Thursday, October 17, 2019
www.berlincitizen.com
Volume 22, Number 34
Developers hope to breath new life into Depot Crossing By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
The developers behind a five-building mixed-use development plan on Farmington Avenue have entered into a contract to purchase Depot Crossing, a prominent 25,000-square-foot mixed-use building across the street, which has struggled to attract commercial tenants since its completion some five years ago. Anthony Valenti, co-principal with Newport Realty, said the firm has entered into a contract to purchase the property, which is currently owned by the Hartfordbased Corporation for Independent Living.
Representatives of CIL were not available for comment on this story. “We haven’t closed on it yet, but there’s a reason for the interest. We just like Berlin, we like the market. We’re already going to be in the market with the larger development,” Valenti said, referring to Newport Realty’s ongoing transit-oriented development on Farmington Avenue. Valenti said he and Southington developer Mark Lovely — his business partner with Newport — have a record of working with small businesses to keep their See Developers, A3
Marek Kozikowski resigned from his role as town planner after just 21 months on the job. He is pictured during his final Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Oct. 3. Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen
Newport Realty has entered into a contract to purchase Depot Crossing, at 848 Farmington Ave. The property has struggled to find commercial tenants. Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen
Pair praised by vets commission The paving stones were supplied and installed free of charge by town counThe Veterans Commission cilor Charles Paonessa, last week honored two owner of DURA Construcmen for their efforts in up- tion, while Parks and grading Veterans Memori- Grounds Foreman Steve al Park. Wood oversaw the creation of the gazebo, picnic The park now features a table and benches new gazebo with a picnic throughout the park, as table and walkway to the parking lot, where handi- well as the concrete pads capped parking and a new beneath them all. spot reserved for Purple Both gentlemen were preHeart recipients were sented with plaques durmoved to face the park’s ing a small ceremony monument. From there, Monday evening, Oct. 7. visitors can walk along a Paonessa said he was inpath of paving bricks to spired to do his part after the circular monument, visiting the park for a cerewhich is surrounded by mony and noticing that bricks with the names of local veterans etched into See Commission, A20 them. By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
Steve Wood, left, and Charles Paonessa were presented plaques by the Berlin Veterans Commission on Monday, Oct. 7. Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen
Town planner resigns for position in Middletown By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
Town Planner Marek Kozikowski has left to become the city planner for Middletown. "What you did in your 21 months hasn't been done in 21 years," said Steven Biella Jr., an alternate member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, during a meeting just before Kozikowski’s last day Friday, Oct. 4. Kozikowski’s tenure in Berlin was marked by a flurry of new developments and changes to the town’s regulations. While he enjoyed his time in Berlin, Kozikowski said the opportunity in Middletown was too good to pass up. "I thought it was a unique opportunity to work in a larger community and a
community that has different challenges than the suburban community that Berlin is," he said. Kozikowski was hired to lead the Planning and Zoning Department in January 2018 after serving as a senior planner in Greenwich. "It has been a great experience, a tremendous experience. I feel like we've accomplished a lot here,” Kozikowski said. “I'm proud of the (transit-oriented development) that we've got going on and I'm proud of the work we did creating the Berlin Turnpike Development Zone."
Transit-oriented development The transit-oriented development is likely the largest project Kozikowski worked See Planner, A12