Connecticut awards $28.2 million to assess and remediate 16 Brownfield sites

On December 17, 2025, Governor Ned Lamont announced $28.2 million in state grants to support the assessment and remediation of 16 blighted properties across 13 Connecticut towns and cities. The funding aims to return more than 200 acres (over 81 hectares) to productive use for redevelopment, including new housing. The grants are administered through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program. This round is projected to leverage more than $354 million in private investment and lead to approximately 835 housing units, including 157 designated as affordable. “By cleaning up blighted and vacant properties, we can put this land back into productive use in smart ways that support the growth of businesses and new jobs, and also to build new housing, which is significantly needed,” Governor Lamont said. DECD Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe said, “Our investments in these dormant, polluted sites are critical to helping communities capitalize on opportunities for reinvention. This round of funding has a significant impact in many areas, especially in supporting the creation of new housing, which is crucial to furthering the economic progress we’ve achieved in recent years.”

Ashford and Willington: $200,000 to the towns for environmental assessment, market analysis, and planning at the Cadlerock property, a 338.55-acre (137.01-hectare), 12-parcel area straddling the town lines, to identify reuse options and a development path.
Bridgeport: $3,000,000 to the Bridgeport Economic Development Corporation for soil remediation at the 16.86-acre (6.82-hectare) site at 731 Seaview Avenue. Formerly home to CarTech’s steel mill operations, the privately owned site is impacted by widespread contamination. Remediation will prepare the site for redevelopment, enabling Bridgeport Boatworks to occupy a newly constructed facility and allowing Hornblower Marine to expand operations within existing on-site buildings.
Chaplin: $50,000 to the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments for assessment of the 1.2-acre (0.49-hectare) Former Chaplin Post Office site at 142 Chaplin Street, enabling remediation for potential commercial use.
Enfield: $4,000,000 to the town for hazardous materials abatement and demolition at the former Enfield Square Shopping Center, a 73.26-acre (29.65-hectare) site at 90 Elm Street. A proposed $250-million mixed-use development includes approximately 452 housing units, with 20% designated affordable, and up to 350,000 square feet (32,516.06 square meters) of entertainment, retail, and commercial spaces, as well as restaurants and two possible hotels.
Greenwich (275 Mason Street): $4,000,000 to the Western Connecticut Council of Governments for demolition, soil and groundwater remediation, and site assessment of a 1.22-acre (0.49-hectare), privately owned property spanning seven parcels. Past uses include blacksmithing, stone cutting, and automotive operations, with its most recent use as a Honda dealership. Remediation will enable development of 55 housing units as part of the Mason Street East transit-oriented development near the Greenwich Train Station and bus transit.
Greenwich (290 Mason Street): $4,000,000 to the Western Connecticut Council of Governments for demolition, soil and groundwater remediation, and limited site assessment of a 0.37-acre (0.15-hectare), privately owned property spanning three parcels, enabling 20 housing units as part of the Mason Street West transit-oriented development.
Hartford (1163 Albany Avenue and 422 Woodland Street): $1,000,000 to the city for remediation of the 1.86-acre (0.75-hectare) site with historical uses including auto repair, gas station operations, and a moving and storage warehouse. Funds will cover removal and disposal of contaminated soil, enabling construction of a 30,516-square-foot (2,835.03-square-meter) public, commercial, and retail building to house the Hartford Department of Health and Human Services, a bank, and a restaurant/coffee shop.
Hartford (Clay Arsenal): $200,000 to the Capitol Region Council of Governments for a comprehensive, area-wide plan to identify strategies to remediate, reuse, and reinvest in the Clay Arsenal neighborhood, enabling future redevelopment in partnership with the San Juan Center.
Killingly: $150,000 to the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments for assessment of the 0.92-acre (0.37-hectare) Old Killingly High School site at 185 Broad Street, enabling remediation for potential housing, childcare, or vocational services.
Newtown: $200,000 to the Connecticut Brownfield Land Bank, Inc. for assessment of the 33.4-acre (13.52-hectare) former Charles Batchelder Co. aluminum smelting plant site at 44 and 46a Swamp Road, to fill data gaps from prior remediation and advance plans for a solar field and/or new industrial/commercial space.
Shelton: $4,000,000 to the Shelton Economic Development Corporation for cleanup of the 1.3-acre (0.53-hectare), privately owned site at 235 Canal Street. The site’s manufacturing history includes hardware, cutlery, railway lighting and equipment, and tool and machine shop operations. Demolition/abatement and remediation will enable construction of 100 housing units.
Torrington (59 Field Street): $800,000 to the city for cleanup of the 7.54-acre (3.05-hectare), privately owned former Torrington Company/Excelsior Needle Company property, including abatement and demolition of a two-story, 24,000-square-foot (2,229.67-square-meter) building (#24), surface paving, and creation of additional parking to support adjacent commercial space.
Torrington (52 Norwood Street and contiguous lots): $200,000 to the city to complete assessment at the former Torrington Standard Plant on a combined 4.61 acres (1.87 hectares), to identify contaminants and inform future redevelopment.
Torrington (downtown planning): $200,000 to the city for comprehensive brownfield planning downtown, focused on the north end of Main Street, to create a 2030–2040 Brownfield Remediation and Redevelopment Strategy.
Watertown: $200,000 to the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments for assessment of land surrounding Pin Shop Pond and the former Oakville Pin Company at 20 and 27 Main Street, enabling future development such as commercial uses or trail and green space.
West Hartford: $6,000,000 to the town to support environmental cleanup at the 33.9-acre (13.72-hectare), privately owned former UConn site at 1800 Asylum Avenue. Following cleanup, the site will be redeveloped with 28 townhomes for purchase, 93 rental units, 87 assisted living units, and commercial spaces.