Monroe Site Selected For State Redevelopment Grant—Here’s What That Means

MONROE, CT — The State of Connecticut has tapped a site in Monroe for a grant intended to support its cleanup and redevelopment.

Monroe will receive a $100,000 grant to complete assessment activities at the 7.74-acre site of the former Saint Jude School located at 709 Monroe Turnpike. The town is proposing to adaptively reuse the building for use as a community center and town offices.

The grant, announced Wednesday, is part of $18.8 million in state grants to support the cleanup and redevelopment of 227 acres of contaminated land across 19 cities and towns in Connecticut.

The funding, administered through the Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program, will assist 23 properties in environmental assessments and remediation. The goal is to prepare the sites for new uses such as housing, commercial development, parks, and community centers.

According to state officials, this round of funding is expected to attract approximately $218 million in private investment and facilitate the development of 450 housing units. About 52 percent of the grants are earmarked for distressed municipalities.

“Old, polluted, blighted properties that have sat vacant for decades do nothing to stimulate our economy, grow jobs, and support housing growth,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement. “With these grants, we are partnering with towns and developers to take unused, lifeless properties and bring them back from the dead, rejuvenating land that can be used for so much more and can bring value back to these neighborhoods.”

Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe said the program continues to produce benefits for both local governments and residents.

“Our brownfield redevelopment efforts continue to produce great results, not only for the communities that can now capitalize on new opportunities for growth and vibrancy but also for the residents who directly benefit from the new end uses for these reclaimed properties, whether it be housing, parks, commercial space, or community centers,” O’Keefe said.