reported at 12:25 p.m.
- N. STONINGTON – Route 184 (Providence New London Turnpike) closed in both directions at Rt 49 (Pendelton Hill Road) because of tree down. Reported at 12:11 p.m.
- COLCHESTER – Colchester Route 85 New London Road closed between Lake Hayward Road and West Road because of Wires Down. Reported at 12:04 p.m.
- UNION – Route 171 closed at Route 197 and Rindge Road for a tree down in wires. Reported at 12:02 p.m.
- DEEP RIVER – Route 80 (Winthrop Road) closed in both directions between Cedar Swamp Road and Bahr Road because of a tree down. Reported at 11:58 a.m.
- OXFORD – Route 67 is closed at Route 42 for wires and a transformer down. Reported at 11:49 a.m.
- LEBANON – Lebanon RT-207 Exeter Road is closed at Clubhouse Road because of a tree down with wires involved. Reported at 11:46 a.m.
- NORTH BRANFORD – Route 17 northbound and southbound at the intersection of Rt 22 is closed. Utility work in area. Reported at 11:47 a.m.
- BRANFORD – Localized flooding is currently occurring in multiple areas of town.
- SEYMOUR – Fire officials are asking people to avoid Highland Avenue and Gilyard Street because a large tree has snapped a telephone pole. Please use alternate routes.
- MIDDLETOWN – Multiple businesses without power.
- EAST LYME – Route 161 (Flanders Road) closed in both directions at Society Road because of pole down with wires. Reported at 11:50 a.m.
- EAST LYME – Tree down on powerlines on West Main Street, Niantic (Rte. 156) in the area of #278. Roadway is currently closed at Douglas Avenue and Four Mile intersection. Eversource has been notified. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
- MANSFIELD – Route 195 is closed at Ledgewood Drive for a tree down across the road. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
- GUILFORD – Route 146 Leetes Island Road closed in both directions between Wingate Road and Moose Hill Road because of a tree down with wires. Reported at 11:44 a.m.
- THOMPSON – Thompson Route 193/Thompson Road is closed between Route 12/Riverside Drive and Robbins Road because of a Tree Down. Reported Friday, December 19 at 11:36 am.
- COLCHESTER – Colchester Route16/Middletown Road is closed between Bigelow Road and Victoria Drive because of a tree down with wires involved. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
- HARWINTON – Harwinton Route 4/Burlington Road closed between Harmony Hill Road and Route 72 Terryville Road because of a tree down with wires on the road. A fire was also reported. Reported at 9:14 a.m.
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